Sage 50c is accounting software that includes functions such as accounts payable and receivable, general ledger reporting, and inventory management. Additionally, the solution offers features like sales tax reporting, automated W2s, and precise tax calculations for employee withholdings.

Best For:

Sage 50c Accounting is best for small companies (1-50 employees) and mid-size companies (50-500 employees).

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.

7.0

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

4.6

USER RATING

based on 23 user reviews

Our Verdict:

While it doesn’t have the most modern UI, Sage 50c offers decent job costing. We like that users can customize reports specific to their industries in construction, distribution, and manufacturing. Its accountant-first approach also makes it intuitive for financial professionals.

However, we don’t like the platform’s poor inventory management or the lack of remote access to data without a third-party add-on.

Pros:

Powerful job costing
Robust financial reporting
Great invoice customization

Cons:

Poor inventory management
Dated user interface
No remote access to data without add-on

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 $439/user/year
Client OS Windows

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

After rigorous testing, our editorial team has gathered insights on Sage 50cloud Accounting and Zoho Books, two popular accounting solutions. In this comparison, we’ll help you determine which software is a better fit for your business needs.

Sage 50cloud Accounting Overview

Sage 50cloud Accounting is a robust accounting software that includes features like accounts payable and receivable, general ledger reporting, and inventory management. It is particularly well-suited for small to mid-sized companies (1-500 employees), especially those in industries like construction, distribution, and manufacturing.

Pros:

Powerful job costing
Robust financial reporting
Great invoice customization

Cons:

Poor inventory management
Dated user interface
No remote access to data without an add-on

While the user interface might not be the most modern, Sage 50cloud Accounting offers powerful job costing and robust financial reporting capabilities. Users can also customize reports specific to their industries. However, the software’s inventory management is lacking, and there’s no remote access to data without a third-party add-on.

Zoho Books Overview

Zoho Books is a cloud-based accounting software that provides accounts receivables and payables functionality, allowing you to manage your financials and banking, create reports, and automate sales and purchasing workflows. It’s an excellent choice for small businesses with up to ten employees, particularly those in online retail spaces and digital marketing.

Pros:

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

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

Zoho Books impresses with time-tracking features, strong inventory management, and easy integration with other Zoho products. However, it falls short when it comes to modifying invoices, and time tracking must be tied to projects. Also, if your inventory grows too large, you’ll need to upgrade to ‘Zoho Inventory’.

Sage 50cloud Accounting vs. Zoho Books: Which is Better for Most Businesses?

Both Sage 50cloud Accounting and Zoho Books offer valuable features, but for most businesses, Zoho Books is the better choice. It offers a broader array of features, better inventory management, and easier integration with other Zoho products. It’s also more budget-friendly than Sage 50cloud Accounting, making it a more accessible choice for small businesses.

However, businesses that require advanced job costing and financial reporting may find more value in Sage 50cloud Accounting. Since Zoho Books is primarily suited for businesses with up to ten employees, larger businesses may need to explore other options.

For more insights and options, check out our roundup of the best accounting software overall.

Sage 50cloud Accounting

★★★★★

(23)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$439/user/year

Client OS

Windows

Deployment

On-Premises

Zoho Books

★★★★★

(6)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$15/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted