Plutio vs Zoho: Complete Comparison (2026)

Zoho spreads the tools freelancers need across 4+ separate apps (CRM, Projects, Invoice, and Sign) each have their own interface, login, and data model. Getting proposals, project management, invoicing, and e-signatures into one connected workflow requires either stacking subscriptions at $28+/month or paying $90/month for the Zoho One per-user plan, and even then the apps retain separate interfaces. A deal closes in Zoho CRM. The project starts in Zoho Projects. The invoice goes out in Zoho Invoice. The contract gets signed in Zoho Sign. Four separate apps, four separate data sets, no automation between them.

Plutio handles contacts and the full workflow that follows: proposals with interactive pricing that convert to projects with task templates, contracts with e-signatures, invoicing from tracked time, and a branded portal at your domain where clients check progress without emailing you, all at $19/month with no per-user charges.

Last updated February 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Zoho is a suite of 45+ business apps. The CRM handles contacts, deal pipelines, and AI-assisted lead scoring. Zoho Projects manages tasks with Kanban boards and Gantt charts. Zoho Invoice handles billing for free. Zoho Sign manages e-signatures at $10/user/month. Each app operates as a separate product with its own interface and data model. Connecting them into a single client workflow requires either Zoho One (All Employee plan at $37/user/month with every employee licensed) or the Zoho One per-user plan at $90/user/month. Stacking those four apps costs $28+/user/month at minimum annual billing.

Plutio is a client management platform for freelancers and agencies. CRM tracks contacts and deals. When a lead says yes, a proposal goes out with interactive pricing. On acceptance, the proposal converts to a project automatically with tasks from your template. Contracts attach with e-signatures. Time tracked on tasks flows into invoices. Clients log into a branded portal at your domain. CRM, proposals, projects, invoicing, time tracking, and the client portal run in one interface at a flat $19/month regardless of team size.

Key differences at a glance

Proposals built in: Plutio includes a visual proposal builder with interactive pricing tables, e-signatures, and view analytics. Zoho has no native proposal builder, proposals require third-party tools like Proposify ($49/month) or Qwilr ($35/month).
One platform vs four apps: Plutio handles CRM, proposals, projects, invoicing, and client portals in a single interface. Zoho splits those functions across Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, Zoho Invoice, and Zoho Sign, each requiring its own setup and subscription.
Time tracking connects to invoicing: In Plutio, time logged on tasks flows directly into client invoices with a task-by-task breakdown. In Zoho, time lives in Zoho Projects and invoices live in Zoho Invoice, two separate apps, with no automatic connection.
Flat pricing vs per-user stacking: Plutio Core costs $19/month regardless of team or contact list size. Zoho's per-user pricing across multiple apps means costs scale with every person added to the account.

Zoho has individual apps for CRM, project management, and invoicing, but each is a separate product with its own interface, data model, and subscription. Plutio connects proposals, projects, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, and client portals in one platform at $19/month, with the workflow automated so closing a deal starts a project and tracked time becomes an invoice.

CRM and contact management

A lead comes in through the contact form. Tracking the conversation, following up at the right time, and knowing what happens after they sign all starts with the CRM. But where does the CRM hand off to the next step?

Zoho

Zoho CRM tracks contacts, companies, and deals. The free tier supports up to 3 users with deal pipelines, lead management, and activity logging. Paid plans ($14-52/user/month) add workflow automation, AI-assisted lead scoring through Zia, custom modules, and omnichannel engagement across email, phone, and social.

Where the CRM stops is what happens after the deal closes. There is no proposal builder inside Zoho CRM, no contract system, and no project management. After a deal is marked won, the next step is opening Zoho Projects in a separate browser tab, manually creating the project, and copying over the client details. The deal and the project live in separate apps with separate data.

Contact and company records with activity timeline
Deal pipeline management with custom stages
AI lead scoring via Zia (Professional+)
Workflow automation and email sequences
Omnichannel engagement (email, phone, social)
No native proposal builder
No deal-to-project handoff in same interface
No invoice history on contact record (separate app)

Plutio

CRM that connects to every step that follows. Contacts and companies live alongside proposals, projects, invoices, and conversations in one interface. When a lead converts, the proposal goes out, the contract gets signed, and a project starts with tasks already assigned, so the work begins without opening a second app. Every interaction from the first inquiry to the latest payment shows up on the contact timeline.

Custom fields, tags, and filters organize contacts by industry, project type, or revenue. Pipeline views track deals through stages. And because the CRM connects to proposals, projects, and billing, there is no gap between closing a deal and starting the project.

Contact and company management with custom fields
Deal pipeline with custom stages
Full activity timeline (proposals, projects, invoices, messages)
Tags, filters, and segments
Proposal sends directly from contact record
Auto-create project when proposal is signed
Invoice history linked to contact
Forms and intake connected to CRM

Invoicing and payments

The project wraps up. An invoice needs to go out, a payment needs to be collected, and the billable hours need to match the work on record. Does the invoicing tool connect to the project that generated the work?

Zoho

Zoho Invoice is a separate free app that handles invoices, quotes, expense tracking, and recurring billing. Payment gateways include Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, and others. The free plan is permanently free but limits accounts to 2 users and 500 invoices per year, and Zoho branding appears on all client-facing documents.

The disconnect is between time and billing. Time tracking lives in Zoho Projects. Invoices live in Zoho Invoice. There is no direct connection between the two: generating an invoice from tracked project hours requires manually exporting time data from Zoho Projects and re-entering it in Zoho Invoice. The disconnect between recording hours and billing for them depends entirely on manual transfer across separate apps.

