Zoho People Reviews in 2026: Alternatives, Pricing, Reviews - SSR

Written by
Rodrigo Vázquez-Mellado
HR and B2B software analyst and advisor, tech writer and editor, former conversational designer
January 28, 2026
Contributing Experts
No items found.

Zoho People

4.3 (431)
Zoho People
Zoho People

Zoho People Versus the Competition

Zoho is a provider of all sorts of business solutions that are affordable yet on par with the market’s most popular offerings. Zoho People is a great example of this, being a 360° HR solution that’s robust, user-friendly, and affordable.

If you're ready to get a Zoho People demo, we suggest getting in touch for a look at the product and quote. Otherwise, read on!

Ratings

4.4

Ease of Use

Best For

Key Differentiator

Price

Starts at $4.61/mo

Free Trial

Yes

PROS

  • All core HR features in a single dashboard 
  • Wide array of integrations 
  • User-friendly UI, constantly updated 
  • Available in multiple languages

CONS

  • Since they offer so many modules, some may be not as robust as other products that have been more specific about covering certain needs. For instance, some teams have found their payroll offering to be quite basic. 
  • Not all that’s available in the web platform is available in the app
  • Some users reported that the platform can be slow to load every now and then.

Need Help? Talk to an HR Software Advisor!

Get 1:1 help from an HR Software Advisor
Save time with recommendations in less than 20 minutes
Save up to 30% with our pricing insights

Tell us more about your company & an HR Software Advisor will help you find the right software

Phil Strazzulla
HR Tech Expert, Harvard MBA, Software Enthusiast

Need Help? Get Custom Recommendations for Top Free HR Software

Talk to An Advisor
Over 3 million HR leaders trust our advice

Zoho People Review

Zoho is an Indian software company that makes all kinds of business software, from IT management to bookkeeping tools. Naturally, they also offer a cloud-based Human Resources Management System that we’ve found checks most boxes in most HR manager’s list of requirements.

This entails features like employee onboarding, performance management, time and attendance tracking, employee self service, database management, and much more. Their list of features is quite lengthy, and although it gets longer and longer with every plan, the essentials one is already quite complete. For example, wider plans like Premium ($3/user/month if billed annually) include OKR and goal tracking, a skill set matrix and advanced HR analytics.

Now, if some plans seem a bit basic, one cool thing about Zoho People is that certain modules are available as add-ons. For instance, this is the case of their learning management system, which features targeted learning, feedback, course customization, and a forum-like system for discussions.

What users think of Zoho People

Reviewer's Rating
9/10

I use Zoho primarily as an ATS. It has been a valuable tool in managing full-cycle recruiting efforts. This includes top-of-funnel sourcing and candidate management. We also rely on it for requisition creation and offer generation. While most hiring stages are supported within the platform, we used a separate system for interviewing.

What do you like about Zoho People?
  • Zoho’s advanced search feature is one of the best I’ve seen in an ATS—it's quick and accurate when filtering for candidates with specific technical skills.
  • Even though we use a separate HRIS, it’s helpful that Zoho integrates with its HRIS counterpart in case we choose to consolidate systems in the future.
  • It’s one of the more affordable platforms available, and the free version—though limited—was useful for testing functionality before upgrading to a paid plan.
Why did your organization buy Zoho People, and how long have you used it for?

I have less than a year of experience with the platform. I used it as an ATS to support our recruiting efforts. While our previous system was satisfactory, we needed a more cost-effective solution.

Zoho met our budget requirements without requiring us to give up the functionality we had come to rely on. Several alternative platforms failed to meet our expectations, particularly in sourcing capabilities, so we were impressed with Zoho’s performance in helping us build and maintain talent pipelines.

What do you dislike about Zoho People?
  • The platform isn’t the most intuitive, and it took some time to become comfortable with its core features.
  • I’ve used other ATS platforms with better-designed interfaces and overall system architecture.
  • The mobile app feels underdeveloped and the dashboard is not particularly user-friendly.
How is Zoho People different than their competitors?

What sets Zoho apart is its search engine functionality. I was impressed with how accurately it matched keywords for specific skills and experience. Many other platforms offer search tools, but results can be inconsistent.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Pricing is per user, so cost-conscious buyers should evaluate how many team members need access. If you're also considering a broader people management solution, Zoho is a strong choice because of its HRIS integration capabilities.

