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Software · head to head

MeisterTask vs Zoho Books

MeisterTask logo

MeisterTask

Software

The most intuitive project and task management tool

From
On request
Rated
-
Zoho Books logo

Zoho Books

Software

Simple, smart accounting software for growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Zoho Books has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MeisterTask the free plan is limited to 3 projects, 5 notes and 20 AI credits; Zoho Books payroll only available in Texas and California, limiting US usefulness
  • They diverge on capability: MeisterTask covers Kanban boards, Zoho Books covers Invoicing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MeisterTask and Zoho Books actually diverge.

Attributes where MeisterTask and Zoho Books differ
AttributeMeisterTaskZoho Books
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Founded20151996

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in MeisterTask

  • Kanban boards
  • Automations
  • Time tracking
  • Checklists
  • Attachments
  • Slack
  • GitHub
  • Zendesk

Only in Zoho Books

  • Invoicing
  • Expense tracking
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Financial reports
  • Tax compliance
  • Zoho CRM
  • PayPal
  • Stripe

Both cover

  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MeisterTask

  • Kanban task and project management for small teamsnot Zoho Books
  • Tracking work across projects with automations and time trackingnot Zoho Books

Zoho Books

  • Invoicingnot MeisterTask
  • Expense managementnot MeisterTask
  • Tax preparationnot MeisterTask

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MeisterTask

  • The free plan is limited to 3 projects, 5 notes and 20 AI credits
  • Recurring tasks and automations are excluded from the free plan entirely
  • Timeline views, subtasks, custom fields and custom reports require the Business plan at $24 per user per month
  • Subtasks being a Business feature means task breakdown is unavailable on the $12.50 Pro plan
  • SSO, workload planning and portfolios are Enterprise only with no published price

Zoho Books

  • Payroll only available in Texas and California, limiting US usefulness
  • Limited access to historical financial data compared to competitors
  • Customer support is slow with long response times and frustrating workarounds
  • Fewer integrations than QuickBooks Online and Xero
  • User limit restrictions (1-15 depending on plan) compared to Xero's unlimited users
  • Occasional inaccuracies in automatic exchange rate updates for international transactions

Pricing, plan by plan

MeisterTask

On request
  • BasicFree
    • 3 projects
    • Basic features
  • Pro$8.25/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Automations
    • Integrations

Zoho Books

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user + accountant
    • Unlimited invoices
  • Standard$20/month
    • 3 users
    • Core accounting
  • Professional$60/month
    • 5 users
    • Advanced reporting
  • Premium$120/month
    • 10 users
    • Inventory management

Which should you pick?

Choose MeisterTask if

  • You need kanban boards.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want automations.

Choose Zoho Books if

  • You need invoicing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want expense tracking.

Questions people ask

Is MeisterTask or Zoho Books better?
Neither clearly leads. MeisterTask starts at On request and Zoho Books at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MeisterTask or Zoho Books?
Zoho Books has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for MeisterTask and Free for Zoho Books.
Does MeisterTask or Zoho Books run on more platforms?
MeisterTask runs on Web, Ios, Android. Zoho Books runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Zoho Books for free?
Yes. Zoho Books has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MeisterTask starts at On request.
What is MeisterTask best used for?
MeisterTask is most often used for kanban task and project management for small teams, tracking work across projects with automations and time tracking. Of those, kanban task and project management for small teams and tracking work across projects with automations and time tracking are not what Zoho Books is typically brought in for.
What can MeisterTask do that Zoho Books cannot?
MeisterTask covers Kanban boards, Automations, Time tracking, Checklists. Zoho Books covers Invoicing, Expense tracking, Bank reconciliation, Financial reports. Both handle GDPR, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zoho Books: Does Zoho Books support payroll?

Zoho Books offers limited payroll integration available only in Texas and California currently. Outside these states, users must use separate payroll software.

Source
Zoho Books: How many users can access one account?

User limits vary by plan: Free tier (1 user + accountant), Standard (3 users), Professional (5 users), Premium (10 users), Elite (15 users). Each business requires separate subscription.

Source
Zoho Books: What integrations does Zoho Books support?

Zoho Books integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Razorpay, PayPal, Stripe, Salesforce, Google Sheets, and 500+ apps via Zapier. It integrates with other Zoho products like Zoho Inventory and Zoho Projects.

Source

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