Zoho Invoice (free, but limited to 2 users, 500 invoices/year)
Zoho branding on documents (free plan)
Multiple payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay)
Recurring invoices and subscriptions
Expense tracking (Zoho Expense, a separate app)
No time-to-invoice connection (separate apps)
No visual invoice builder
No invoice linked to project or proposal

Plutio

Invoicing connected to the work that generated it. The visual invoice builder creates branded documents with your logo, colors, and payment terms. When time is tracked on tasks, one click generates an invoice with a complete breakdown: each task, its duration, and the rate applied. Retainer clients get auto-billing through subscriptions. Installment plans split larger invoices across scheduled charges.

Multiple payment processors connect: Stripe, Square, PayPal, ACH bank transfers. Automated reminders follow up on late payments. Because invoicing connects to proposals and projects, the entire chain from scope to payment stays in one place with no manual transfers between apps.

Visual invoice builder with brand customization
Multiple gateways: Stripe, Square, PayPal, ACH
One-click invoice from tracked time logs
Subscription management (auto-billing)
Payment plans with installments
Automated payment reminders
Expense tracking built in
Invoice linked to proposal, project, and time logs

Proposals and contracts

A potential client is interested. Before the project starts, a proposal with pricing goes out, scope gets defined, and the terms need to be formalized in a contract. Which tool handles that, and does it connect to what comes after?

Zoho

Zoho has no native proposal builder. There is no tool inside Zoho CRM or Zoho One that creates interactive proposals with pricing tables, custom sections, or client-facing package selection. Freelancers using Zoho for proposals add third-party integrations: Proposify ($49/month), Qwilr ($35/month), or Better Proposals ($19/month). Each is a separate subscription with no automated connection back to Zoho Projects or Zoho Invoice.

Zoho Sign handles e-signatures as a separate paid app ($10/user/month for Standard). Zoho Contracts is yet another separate product. A freelancer managing proposals and contracts through Zoho ends up with at least two additional subscriptions, two additional interfaces, and no automation between the signed proposal and the project that should follow.

No native proposal builder
No interactive pricing tables
No proposal view analytics
E-signatures via Zoho Sign ($10/user/mo, separate app)
No proposal-to-project automation
No contract management (Zoho Contracts is a separate product)
No proposal-to-invoice connection

Plutio

Proposals that close deals and start projects. The visual proposal builder lets sections get dragged into place with interactive pricing tables where clients pick packages or toggle add-ons. Send the proposal branded with your logo, colors, and domain. When the client accepts, the proposal converts to a project automatically with tasks from your template. Contracts attach to the same flow with e-signatures and full audit trails. Real-time analytics show exactly when someone opened the proposal, what they clicked, and how long they spent on each section.

Because proposals connect to projects and invoicing, the handoff from signed proposal to active project takes seconds instead of manual setup across multiple apps.

Visual proposal builder with section templates
Interactive pricing tables with packages and add-ons
Auto-convert to project on acceptance
E-signatures with audit trail
Real-time view tracking and analytics
Contract templates with dynamic fields
Proposal-to-invoice automation
Reusable content blocks and templates

Project and task management

Multiple clients, overlapping deadlines, deliverables at different stages. Tracking what is due, who is handling what, and where each project stands requires one central view, along with a way to start new projects without re-entering tasks, deadlines, and assignments each time.

Zoho

Zoho Projects covers Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and task dependencies. Create tasks, set priorities and deadlines, assign team members, and add subtasks. Kanban boards show work moving through stages. Gantt charts map timelines with dependencies. Templates pre-populate tasks for repeating project types. Time tracking at the task level handles billing and reporting.

Zoho Projects is a separate application from Zoho CRM. The client record in CRM and the project in Projects do not share a live data connection, they are different apps with different interfaces, and there is no automated handoff from a closed deal to a project, and because proposals do not exist in Zoho, there is no proposal-to-project automation at all. Every new project requires manual setup in a separate app.

Kanban boards with custom columns
Gantt charts with task dependencies
Subtasks and project templates
Time tracking on tasks
Recurring tasks
Separate app from Zoho CRM
No deal-to-project handoff in same interface
No auto-project creation (no native proposals)

Plutio

Project management built for client work. Kanban boards show work moving through stages, Gantt charts map timelines and dependencies, and list, table, and calendar views handle triage, bulk edits, and deadline planning. When a proposal is signed, the project builds itself from your template with tasks already assigned, so work begins immediately instead of creating tasks, assigning team members, and setting deadlines manually in a separate app.

Project templates include tasks, subtasks, dependencies, and time estimates. Recurring tasks handle repeating work. Custom fields track anything specific to the workflow. Because invoicing connects to tasks, tracked time flows directly into client invoices without switching tools.

5 views: Kanban, Gantt, List, Table, Calendar
Auto-create project when proposal is signed
Subtasks with unlimited nesting
Task dependencies with visual links
Recurring tasks (daily, weekly, monthly, custom)
Project templates with auto-task creation
Custom fields, statuses, and priorities
Time tracking connected to invoicing

Client portals and visibility

Clients want to check project status without emailing. When a client logs in, what do they see, and is it one place or three different portals depending on what they are looking for?

Zoho

Zoho has separate portals for separate apps. Zoho CRM Portal lets clients view their records and update information. Zoho Projects Portal lets clients track project tasks and milestones. Zoho Desk Portal handles support tickets. Each portal is tied to its specific application: a client checking project status logs into one URL, a client checking invoices goes somewhere else, and a client submitting a support request uses a third interface.

There is no unified client portal in Zoho where clients see their projects, invoices, proposals, and contracts in one place. A client working with a freelancer on Zoho needs different logins or access points depending on what they are looking for. The separate portals require the freelancer to explain which URL to use for each purpose.

