Oracle’s NetSuite is well-known in the ERP world for its customization and scalability. It’s a multi-tenant ERP software supporting finance, operations, sales, service, and HR needs.

Best For:

NetSuite is best for small businesses with 10 to 50 employees, mid-market companies with 50-200 employees, and enterprises with over 10,000 employees.

Not a Good Fit For:

NetSuite isn’t great for process manufacturers since their core manufacturing module focuses more on discrete bill of materials rather than recipes and formulas. It’s also generally overkill and prohibitively expensive for smaller businesses or sole proprietors.

Zoho Books is a popular alternative to QuickBooks Online. It’s a cloud-based accounting software that offers accounts receivables and payables functionality. It lets you manage your financials and banking, create reports, and automate your sales and purchasing workflows.

Best For:

Zoho Books is best for small businesses with up to ten employees in online retail spaces and digital marketing. It’s a great solution for growing organizations that plan to expand their functionality into inventory management, project tracking, and other areas.

8.3

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

7.3

USER RATING

based on 25 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like NetSuite for its robust accounting and supply chain management capabilities. It also offers out-of-the-box functionality and a mature, cloud-native design. Additionally, NetSuite integrates with eCommerce platforms, point-of-sale apps, and more.

We don’t recommend it for startups due to its complexity. It lacks field service management and heavy manufacturing support. Implementation may require technical expertise.

Pros:

Hundreds of third-party add-ons available
Feature sets for multiple industries
Highly customizable
Advanced audit trail
Scalable, web-based ERP software system

Cons:

Must schedule a consult for pricing details
Tedious setup
Difficult to build reports
No equipment management
No field service management

9.0

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

10.0

USER RATING

based on 6 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like Zoho Books’ time-tracking features, strong inventory management, and easy integrations with other Zoho products. It also offers a free version with limited functionality but even its paid plans are less expensive than QuickBooks.

We don’t think Zoho Books is for companies searching for a comprehensive system beyond simple accounting. Zoho is an ecosystem of product suites that can integrate in a piecemeal fashion. You’ll need additional apps for inventory, CRM, and more.

Pros:

Client portal with sales and purchase approvals
Easily integrate with dozens of Zoho products
Time-tracking
Multiple sales and expense form types
Strong inventory tools included

Cons:

Difficult to modify invoices
Time tracking must be tied to projects
Maximum of 10 users
Limited bank syncing
Will require 'Zoho Inventory' if your inventory grows too large

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $99/user/month
Client OS Web

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $15/month
Client OS Web

Our editorial review staff has spent significant time using and reviewing two popular business management solutions: NetSuite ERP and Zoho Books. Here are our top insights to help you make an informed choice of which software is right for your business.

NetSuite ERP Overview

Oracle’s NetSuite ERP is a versatile and scalable solution known for its ability to be customized to suit a business’s particular needs. Its strongest areas are accounting and supply chain management, thought it offers excellent out-of-the-box functionality overall. However, it isn’t recommended for startups due to its complexity, and it lacks field service management and heavy manufacturing support.

NetSuite’s target audience includes businesses from 10 to over 10,000 employees. This software is highly customizable and can be integrated with eCommerce platforms, point-of-sale apps, and more. However, its setup can be tedious and you may need technical expertise for implementation.

Zoho Books Overview

Zoho Books is a cloud-based accounting software that offers comprehensive accounts receivables and payables functionality. Its strengths lie in time-tracking features, inventory management, and easy integration with other Zoho products. It is not the best choice for companies looking for a comprehensive ERP system beyond simple accounting.

Zoho Books is a good fit for small businesses with up to ten employees, particularly those in online retail spaces and digital marketing. It allows for the integration of additional apps for inventory, CRM, and more as your business grows. However, if your inventory grows too large, you will need to add extra software like Zoho Inventory.

NetSuite ERP vs Zoho Books: The Verdict

NetSuite and Zoho Books serve two distinct market segements.

For most businesses, we recommend NetSuite ERP. The accounting and supply chain management capabilities, along with its highly customizable nature, make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. While setup and implementation may require some technical know-how, the scalability it offers is worth the initial effort.

Zoho Books is a better accounting option for small businesses in online retail or digital marketing. Its strength lies in its simplicity and affordability, but for a comprehensive ERP solution, NetSuite ERP comes out on top.

For a more comprehensive look at ERP solutions, check out our roundup of the best ERP software overall.

NetSuite ERP

★★★★★

(25)

Oracle’s NetSuite is well-known in the ERP world for its customization and scalability. It’s a multi-tenant ERP software supporting finance, operations, sales, service, and HR needs.

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$99/user/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted

Zoho Books