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Technology · head to head

Shortcut vs Zoho Projects

Shortcut logo

Shortcut

Technology

Project management for software teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Projects logo

Zoho Projects

Project Management

Project management software for smart teams

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shortcut has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira; Zoho Projects the free plan allows 5 users, 3 projects and 5 GB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Zoho Projects covers Tasks.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Shortcut and Zoho Projects actually diverge.

Attributes where Shortcut and Zoho Projects differ
AttributeShortcutZoho Projects
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryTechnologyProject Management
Founded20141996

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Shortcut

  • Stories & epics
  • Iterations (sprints)
  • Kanban boards
  • Roadmaps
  • Reporting
  • Docs
  • API & webhooks
  • Mobile apps

Only in Zoho Projects

  • Tasks
  • Gantt charts
  • Time tracking
  • Kanban
  • Blueprints
  • Zoho CRM
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Workspace

Both cover

  • Slack
  • GDPR

What people use each for

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

Shortcut

  • Sprint planningnot Zoho Projects
  • Bug trackingnot Zoho Projects
  • Feature developmentnot Zoho Projects
  • Product roadmappingnot Zoho Projects
  • Team collaborationnot Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects

  • Project planning, task tracking and time logging for teamsnot Shortcut
  • Running projects alongside other Zoho business applicationsnot Shortcut

Where each one falls short

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

Shortcut

  • Limited reporting compared to Jira
  • Designed specifically for software teams, not general project management
  • Can experience slow loading times with very large projects

Zoho Projects

  • The free plan allows 5 users, 3 projects and 5 GB of storage
  • Custom profiles, roles and fields require the Enterprise plan
  • Read only users are rationed by tier, at 10 on Enterprise and 100 on Ultimate
  • Ultimate allocates storage per user with a 150 GB organisation minimum, so small teams pay for capacity they cannot use
  • The pricing page does not display per user costs for any paid tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Shortcut

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Kanban boards
    • Sprints
    • Roadmaps
  • Team$8.5/user/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced reports
    • WIP limits
  • Business$12/user/month
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • OKRs
    • Advanced custom fields
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Volume discounts
    • SSO/SCIM
    • Premier support

Zoho Projects

On request
  • FreeFree
    • 3 users
    • 2 projects
    • Basic features
  • Premium$5/month
    • 50 users
    • Unlimited projects
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Shortcut if

  • You need stories & epics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want iterations (sprints).
Shortcut review

Choose Zoho Projects if

  • You need tasks.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want gantt charts.
Zoho Projects review

Questions people ask

Is Shortcut or Zoho Projects better?
Neither clearly leads. Shortcut starts at Free and Zoho Projects at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shortcut or Zoho Projects?
Shortcut has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Shortcut and On request for Zoho Projects.
Does Shortcut or Zoho Projects run on more platforms?
Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. Zoho Projects runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Shortcut for free?
Yes. Shortcut has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zoho Projects starts at On request.
What is Shortcut best used for?
Shortcut is most often used for sprint planning, bug tracking, feature development, product roadmapping. Of those, sprint planning and bug tracking are not what Zoho Projects is typically brought in for.
What can Shortcut do that Zoho Projects cannot?
Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Kanban boards, Roadmaps. Zoho Projects covers Tasks, Gantt charts, Time tracking, Kanban. Both handle Slack, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shortcut: Does Shortcut have a free plan?

Yes, Shortcut offers a free plan for up to 10 users with core features like kanban boards, roadmaps, sprints, and reports. Paid plans start at $8.50 per user per month.

Source
Zoho Projects: Do I need to provide a credit card to start?

No, Zoho Projects doesn't require credit card information during signup. You begin with the free plan and can upgrade whenever you choose.

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut integrate with GitHub?

Yes, Shortcut has native GitHub integration that automatically syncs pull requests and commits to stories, and includes GitLab and Bitbucket support as well.

Source
Zoho Projects: Are there long-term contracts required?

No, licenses are not contract-based. You may cancel your account at any time.

Source
Shortcut: Can I use Shortcut for non-technical projects?

Shortcut is built for software teams, though you can customize workflows for other use cases. Linear and Asana may be better suited for non-technical project management.

Source
Zoho Projects: What happens to my data if I downgrade?

Your data remains safe when downgrading. You simply lose access to higher-tier features. Data becomes accessible again if you upgrade later. Downgrading to the free plan limits you to two projects with restricted functionality.

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut support SSO and SCIM?

Yes, SSO and SCIM support are available on the Enterprise plan, allowing centralized identity management for large organizations.

Source
Zoho Projects: What security measures does Zoho use?

Zoho emphasizes 24/7 monitoring, biometric access controls, and the latest encryption and intrusion detection/prevention technologies.

Source
Shortcut: What's the difference between Shortcut and Jira?

Shortcut is lighter and faster with less setup required, while Jira offers deeper customization and enterprise features. Shortcut works better for modern software teams wanting simplicity; Jira suits enterprises needing extensive configuration.

Source
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