Zoho Projects Portal (project tasks only)
Zoho CRM Portal (contact data only)
Zoho Desk Portal (support tickets only)
No unified portal (projects + invoices + contracts in one place)
No custom domain on standard plans
No white-label branding (Zoho logo visible)
No deliverable approval workflow

Plutio

Clients get one branded workspace for projects, invoices, files, and messages. When a client logs in, they see your domain, not a third-party URL. The portal shows tasks, files, deadlines, messages, invoices, and contracts all in one place. Clients check progress whenever they want instead of emailing, approve deliverables right in the portal, and upload assets in the same place. Full control over what clients see keeps internal workflow private.

Custom domain (yourcompany.com)
White-label branding (remove Plutio)
Tasks, files, deadlines visible to clients
Invoices and contracts in same portal
In-app messaging tied to projects
Deliverable approval workflow
File uploads from clients
Custom CSS for full styling control

Time tracking and billing

A client questions a line item. Showing exactly what that time was spent on requires a direct link between tracked hours and the tasks that produced them, and a way to turn those hours into an invoice without copying data between apps.

Zoho

Zoho Projects includes task-level time tracking. Timers start and stop on individual tasks, and timesheet reports show hours by team member, project, or date range. Billable and non-billable hours are tracked separately, and time estimates let teams compare planned against actual hours.

The problem is the missing connection between tracking and billing. Zoho Projects and Zoho Invoice are separate applications with no direct connection. A freelancer who tracks 12 hours in Zoho Projects and wants to bill for them must export the time data, then manually enter it into Zoho Invoice. There is no one-click invoice from tracked hours because the two apps do not share data automatically. The accuracy of billing depends on the accuracy of that manual transfer.

Timer on tasks in Zoho Projects
Billable vs non-billable separation
Timesheet reports by team and project
Time estimates vs actual tracking
No direct time-to-invoice connection (separate apps)
Time data must be copied manually to Zoho Invoice
No custom billing rates per client in unified interface

Plutio

Time tracking included on all plans. Track time at the task level with one-click timers, and logged hours roll up to projects automatically. When all hours are logged, one click generates an invoice with a complete breakdown of what was worked on: each task, its duration, and the rate applied. Clients see exactly what each hour went toward.

Custom rates per task, project, or client mean accurate billing across different engagements. When tracked hours flow directly into invoices instead of getting exported to a separate app, billing takes 2-3 minutes and nothing gets lost in the transfer.

One-click timer on any task
Task-level AND project-level tracking
Billable vs non-billable separation
Custom rates per task, project, or client
Time reports by client, project, team
Direct invoice generation from logged hours
Team timesheet approval workflow
Time estimates with actual vs planned

White-label branding and customization

Clients should see the business brand everywhere. When a client logs in, receives an invoice, or checks project progress, the touchpoint should carry the business identity, not the software vendor's logo.

Zoho

Zoho branding persists across most plans. Zoho Invoice shows Zoho's logo on client-facing documents on the free plan. Zoho Projects Portal displays Zoho branding on standard plans. Removing Zoho branding from client-facing interfaces requires moving to higher-tier plans or Zoho Developer programs.

Full white-labeling is not available as a standard feature in Zoho One or individual apps. Zoho Contracts explicitly does not support white-labeling per Zoho's own community documentation. Custom domains for client portals require additional configuration, and full CSS control over the portal interface is not available on standard plans. A client logging into the portal sees Zoho's branding, not the freelancer's.

Zoho branding on free Zoho Invoice documents
No standard white-label option in Zoho One
Zoho Contracts does not support white-labeling
No custom domain for client portal (standard plans)
No branded login pages
No custom CSS for portal interface

Plutio

Clients see the business brand everywhere. When a client logs in, they go to yourcompany.com, not a third-party URL. The login page has the logo and colors. The interface matches the brand. Emails come from a connected custom domain. The full client portal can be embedded into a website. Custom CSS gives exact control over every visual detail.

Custom domain (clients see yourcompany.com)
Full white-label (remove all Plutio branding)
Custom interface theme (brand colors throughout)
Branded login and signup pages
Custom SMTP (emails from your domain)
Full workspace embedding into website
Custom CSS for complete styling control
Custom logo throughout the platform

Pricing and total cost of ownership

Zoho's free tiers and low entry prices look attractive until the actual workflow requires multiple apps. For freelancers, what matters is the total monthly cost to run a complete client management workflow.

Zoho

Low entry price, high app-stacking cost. Individual Zoho apps are priced per user per month: CRM Standard at $14/user/month, Projects Premium at $4/user/month, Sign Standard at $10/user/month. Zoho Invoice is free but limited to 500 invoices/year and 2 users with Zoho branding. Stacking those four apps for one user costs $28+/month at annual billing.

Zoho One packages all 45+ apps together. The All Employee plan at $37/user/month requires every employee to be licensed, a freelancer with one part-time contractor must license both users. The per-user plan, which lets individuals buy access without licensing everyone, costs $90/user/month. Neither option removes the separate interfaces problem, as each Zoho app still has its own login and data model.

CRM Standard: $14/user/mo (annual)
Projects Premium: $4/user/mo (annual)
Sign Standard: $10/user/mo (annual)
Invoice: Free (limited to 500/yr, 2 users, Zoho branding)
Zoho One All Employee: $37/user/mo (all staff must be licensed)
Zoho One per-user plan: $90/user/mo
No proposals included in any plan
Still no unified client portal across apps

Plutio

One price for everything. Plutio's Core plan starts at $19/month and includes CRM, project management, proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, client portals, and white-labeling. The Pro plan at $49/month adds automation, custom roles, and priority support. No per-user pricing, no per-contact pricing, no mandatory onboarding fees, and no annual contracts required.

When CRM, proposals, invoicing, and project management live in one platform, there are no integration gaps, no surprise overage charges, and no separate subscriptions for e-signatures or proposals. The total cost stays the same whether managing 2 clients or 50.

