Managing business expenses efficiently is crucial for any organisation looking to streamline operations and maintain financial control. Zoho Expense, a well-known expense management solution, promises to simplify and automate expense tracking, reporting, and reimbursement. But does its pricing and feature set align with your business needs? This review will explore Zoho Expense features, pricing structure, and suitability for UK businesses.
Zoho Expense features review
Zoho Expense is designed to cater to businesses of all sizes, offering robust features to simplify expense management. Below is an overview of its standout functionalities:
- Automated expense tracking – Zoho Expense automatically imports expenses from receipts via OCR technology. You can upload receipts through the mobile app, email, or integrations, reducing manual entry.
- Mileage tracking – The platform offers built-in mileage tracking using GPS, which is particularly useful for businesses with mobile teams or frequent travellers.
- Expense policies and approvals – Customisable expense policies ensure compliance with company guidelines, while multi-level approvals streamline the reimbursement process.
- Multi-currency support – Zoho Expense handles expenses in multiple currencies, making it a solid option for businesses operating internationally.
- Accounting integrations – Seamless integration with popular accounting tools like Zoho Books, QuickBooks, and Xero ensures that expense data flows directly into your financial systems.
- Corporate card reconciliation – Zoho Expense allows you to reconcile corporate card transactions with minimal effort, providing a clear view of spending patterns.
- Mobile app – Its mobile app is feature-rich, allowing employees to track and report expenses on the go.
Zoho Expense pricing review
Zoho Expense offers a range of pricing plans tailored to suit businesses of varying sizes and needs. Below is a breakdown of the plans:
Free Plan
- Cost: £0
- Features: Includes up to 3 users, basic receipt scanning, mileage tracking, and limited reporting capabilities. This plan is ideal for small startups or sole traders.
Standard Plan
- Cost: £4 per user/month (billed annually) or £5 per user/month (billed monthly)
- Features: Offers everything in the Free Plan, plus multi-level approval workflows, expense policies, custom branding, and integrations with accounting software. Suitable for growing businesses requiring greater automation.
Premium Plan
- Cost: £6.40 per user/month (billed annually) or £8 per user/month (billed monthly)
- Features: Includes all features in the Standard Plan, along with corporate card reconciliation, advanced analytics, and multi-currency support. This plan is ideal for medium-sized businesses or those with international operations.
Enterprise Plan
- Cost: Custom pricing
- Features: Tailored for larger organisations, it includes advanced features such as custom workflows, dedicated account management, and enhanced security controls.
Pros and cons of Zoho Expense
Pros
- Affordability: Competitive pricing makes it accessible for businesses of all sizes.
- Ease of use: Intuitive interface and mobile app simplify adoption across teams.
- Comprehensive integrations: Works seamlessly with popular accounting and HR tools.
- Scalability: Plans cater to businesses from sole traders to enterprises.
Cons
- Limited features in the Free Plan: May not suffice for businesses with complex requirements.
- Custom pricing for Enterprise Plan: Lack of transparency may deter some businesses.
Review verdict – Is Zoho Expense the right choice for your business?
Zoho Expense stands out as an affordable, feature-rich solution, particularly for SMEs and businesses with international operations. Its scalability and integration capabilities make it a compelling choice for companies looking to automate expense management.
However, larger organisations or those requiring advanced customisation may need to explore the Enterprise Plan or evaluate alternative platforms.
Final thoughts
This concludes our Zoho Expense pricing review. Choosing the right expense management software depends on your business size, operational complexity, and budget. Zoho Expense offers a strong balance of affordability and features, making it a practical option for many UK businesses.
Consider starting with the Free Plan or a trial of the Standard or Premium Plan to determine if it aligns with your needs before committing long-term.
FAQ – Zoho Expense pricing review
Zoho Expense allows businesses to set up custom tax rules, including VAT compliance. It enables automatic VAT calculation and provides detailed tax reports, helping businesses adhere to UK tax requirements.
Yes, Zoho Expense integrates with travel management platforms like Zoho Travel and other third-party tools, allowing seamless expense tracking for business travel.
Zoho Expense offers custom workflows, expense categories, and approval processes, making it adaptable to the unique requirements of various industries, from retail to consulting.
The Zoho Expense mobile app allows users to track and store expenses offline, syncing automatically once the device is connected to the internet.
Zoho Expense provides detailed analytics and reports, offering insights into spending patterns, policy violations, and top expense categories to improve financial transparency.
Zoho Expense accepts payments via credit cards, debit cards, and other online payment options. For Enterprise Plan customers, additional payment arrangements can be made.
Yes, Zoho Expense supports department-specific tracking, allowing businesses to monitor expenses at a granular level and assign budgets to individual departments.
Zoho Expense integrates with payroll systems and allows businesses to reimburse employees directly via bank transfer or integrated payment gateways.
Zoho Expense employs encryption, secure data centres, and regular audits to ensure the safety of sensitive expense and financial data.
Zoho Expense provides customer support through email, live chat, and phone, with resources available to assist UK-based businesses during their local business hours.