Zoho Projects Review

Zoho Projects comes with many integration tools that keep project operations in one place. Its collaboration tools and task-management features are ideal for remote workers, and its integration options make it perfect for a team with complex digital workflows. It is for all of this and more that Zoho Projects is our choice as the best overall project management software.

For a closer look at how we selected our best picks, visit our best picks page to see our methodology and a complete list of online project management software. 

Pricing

Zoho Projects is available in three service plans that differ in price, included features and how many users can access the software. All of the service plans are available on a month-to-month basis, however you can save money by paying annually.  No long-term contracts are required, so you can cancel at any time. Here is a breakdown of each plan.

Free

• Cost: $0
• Number of users: 3
• Features: 2 projects, Gantt chart viewer
• Storage: 10MB

Like most free software plans, Zoho Projects' free version is limited in the features it provides, but it gives you a gist of what the other tiers offer. We don't recommend using the free plan as a long-term or permanent solution.

Premium

• Cost: $4 per month/user (paid annually)
• Number of users: Up to 50
• Storage: 100GB and unlimited projects
• Project templates: 20

Enterprise

• Cost: $9 per month/user (paid annually)
• Number of users: No limit
• Storage: 120GB and unlimited projects
• Project templates: 30 

Key takeaway: Zoho Projects is available in three service plans that vary in price and features. There is a free plan and two paid options that range from $4 to $9 per user, per month.

Features

Besides tracking the progress of projects and all of the related tasks, Zoho Projects has some smart, convenient features (like its timesheet tool) that add a lot of value for businesses. Here are some of the features we think small businesses will find especially useful. 

• Task automation: Zoho Projects allows you to visualize your workflow and follow-up processes. You can chart your work with the drag-and-drop feature. You can assign tasks to team members by tagging them in assignments. You don't need to send separate follow-up emails, because automated email notifications go to staff members according to deadlines.  
  
  
• Task management: This feature helps you track progress once a project starts. You can assign to-dos to employees, set due dates, prioritize assignments and set reminders. Milestones are a cool feature, allowing everyone on your team to understand where they should be in the project. The Kanban system helps project managers visualize how much of a task is complete (expressed as a percentage). Managers can designate tasks, milestones, and issues on the project calendar, as well as schedule events and meetings. This gives everyone a complete view of the company's schedule and what still needs to be done. 
  
  
• Time tracking: You can use Zoho's timesheets feature to bill clients, track your team's pace and monitor the amount of time your team spends on work. You determine billable and nonbillable hours, and with a few clicks, the Zoho Invoice integration tool transforms timesheets into invoices for clients. 
  
  
• Social project management: Much like with social media platforms, team members can post comments, chat through an instant message feature, use the @ symbol to mention people by name, and have discussions or host forums about various projects. Each user has a profile page that streamlines all their project activities.  
  
  
• Charts and reports: Using Gantt charts, you can track projects, make edits to plans, or compare projects. Zoho's resource utilization chart displays the workload of each employee, which helps managers avoid overloading certain employees and distribute work fairly among team members.  
  
  
• Project administration: This feature allows you to create a template according to your company or project needs. Zoho has a gamification feature that rewards team members with cute digital badges and trophies when they reach their goals. 
  
  
• Issue tracker: This feature helps manage workflows by documenting, monitoring and addressing issues as they arise. You can monitor the team's progress on tracking and fixing bugs and other issues.

Key takeaway: Zoho Projects' valuable features include task automation and management, time and issue tracking, and gamification.

Pros and Cons of Zoho Projects

Pros

In addition to its diverse service plans and extensive feature set, there are various other benefits to Zoho. The company has created an interface that feels very much like a social media platform. Users can tag or @ people in projects and post comments, and your user profile is a stream of information that pertains to your workload. It has discussion forums that are similar to Facebook's model. Zoho Projects' design builds on people's ease and familiarity with social media, which creates an easier onboarding process for the software. 

In tracking projects, Zoho's visual displays of information and Gantt charts help map assignments in detail for your team. As changes are made, the chart updates itself, keeping everyone on the same page. It eliminates confusion by providing a very clear representation of the activity within your team and your current progress. 

Zoho has a mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. You can upload documents and files, add tasks, and stay up to date on your team's projects wherever you are. 

Another positive is the timesheet record, which helps you track how much time you spend on a project. You can accurately and easily clock hours spent on a project, ensuring your invoices are accurate and your time is appropriately budgeted. 

Cons

We chose Zoho Projects as the best overall project management tool for a reason, meaning its limitations are, well, limited. The scope of Zoho Projects, in terms of its features and navigation, can be intimidating, and it takes a little getting used to in the beginning. However, most programs do, and Zoho succeeds in creating a familiar, easy-to-use interface that doesn't involve a steep learning curve.  

Part of what makes Zoho special is the different task options it offers, but the downside of this is that it can be challenging to locate the particular task you need. As a result, some users may feel like certain features are missing when they are actually just harder to find.

Key takeaway: Zoho Projects' interface will feel familiar to many users, which makes the software easy to use. It also offers a mobile app, so you can keep track of your projects wherever you are. On the downside, Zoho offers such a wide selection of features and tools that it can sometimes be difficult to find the ones you need.

Customer Service

Zoho provides several helpful resources for users. The user guide provides clear instructions on using the features, supplementing them with screenshots so it's easy to follow along. The Zoho website also includes a knowledgebase, tutorials and videos, and you can reach the company by phone and email.

As part of our evaluation of Zoho, we contacted the company, posing as a small business owner interested in online project management software. We corresponded with representatives by email, which was followed by a phone call with a rep. 

The Zoho rep asked us pertinent questions about our business, including what our ideal project management system would look like. We watched Zoho's online demo, and the representative we spoke with on the phone gave us an overview of the software as well. At the end of the call, we had a clear understanding of how Zoho Projects works and what it offers. At no time did we feel pressured to buy the software. 

Key takeaway: You can reach Zoho for support by phone or email. Additionally, its website includes several helpful resources, including a knowledgebase, tutorials and videos.