$19/month Core (all features included)
$49/month Pro (advanced automation + roles)
No per-user pricing
No per-contact pricing
No mandatory onboarding fees
No annual contract required
Proposals and contracts included
Predictable pricing as client count grows

Communication and client inbox

A client replies to a proposal email. A contractor asks about a task. Keeping those conversations tied to the right client and project, not scattered across email threads and separate apps, prevents messages, decisions, and approvals from getting lost across email threads.

Zoho

Zoho has communication spread across separate apps. Zoho Mail handles email. Zoho Cliq handles team messaging and channels. Zoho Desk handles customer support tickets. Each is a separate application. Conversations in Zoho Cliq are not connected to projects in Zoho Projects. Emails in Zoho Mail do not automatically link to the corresponding project or invoice.

There is no unified inbox in Zoho where a freelancer sees all client emails, project updates, and messages in one thread. Tracking a client conversation requires checking Zoho Mail, checking Zoho CRM activity, and checking Zoho Desk, depending on where the client reached out.

Zoho Mail (separate app)
Zoho Cliq for team messaging (separate app)
Zoho Desk for support tickets (separate app)
No unified inbox across all communication types
No project-based conversation threads
Client emails not automatically linked to projects

Plutio

All client conversations in one place. When a client emails, that message shows up in their thread alongside every other exchange: project updates, file shares, payment confirmations. The whole team sees the same inbox, so when someone is away and a client sends an urgent message, another team member can step in. Replies sent from regular email sync back to the Plutio thread. Internal team channels keep private discussions separate from client-facing threads. Embed live chat on a website to capture leads directly into the CRM.

Multi-email integration (connect all accounts)
Shared team inbox (everyone sees client emails)
Auto-sort emails into client 1:1 threads
Project conversations stay with the project
Team channels for internal discussions
Direct messages between teammates
@mentions pull people into conversations
Embeddable live chat for website

Automation and workflows

Repetitive setup on every new project (creating tasks, sending welcome emails, scheduling kickoff calls) takes time that could go to client work. How much of that runs automatically, and does the automation span the full client lifecycle?

Zoho

Zoho has automation within each app. Zoho CRM includes workflow rules that trigger actions when deals move through stages. Zoho Projects includes task templates and milestone automation. Individual apps handle repetitive work within their own scope. Zoho Flow ($10/user/month) adds cross-app automation, connecting actions in Zoho CRM to tasks in Zoho Projects through a separate automation interface.

Because proposals do not exist natively in Zoho, there is no proposal-to-project automation. The most common freelancer workflow, send proposal, client accepts, project starts automatically, requires either a third-party proposal tool with custom Zoho Flow integration, or manual handoff between apps. Cross-app automation also requires a Zoho Flow subscription, adding another product to the stack.

Workflow rules within Zoho CRM
Task templates in Zoho Projects
Cross-app automation via Zoho Flow (separate subscription)
No proposal-to-project automation (no native proposals)
No payment-triggered project automation
No unified visual automation builder across all apps

Plutio

Automation across the full client workflow. The visual automation builder sets up multi-step workflows triggered by proposal acceptance, task completion, form submission, payment received, or client activity. When a lead signs the proposal, automation creates the project, assigns onboarding tasks, schedules the kickoff, and sends welcome materials, without any manual steps.

Because proposals, projects, invoicing, and communication all live in one platform, automation can span the full client lifecycle: from the first inquiry to the final invoice, every step that repeats can run automatically.

Visual drag-and-drop workflow builder
Triggers on project, task, payment, form events
Multi-step workflows with conditional logic
Proposal-to-project automation
Contract-to-task automation
Payment-triggered workflows
Email notifications and sequences
Webhook integrations

Running a client project: Zoho vs Plutio

A lead fills out the contact form and wants to hire a freelance designer for a brand refresh. What happens from first inquiry to final payment?

With Zoho, here is how it usually goes:

The lead enters Zoho CRM from the form submission
Track the deal through pipeline stages and schedule a discovery call
The lead says yes, open Proposify or Qwilr to create the proposal (separate subscription)
For the contract, switch to Zoho Sign (separate app, $10/month)
Open Zoho Projects to create a new project, manually re-enter the client details from CRM
Set up tasks, assign team members, and configure the project from scratch
Track time on tasks in Zoho Projects throughout the engagement
At billing time, export time data from Zoho Projects and re-enter it in Zoho Invoice
Send the invoice through Zoho Invoice (free, but with Zoho branding)
The client checks progress by logging into the Zoho Projects portal (a different URL than everything else)

With Plutio, here is how it works:

The lead enters Plutio CRM from the form and moves through the pipeline
Send a proposal with interactive pricing and an attached contract, both from the same screen
The client signs and pays the deposit, the project is created automatically from the template
Tasks are already assigned with dependencies and deadlines, no manual setup
Track time on tasks with built-in timers throughout the project
The client logs into the branded portal at yourcompany.com to see tasks, files, and messages
One click generates an invoice from logged hours with a full task breakdown
The client pays through the branded portal and sees the receipt in their dashboard

Zoho requires 4+ separate apps, 4+ separate logins, and manual data transfer between each one. Plutio handles the same workflow in one interface with the steps automated.

Where Plutio wins (the proof)

These are verifiable differences, not opinions.

1. Proposals: Plutio has them, Zoho does not

Zoho: No native proposal builder exists across any Zoho product. The Proposify-Zoho integration page and Qwilr's Zoho CRM integration both exist specifically because Zoho has no proposal feature. Zoho Sign ($10/user/month) handles e-signatures as a separate subscription.

Plutio: Visual proposal builder with interactive pricing, e-signatures, view analytics, and auto-conversion to projects, all included in the base plan.

