Starting priceFrom $3/user/moPaid plans from 5 users; yearly billing saves more than 20%
Free trial / planFree plan for 5 users; 30-day trial
Vettlo score81/100
G2 user rating4.5/5432 reviews
Zoho People Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
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Short answer
Zoho People ranks #3 of 6 in our HRIS tools ranking (81/100). Best low-cost HRIS, with a free plan for up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $3/user/mo (Paid plans from 5 users; yearly billing saves more than 20%).
What is Zoho People?
Zoho People has a free plan for up to 5 users and four paid plans with a 5-user minimum. Free includes custom time-off policies; Essential HR adds onboarding and offboarding, the employee database, document management and HR reports; Professional adds attendance, timesheets and rostering; Premium adds performance, compensation and engagement; Enterprise adds an HR help desk and learning management.
Who it's best for
Small businesses on a tight budget, especially those already using Zoho apps such as Zoho Payroll or Zoho Books.
Why we rank it
It has the lowest published starting price here, a free plan, a 30-day trial on every plan, and each plan's features are clearly listed.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Free for up to 5 users
- Plans start at $3 per user per month
- 30-day free trial on all plans
Watch-outs
- Performance management needs Premium; time tracking needs Professional
- Plan prices vary by region and weren't shown to us
- More configuration than BambooHR or Connecteam
Skip it if: You want an HRIS a non-HR manager can set up in an afternoon.
Zoho People pricing
Paid plans start at $3/user/mo (Paid plans from 5 users; yearly billing saves more than 20%). Free plan or trial: Free plan for 5 users; 30-day trial.
From Zoho People's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our HRIS tools pricing overview.
How we scored Zoho People
HRIS score: 81/100
Core HR & records (20%)4/5
Time off & onboarding (20%)4.5/5
Performance & engagement (15%)4/5
Payroll & integrations (15%)3.5/5
Ease of use (10%)3/5
Price & transparency (20%)4.5/5
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How Zoho People compares
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BambooHR | Small and midsize companies that want a complete, easy HRIS | $250/mo | 85/100 |
| 2 | Factorial | Small teams that want time off, time tracking and documents in one tool | From $8/employee/mo | 82/100 |
| 3 | Zoho People | Best low-cost HRIS, with a free plan for up to 5 users | From $3/user/mo | 81/100 |
| 4 | Rippling | Growing companies that want HR, payroll and IT on one employee record | From $8/employee/mo | 80/100 |
| 5 | HiBob | Mid-size and international companies focused on culture and engagement | Pricing on request | 78/100 |
| 6 | Connecteam | Deskless and frontline teams that run HR from their phones | $29/mo for 30 users | 77/100 |
Alternatives and comparisons
Zoho People FAQ
How much does Zoho People cost?
Paid plans start at $3/user/mo (Paid plans from 5 users; yearly billing saves more than 20%). Free plan or trial: Free plan for 5 users; 30-day trial.
Is Zoho People worth it?
Zoho People scores 81/100 in our HRIS tools ranking, where it is best low-cost HRIS, with a free plan for up to 5 users. It's a weaker fit if: you want an HRIS a non-HR manager can set up in an afternoon.
Does Zoho People have a free plan or trial?
Free plan for 5 users; 30-day trial.
What are the best Zoho People alternatives?
In our HRIS tools ranking, the closest alternatives are BambooHR, Factorial and Rippling.