How has Zoho People changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Zoho has added enhancements to its sourcing tools, which have made the candidate sourcing process smoother and more efficient.

What specific type of user or organization is Zoho People very good for?

Zoho is a good fit for small to mid-sized organizations looking for a reliable, cost-effective ATS. It's also suitable for solo users, especially since the free version accommodates teams with limited hiring needs.

What specific type of user or organization would Zoho People not be a good fit for?

Zoho may not be the best option for large enterprises, particularly those with complex compliance or security requirements in their recruiting workflows.

Reviewer's Rating
/10

I use Zoho People to effectively track employee attendance. I also use it for interstate payroll and benefits administration. It helps maintain onboarding and offboarding processes, employee records, leave management, and internal communication.

In addition, I use the built-in reminder system, which improves my workflow and reduces the need for manual follow-ups. I use the tool daily to support various HR tasks.

What do you like about Zoho People?

Zoho People is integrated with a range of other HR solutions. It is highly effective for managing interstate payroll and multistate tax compliance. I like that it offers a longer free trial period, which allows potential buyers time to evaluate which tier best suits their business needs.

Why did your organization buy Zoho People, and how long have you used it for?

As our company grew, we needed a reliable HR system that would bring all our employee management processes under one roof, such as tracking attendance, leave requests, employee data collection, and reporting.

We chose Zoho People to help centralize employee records, improve workflow automation, and streamline daily HR operations. Zoho People has provided the necessary support for employee management.

It has improved efficiency and reduced manual work for our HR department. I have personally used it for about two years now.

What do you dislike about Zoho People?

It can be overwhelming to set up and navigate, especially for users who aren't very tech-savvy. To access the full suite of HR tools, integration with additional products is often required, which means more subscriptions.

Although users in developing countries pay a lower price for Zoho People, the experience is limited compared to what users in developed countries receive. This creates a noticeable disparity in functionality and access.

How is Zoho People different than their competitors?

Depending on the subscription, Zoho People is more comprehensive compared to many of its competitors. One downside is that it can be quite technical, which may discourage older HR professionals or those less familiar with digital tools from using it effectively.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

One key criterion to consider is the size of your organization and whether your HR manager has a solid understanding of HRIS systems. Without this knowledge, it may be difficult to fully utilize the tool. Zoho People offers pricing plans that are suitable for both small and large businesses.

How has Zoho People changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Zoho People has added more tools, expanding its HR lifecycle capabilities. The user interface has been improved and is now more user-friendly. It also supports more integrations than before.

What specific type of user or organization is Zoho People very good for?

Zoho People is well-suited for both small and large organizations, as its various subscription tiers address the HR needs of businesses of different sizes.

What specific type of user or organization would Zoho People not be a good fit for?

Zoho People may not be a good fit for organizations or businesses that are still adapting to technological advancements. Although it is effective for HR operations, it requires an HR professional with solid HRIS knowledge to navigate the system efficiently.

Reviewer's Rating
9/10

We primarily use Zoho People to manage various HR functions, including employee records, onboarding, attendance, document management, and leave tracking. Employees can check in and out using the app, allowing the HR team to easily monitor work hours.

The app also facilitates leave applications, enabling managers to quickly approve or reject requests. All personal details, such as contact information and job roles, are securely stored within the system.

The HR team uses Zoho People to monitor performance and set KPIs for employees. Company announcements and updates are also managed efficiently through the platform. New employees can upload documents and complete all onboarding tasks within the system. Zoho People is a tool we use daily to stay organized and keep processes running smoothly.

What do you like about Zoho People?
  • Zoho People is cloud-based, so it's globally accessible for all employees.
  • Good value for money with flexible pricing plans.
  • Easy to track attendance and work hours.
  • Leave requests and approvals are quick and simple.
  • Helps keep employee records organized in one place.
Why did your organization buy Zoho People, and how long have you used it for?

Our organization bought Zoho People as a cost management solution, as our previous HRIS had become too expensive for our mid-sized company. Zoho People makes it easier to manage employee records and attendance.

Everything is in one place and easy to access. It helps the HR team track leaves, work hours, and performance more efficiently. We also liked that it’s cloud-based, allowing our global team to access it from anywhere.