2. Time-to-invoice: connected vs manual transfer

Zoho: Time tracking lives in Zoho Projects. Invoicing lives in Zoho Invoice. Two separate apps. Generating an invoice from tracked time requires manually exporting data from one and entering it in the other.

Plutio: Time tracked on tasks flows directly into invoices through the same platform. One click generates the invoice with a complete task-by-task breakdown.

3. App count: one vs four minimum

Zoho: A freelancer needs Zoho CRM + Zoho Projects + Zoho Invoice + Zoho Sign to cover CRM, project management, invoicing, and e-signatures. Four separate interfaces, four separate data models, and four separate products to maintain.

Plutio: CRM, proposals, contracts, project management, invoicing, time tracking, and client portals in one platform at $19/month.

When Zoho might be the right choice

No tool fits every workflow. Zoho might be the right choice if:

The business runs on many separate functions. Zoho One at $37/user/month (All Employee plan) gives access to 45+ apps including HR, accounting, email marketing, helpdesk, and CRM. For companies that genuinely need all those functions, the bundle offers breadth that a focused client management tool does not match. Plutio covers proposals, projects, invoicing, and client portals but does not include HR, full accounting, or enterprise marketing tools.
The team already uses Zoho CRM deeply. Zoho CRM has workflow automation, AI lead scoring through Zia, and omnichannel engagement. Migrating CRM history, custom modules, and automation rules typically takes 2-4 weeks with dedicated setup time. The limitation is that even with the existing CRM investment, proposals, project management, and a unified client portal still require separate Zoho apps or third-party tools, adding $28+/month on top of the CRM cost.
The Zoho Invoice free plan covers billing needs. For freelancers with fewer than 500 invoices per year and two users or fewer, Zoho Invoice is free. The limitations: Zoho branding appears on all client documents, there is no connection to project time tracking, and the app does not include proposals.
The business is enterprise-scale with an IT team. Zoho CRM's Enterprise and Ultimate plans ($40-52/user/month) include territory management, custom signals, and advanced customization. Those plans are priced for enterprise sales teams with dozens of salespeople, not for freelancers or small agencies.

But if the need is proposals, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and a client portal in one place without stacking multiple subscriptions, Plutio covers the full workflow at $19/month, compared to the $28+/month Zoho stack that still requires a separate proposal tool.

Why they switched: client results

What happens when freelancers replace separate apps for CRM, invoicing, and project management with one platform?

West 7th Design Studio reduced client support requests by 90% after switching to Plutio. Clients got one branded portal to see progress, invoices, and files instead of emailing for every update. The previous tool stack, separate CRM, invoicing, and project management apps, was replaced by a single platform.

YazMarketing increased their sales pipeline by 80% after moving to Plutio. Connecting proposals directly to projects eliminated the manual handoff between separate tools, and more time went to client work instead of app-switching.

Final verdict

Zoho covers individual business functions, CRM, project management, invoicing, through separate apps that each have their own interface, login, and data model. Plutio covers what freelancers need in one place: proposals that auto-create projects, time tracking that flows into invoices, and a client portal where clients check progress without emailing. Zoho has a 4.1/5 on G2 from 2,800+ reviews. Plutio has a 4.4/5 focused on freelancer and agency workflows.

Zoho's CRM includes pipeline management, AI lead scoring, and omnichannel engagement. Zoho Projects handles Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and time tracking. Zoho Invoice handles billing for free. Zoho Sign handles e-signatures at $10/user/month. Each app requires its own setup, its own interface, and produces its own data that does not automatically transfer to the others.

The missing piece for freelancers is the workflow between those apps: no native proposals, no proposal-to-project automation, no direct time-to-invoice connection, and no unified client portal where clients see everything in one place. Building that workflow through Zoho apps costs $28+/user/month for the apps alone, before adding a proposal tool.

The bottom line: Zoho offers strong individual apps, but covering the full freelancer workflow requires stacking 4+ separate products with $28+/month in subscriptions, manual data transfers between apps, and no unified client experience. Plutio handles the complete workflow, proposals, contracts, projects, invoicing, time tracking, and client portals, in one platform at $19/month, with automation connecting each step.

How to switch from Zoho to Plutio

Switching from Zoho to Plutio means replacing separate apps for CRM, project management, and invoicing with one platform. For teams that still need Zoho's HR, accounting, or email marketing tools, both can coexist through integrations.

Step 1: Export your Zoho CRM data
Export contacts, companies, leads, and deals from Zoho CRM as CSV files. Go to Settings > Data Administration > Export to download your records. Include custom fields and activity history.

Step 2: Import into Plutio
Upload the CSVs to Plutio. The importer maps Zoho CRM fields like Contact Name, Company, Deal Stage, and custom properties directly to Plutio CRM fields. Tags and custom fields transfer as well.

Step 3: Build your project templates
Create templates for common project types with tasks, subtasks, dependencies, and automations. These templates auto-generate when proposals are signed, so future projects start with zero manual setup.

Step 4: Set up your client portal
Configure the custom domain, add branding, and invite clients to their new workspace. Move any proposal templates from third-party tools into Plutio's proposal builder. Connect payment processors and configure invoicing.

Research & Sources

All comparison data and pricing on this page was verified in February 2026 using official product pages, user reviews, and third-party analysis.

Pricing verification sources

Plutio: Official pricing, GetApp reviews
Zoho CRM: Official CRM pricing
Zoho Projects: Official Projects pricing
Zoho One: Official Zoho One pricing
Zoho Sign: Official Sign pricing

Feature and review sources

Verification methodology

For each feature in the comparison table:

We consult official product documentation
We verify with multiple third-party sources (Capterra, G2, official community forums)
We cross-reference with user reviews and integration partner pages
We update pricing monthly based on current published rates

If you find any inaccuracies, email help@plutio.com and the data gets corrected.

Plutio vs Zoho: full feature comparison for 2026

CRM, invoicing, proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, client portals, and automation compared side by side

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	Zoho CRM Standard $14/user/mo, Professional $23/user/mo. Zoho Projects Premium $4/user/mo. Zoho Invoice free (limited). Stack total: $28+/user/mo
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	Free CRM (3 users), free Invoice (500 invoices/year, 2 users, Zoho branding), but most core apps require paid plans
Trial period	14-day free trial	15-day free trial on most Zoho apps
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Full project and task management via Zoho Projects with Kanban, Gantt, and milestone views
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	Role-based permissions in Zoho Projects
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	Multiple boards per project in Zoho Projects
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	No embeddable project boards
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	Client portal access in Zoho Projects (no public read-only links)
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	Milestones and project statuses in Zoho Projects
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Separate apps — Zoho Projects, Zoho Sign, and Zoho Invoice are not natively connected in one workflow
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	Custom fields available in Zoho Projects
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	Kanban board view in Zoho Projects
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	Table/spreadsheet view in Zoho Projects
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	List view available in Zoho Projects
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	Calendar view for tasks and deadlines in Zoho Projects
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	Gantt chart with dependencies in Zoho Projects
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	Nested subtasks supported in Zoho Projects
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	Email-to-task available in Zoho Projects via email forwarding
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	Comments with @mentions on tasks in Zoho Projects
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	File attachments on tasks in Zoho Projects
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	Task priority levels in Zoho Projects
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	Tags and color coding in Zoho Projects
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	Multiple assignees per task in Zoho Projects
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	Task and project templates in Zoho Projects
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	Role-based task access (no per-task granular permissions)
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	Task dependencies supported in Zoho Projects
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	Recurring tasks in Zoho Projects
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	Custom fields on tasks in Zoho Projects
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Built-in time tracking in Zoho Projects only (separate from Zoho CRM and Zoho Invoice)
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Task-level time tracking in Zoho Projects
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Project-level time logs and rollup reports in Zoho Projects
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Billable time in Zoho Projects (not automatically connected to Zoho Invoice)
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	No direct connection from Zoho Projects time logs to Zoho Invoice — separate apps require manual export
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Timesheet reports in Zoho Projects
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	Team timesheets with approval workflow in Zoho Projects (Premium plan)
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	No native proposal builder — requires third-party tools like Proposify or Qwilr
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	No proposal builder in any Zoho app
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	No native proposal templates
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	No proposal view analytics
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	No live messenger on proposals
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	No proposal-to-project automation
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	No native proposal-to-invoice conversion
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	No native proposal packages or add-ons
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	No interactive pricing tables
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	No dynamic data variables in proposals
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	No proposal expiration dates
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	PDF export available in various Zoho apps (not proposal-specific)
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	No reusable proposal content blocks
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	Via Zoho Sign — separate paid app ($10/user/mo)
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	No proposal custom fields (no native proposal module)
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	Zoho Sign handles e-signatures (separate paid app, $10/user/mo). Zoho Contracts is a separate enterprise product
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	No drag-and-drop contract builder
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	Via Zoho Sign — legally binding e-signatures (separate paid app)
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	Multiple signers via Zoho Sign (separate app)
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	No native contract templates (Zoho Contracts is a separate enterprise product)
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	Automated reminders via Zoho Sign (separate app)
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	No dynamic variables in contracts (no native contract builder)
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	No contract automation triggers
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	View and sign notifications via Zoho Sign (separate app)
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	Signed PDF with certificate via Zoho Sign (separate app)
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	No custom signer data fields
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	No custom contract fields (no native contract builder)
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Zoho Invoice is free but limited (500 invoices/year, 2 users, Zoho branding on free plan)
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Custom branding in Zoho Invoice (Zoho footer shown on free plan; full custom branding on paid plans)
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Invoice builder in Zoho Invoice
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Customizable line items in Zoho Invoice
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Discounts on line items and invoices in Zoho Invoice
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Tax configuration in Zoho Invoice
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	ACH available via Stripe integration in Zoho Invoice (not direct)
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	Stripe payment gateway supported in Zoho Invoice
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	Square not natively supported (Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay available)
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	PayPal payment gateway supported in Zoho Invoice
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Partial payments supported in Zoho Invoice (limited configuration)
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	Payment terms configurable in Zoho Invoice (no structured payment plan builder)
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Recurring invoices and subscription billing in Zoho Invoice
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	Subscription management via Zoho Subscriptions (separate app)
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Automated payment reminders in Zoho Invoice
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Invoice templates in Zoho Invoice
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	Multi-currency support in Zoho Invoice
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	Basic automation in Zoho Invoice (limited compared to a full automation builder)
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	Email notifications when invoices are viewed and paid in Zoho Invoice
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	Zoho Expense is a separate app (not built into Invoice or Projects)
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	Retainers/deposits supported in Zoho Invoice
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	No direct connection from Zoho Projects time logs to Zoho Invoice — separate apps with no auto-billing
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	Custom fields on invoices in Zoho Invoice
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	No unified inbox — Zoho Mail, Zoho Cliq, and Zoho CRM are all separate apps
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	Email via Zoho Mail integration (separate app)
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	Zoho SalesIQ provides embeddable live chat (separate app)
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	Zoho Cliq for team direct messaging (separate app)
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	Conversations not natively connected to projects across separate Zoho apps
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	Team channels via Zoho Cliq (separate app)
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	Custom channels in Zoho Cliq (separate app)
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	@mentions in Zoho Cliq and within individual apps (not unified)
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	Read receipts in Zoho Cliq (separate app)
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	File sharing in Zoho Cliq and other Zoho apps
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	No shared email inbox feature
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	Zoho Mail and Zoho Cliq have mobile apps (separate apps)