The features are simple to use and save us a lot of time. We have been using Zoho People for about two years.

What do you dislike about Zoho People?
  • The initial setup can be confusing.
  • Some features are only available in higher-priced plans.
  • The mobile app lacks certain features available on the web version and can be slow at times.
  • Not all customizations are easy to implement.
  • Support response times can be delayed.
How is Zoho People different than their competitors?

Zoho People is known for its cost competitiveness for small to mid-sized companies, offering many features at a lower price compared to some rivals, especially when bundled. Its attendance tracking, with various check-in methods and robust reporting dashboards, is more advanced than what simpler HRIS tools provide.

As part of the larger Zoho ecosystem, it integrates well with other tools such as Zoho Payroll and Zoho Recruit, which is beneficial for companies seeking multiple HR or business solutions.

Personio and HiBob, however, offer more sophisticated performance review features, including 360-degree reviews, better templates, and greater flexibility than Zoho People’s more basic review tools.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

When buying an HR tool like Zoho People, companies should consider the financial return on investment. Choosing a tool that can scale and offer additional features over time is important.

Usability is critical—the tool should be intuitive and easy for employees to use. It should include essential features like attendance tracking and leave management and function well on both desktop and mobile devices.

Strong customer support and seamless integration with the existing HR tech stack are also key factors.

How has Zoho People changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Zoho People has improved significantly over time to meet user needs. Overtime tracking was added to support compliance with labor laws. Leave and absence features have become more automated and intuitive. The mobile app now includes improved check-in options and works well across devices.

What specific type of user or organization is Zoho People very good for?

Zoho People is well-suited for small to mid-sized companies because it offers a wide range of features at a lower cost, especially when bundled with other Zoho products.

What specific type of user or organization would Zoho People not be a good fit for?

Zoho People works best within the Zoho ecosystem, so companies needing deep payroll integration with third-party services like Gusto or Patriot may encounter limitations. Organizations seeking a highly modern and intuitive user interface might find Zoho People less appealing.

Zoho People Alternatives:

Zoho People

Zoho People has a free plan that any business can sign up for. It is permanently free for up to five users, and provides essential tools such as a mobile app, employee database, and time off management. It has proven a solid starting point for many growing startups.
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Visit Website

Zoho People

Zoho People has a free plan that any business can sign up for. It is permanently free for up to five users, and provides essential tools such as a mobile app, employee database, and time off management. It has proven a solid starting point for many growing startups.
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Learn More

Homebase

Homebase was built to manage hourly workers and keep track of their work. They're also used for hiring, onboarding, HR & compliance, health & safety checks, and labor cost controls.
Popularity Score
4.6 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.7 / 5
Visit Website

Homebase

Homebase was built to manage hourly workers and keep track of their work. They're also used for hiring, onboarding, HR & compliance, health & safety checks, and labor cost controls.
Popularity Score
4.6 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.7 / 5
Learn More

Monday.com

Monday.com offers customizable templates, automations, and a user-friendly interface for streamlining HR workflows and employee management. While not a complete HR solution, its flexibility and collaboration features make it a valuable tool for HR teams looking to optimize their processes.
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5
Visit Website

Monday.com

Monday.com offers customizable templates, automations, and a user-friendly interface for streamlining HR workflows and employee management. While not a complete HR solution, its flexibility and collaboration features make it a valuable tool for HR teams looking to optimize their processes.
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5
Learn More

Connecteam

If you’re tackling human resources with a high number of deskless employees, Connecteam is an essential tool to consider. Not only is it great for remote teams, it has a free version for small businesses.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.6 / 5
Visit Website

Connecteam

If you’re tackling human resources with a high number of deskless employees, Connecteam is an essential tool to consider. Not only is it great for remote teams, it has a free version for small businesses.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.6 / 5
Learn More

BambooHR

BambooHR is a trusted name in human resources tech. In addition to numerous perks and flexible pricing options, they offer a free trial. Note that this is not a free free version, but it’s worth checking out as their custom pricing can be quite reasonable.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Visit Website

BambooHR

BambooHR is a trusted name in human resources tech. In addition to numerous perks and flexible pricing options, they offer a free trial. Note that this is not a free free version, but it’s worth checking out as their custom pricing can be quite reasonable.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Learn More

Who shouldn't buy Zoho People

Zoho People Customers

Some of the companies that use Zoho people are ZPE Systems, Cloudfronts Technologies, Zomato, SpiceJet, and Foresight CFO.