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	No unified email-reply-to-inbox feature
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Zoho WorkDrive for file storage and management (separate app)
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Folder organization in Zoho WorkDrive
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Permission-based folder access in Zoho WorkDrive
People folders	Group files by person when needed	Team folders in Zoho WorkDrive (no people-specific personal folders)
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Project file folders in Zoho Projects (not auto-synced with WorkDrive)
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	File previews in Zoho WorkDrive
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	File metadata in Zoho WorkDrive (limited custom fields)
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	Zoho Writer for document creation (separate app in Zoho suite)
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	Comments on files and docs in Zoho WorkDrive and Writer
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	Bulk actions in Zoho WorkDrive (limited operations)
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Search and filter in Zoho WorkDrive
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	Google Drive and Dropbox sync via integration (not native WorkDrive sync)
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Secure sharing with permissions in Zoho WorkDrive
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Shareable file links in Zoho WorkDrive
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Zoho Bookings for appointment scheduling (separate app)
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	Custom booking page in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	Availability rules in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	Buffer times in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	Multiple service types in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Google and Outlook calendar sync via Zoho Calendar
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	Booking confirmations in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	Redirect after booking in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	Basic automation in Zoho Bookings (limited triggers)
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Email reminders in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Timezone detection in Zoho Bookings
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	Paid bookings via Zoho Bookings with Stripe/PayPal integration (separate app)
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	Custom intake questions in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	Booking limits and notice periods in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	Rescheduling and cancellation in Zoho Bookings (separate app)
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	Workflow automation within individual Zoho apps; cross-app automation requires Zoho Flow (separate product)
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	Trigger-based workflows within each Zoho app (not unified across apps)
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Scheduled workflows within individual Zoho apps
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	Multi-step workflows in Zoho Flow (separate product) or within individual apps
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	Conditional branching in Zoho Flow (separate product)
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	Delay actions in Zoho Flow (separate product)
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	Record creation and updates within individual Zoho apps
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	Record operations within individual Zoho apps
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	Delete/archive within individual Zoho apps
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	Webhook support across Zoho apps
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Automated email sending in Zoho CRM and other apps
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	Comments automation within individual Zoho apps
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	Automation logs within each Zoho app (not unified)
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	Dynamic variables within individual Zoho apps
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	No native cross-app automation — requires Zoho Flow (separate product)
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	Zoho Forms for custom branded intake forms (separate app)
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	Drag-and-drop builder in Zoho Forms (separate app)
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	Form templates in Zoho Forms (separate app)
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	Custom fields in Zoho Forms (separate app)
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	Conditional logic in Zoho Forms (separate app)
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	Email notifications on form submission in Zoho Forms
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	Basic automation on submission in Zoho Forms (cross-app via Zoho Flow)
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	Embeddable forms via Zoho Forms (separate app)
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	Advanced field options in Zoho Forms
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	Wide range of field types in Zoho Forms
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	Signature field via Zoho Sign integration in Zoho Forms (separate app)
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	File upload fields in Zoho Forms
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	Redirect after submission in Zoho Forms
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Full CRM with contacts, leads, and deals in Zoho CRM
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Account/company management in Zoho CRM
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	Custom fields on contacts in Zoho CRM
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	Activity timeline within Zoho CRM (not unified across all Zoho apps)
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	Tags and segmentation in Zoho CRM
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	Zoho Wiki for knowledge base (separate app)
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	Rich text pages in Zoho Wiki (separate app)
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	Nested pages in Zoho Wiki (separate app, limited depth)
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	Page permissions in Zoho Wiki (separate app)
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Custom dashboards within individual Zoho apps (no unified cross-app dashboard)
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	Dashboard builder within Zoho Analytics (separate app)
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Chart widgets in Zoho Analytics and individual app dashboards
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Metrics/KPI widgets in Zoho Analytics
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	Goals tracking in Zoho CRM (no unified goals widget across apps)
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	Notes within individual Zoho apps (no unified notes dashboard widget)
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	Calendar view in individual apps (not a unified dashboard widget)
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Financial reports in Zoho Invoice and Zoho Analytics (separate apps)
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	No white-label — Zoho branding visible on free Invoice plan; full removal requires enterprise/developer plans
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	No custom interface theming
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	No CSS customization
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	No custom login or signup pages
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	Custom email branding in Zoho Invoice and CRM (Zoho footer shown on free plans)
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	No custom brand font uploads
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Logo upload available in individual Zoho apps
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	No custom domain for client portal
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	Custom SMTP available in Zoho CRM and Zoho Mail (separate configuration per app)
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	No full workspace embedding
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Customizable within each Zoho app (not a unified workspace setup)
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	No main menu editor (separate app navigation per Zoho product)
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	No user-based menu customization
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	Custom roles and profiles in Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Role-based permissions in Zoho CRM and across Zoho apps
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	SSO via Zoho One (requires separate Zoho One subscription)
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Zapier, Zoho Flow, and native integrations across 45+ Zoho apps
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Zapier integration available for Zoho apps
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	Make.com integration available for Zoho apps
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	Pabbly Connect integration available for Zoho apps
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	REST API available across Zoho apps
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Webhooks supported across Zoho apps
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Zoho 79/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	iOS and Android apps available for most Zoho apps (CRM, Projects, Invoice, and more)
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	iOS apps available for Zoho CRM, Projects, Invoice, and more
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Android apps available for Zoho CRM, Projects, Invoice, and more
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	Web-based primarily; some Zoho apps have Mac desktop wrappers
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	Web-based primarily; some Zoho apps have Windows desktop wrappers