Zoho People: All-in-one core HR
visit Zoho People

Zoho People Key Features

  • Time Off Management: This is where the one HR admin can set up time off policies, manage requests, offer compensatory time off, keep track of each employee’s holidays, and automate certain tasks. 
  • Employee Files: Coupled with the Employee Database, this basic document management tool allows the HR admin to store and organize all the relevant files for each employee. 
  • HR Process Automation: You can intuitively set up workflows for tasks like sending out paperwork, creating reports, and updating data fields.
  • Employee Database Management: Tracking employee data and records is all made easier with a centralized HRIS. Zoho People syncs employee information across multiple systems.

​​Also included in most plans are:

  • Employee onboarding
  • Performance management 
  • Biometric integrations
  • Time and attendance tracking
  • Shift scheduling
  • Billing and invoicing integration
  • E-signature app integrations
  • Reports
  • Webhooks
  • Mobile Apps for iOS & Android

Zoho People Key Integrations

Zoho's integrations vary according to the pricing plan. Their free plan, for instance, allows only for a Zapier connection so you may integrate with the rest of your tech stack. Their API functionality is available from the HR Essentials plan forward. This includes 250 calls per user license with a max of 5000 calls each day.

As we mentioned before, we find Zoho to be very straightforward and flexible about their pricing. You can upgrade at any time if your team size grows, or even downgrade to the free version if you’ve got the user count and find that you prefer it.

Zoho People Pricing

Zoho People is free for up to 5 users. After that, it has 4 plans that are priced as follows:

  • Essential HR: $1.25/user/month billed annually
  • Professional: $2/user/month billed annually
  • Premium: $3/user/month billed annually
  • Enterprise: $4.5/user/month billed annually

Zoho People is Best For

Zoho People has plans for many sorts of organizations, even offering custom pricing for those with more than 500 employees. The product is affordable enough to be used by small businesses and robust enough to handle the complex and scalable needs of large companies. Even the more expensive Zoho People plans can check all the HRMS boxes without breaking the bank.

How has Zoho People Changed Over Time?

Zoho People Implementation

Zoho People is cloud-based which makes it fairly easy to implement. To get started, head to Zoho People’s page and click the GET STARTED button at the top right-hand corner. This will take you to a page where you can create a trial account to test the platform’s features and offerings.

Zoho People Customer Success

Whether it’s to ensure proper adoption, handle requests, or provide customer support, the team at Zoho has created many resources for customer success. These include a setup guide, welcome guide, blogs, webinars, a help center with articles and tutorials, and partner training. While this is all on the self-service side, customers can also submit a support request if further help is needed.

About Zoho People

The Zoho story goes back to 1996, with the founding of AdventNet Inc. Back then, the company made a network management tool that was popular internationally, but mainly in the Japanese market. Then, in 2001, they launched Zoho CRM, which quickly became one of their best-selling apps. 

Then, in 2005, the company caught up with the times and started offering cloud-based applications. They began with the Writer app, then Show (a presentation tool), creator (custom application builder), and Zoho Sheets. It wasn’t long until they realized that there could be a Zoho tool for just about every kind of business app. If you’re curious, the Zoho ‘about page’ actually has an interactive timeline where you can see the evolution of the company year to year. Nowadays, Zoho has over 75 million users worldwide, several offices across the globe, and more than 50 products for marketing, finance, customer and tech support, team collaboration, and of course, HR and recruitment.

Company HQ

Austin, Texas and Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Number of Employees

13,000+

Year Founded

1996

Amount Raised

FAQ

About SSR

We spend hundreds of hours researching the best HR and recruiting software so you don’t have to. We never take money from vendors during our research phase and rely heavily on practitioners and experts to help us recommend the right software. However we may earn a small fee if you click on vendor links on this page.

Learn More

Zoho People Alternatives

Homebase

Best free HR case management software for hourly teams

Popularity score
4.5 / 5
user score
4.6 / 5
Product score
4.7 / 5

Review Methodology

We take our research process seriously and want to make sure we are presenting our readers with the very best solutions in a given software category. Check out this guide to learn how we evaluate vendors before featuring them in our buyer guides.

Learn More