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Plutio vs Zoho FAQ: common questions answered

Is Plutio better than Zoho?

Plutio and Zoho serve different needs. Zoho offers 45+ separate apps covering CRM, project management, invoicing, HR, accounting, and more. Plutio focuses on one platform for freelancers and agencies: CRM, proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals in one platform. For businesses that need many separate business functions across departments, Zoho One covers HR, payroll, accounting, email marketing, and helpdesk alongside CRM and project management. For freelancers and small agencies that need one tool where a signed proposal starts a project and tracked time becomes an invoice, Plutio covers that workflow without app-switching.

Can Plutio replace Zoho?

For the freelancer workflow, yes. Plutio replaces Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, Zoho Invoice, and Zoho Sign with one platform. Plutio also adds proposals and a unified client portal that Zoho does not include natively. For businesses that use Zoho for HR (Zoho People), full accounting (Zoho Books), or enterprise email marketing (Zoho Campaigns at scale), those specific tools do not have direct replacements in Plutio, both platforms can coexist through integrations for those use cases.

Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes. Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required. The trial includes CRM, proposals, contracts, invoicing, project management, time tracking, and client portals.

Does Zoho have a proposal builder?

No. Zoho has no native proposal builder across any of its 45+ apps. Zoho CRM includes quotes (line-item pricing from products), but quotes are static pricing documents, not interactive proposals where clients pick packages or browse visual sections. Freelancers using Zoho for proposals add third-party tools like Proposify ($49/month) or Qwilr ($35/month). Plutio includes a visual proposal builder with interactive pricing, e-signatures, view analytics, and auto-conversion to projects in the base plan.

How much does Zoho One cost?

Zoho One All Employee costs $37/user/month (annual billing) and requires every employee in the organization to be licensed. The Zoho One per-user plan costs $90/user/month (annual billing) and allows individual users to purchase access without licensing the entire team. Both plans include 45+ apps but do not resolve the separate interface problem, each Zoho app retains its own interface and data model regardless of the plan.

How much does Plutio cost compared to Zoho?

Plutio Core starts at $19/month with one price for unlimited clients. Zoho's cost depends on which apps the workflow requires. Stacking Zoho CRM Standard ($14/user/month), Projects Premium ($4/user/month), and Sign Standard ($10/user/month) costs $28+/user/month, not including proposals which require a third-party tool. The Zoho One per-user plan is $90/user/month. Plutio includes proposals, contracts, CRM, projects, invoicing, time tracking, and client portals at $19-49/month flat.

Can I white-label Plutio with my own branding?

Yes. Plutio includes white-labeling with custom domains, branded login pages, logo and colors throughout, custom SMTP for email, and CSS customization. Clients see the business brand, not Plutio. Zoho branding appears on client-facing documents in Zoho Invoice's free plan, and full removal of Zoho branding across all apps is not available as a standard feature. Zoho Contracts does not offer white-label branding, meaning any contract sent through Zoho carries Zoho's identity, not the business's.

Does Zoho have a unified client portal?

No. Zoho has separate portals for separate apps, Zoho Projects Portal for project tasks, Zoho CRM Portal for contact records, and Zoho Desk Portal for support tickets. There is no single portal where clients see their projects, invoices, contracts, and messages in one place. Plutio offers a unified client portal at a custom domain where clients access everything in one login.

Can I use Plutio and Zoho together?

Yes. Plutio connects to Zoho through Zapier. Some businesses keep Zoho CRM for enterprise sales processes while using Plutio for proposals, project management, and client portals. Contact data syncs between the two so both systems stay current without manual entry.

Does Zoho have project management?

Yes. Zoho Projects is a dedicated project management app with Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies, subtasks, templates, and time tracking. The limitation for freelancers is that Zoho Projects is a separate application from Zoho CRM, there is no automated handoff when a deal closes, and because Zoho has no native proposals, there is no proposal-to-project automation. Plutio's project management includes those same views plus auto-creation from signed proposals.

Why is Zoho expensive for freelancers?

Zoho's individual apps are priced per user per month. A freelancer stacking CRM, Projects, Invoice, and Sign pays $28+/month at minimum annual pricing. If proposals require a third-party tool, add $19-49/month. Zoho One per-user plan ($90/month) avoids per-app stacking but costs more than the stacked apps. The free tiers (CRM Free, Invoice Free) are limited, the CRM free plan supports only 3 users, and Invoice Free shows Zoho branding on documents and caps invoices at 500/year.

Does Zoho have time tracking?

Zoho Projects includes task-level time tracking with timers, timesheet reports, and billable hour management. The limitation is that time data does not automatically transfer to Zoho Invoice, the two apps are separate, and generating an invoice from tracked hours requires manual data export and re-entry. Plutio includes time tracking on all plans with direct invoice generation from logged hours, no manual transfer required.

What integrations does Plutio support?

Plutio connects to 5,000+ apps through Zapier, including Zoho CRM, Google Calendar, Stripe, PayPal, QuickBooks, Slack, and more. Plutio also has a REST API for custom integrations. Native integrations include calendar sync, payment processors, and email services.

Does Plutio have a mobile app?

Yes. Plutio has native iOS and Android apps for managing projects, communicating with clients, tracking time, and sending invoices from a phone. The mobile apps sync in real-time with the web platform.

Is my data safe with Plutio?

Yes. All data is private, encrypted, and never used to train AI models. Plutio uses SSL encryption, runs regular backups, and follows GDPR requirements. Data can be exported at any time.

How long has Plutio been around?

Plutio launched in 2015 and has been in active development since. The feature set has grown from basic project management to include CRM, proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, and client portals based on what freelancers and agencies asked for over 10 years of development.

Does Plutio have a unified inbox?

Yes. Plutio has a unified inbox where multiple email accounts connect into one place. Client emails automatically sort into conversation threads. The whole team shares one inbox so no one misses urgent requests. Project conversations stay tied to the project record. Live chat can be embedded on a website. Zoho splits communication across Zoho Mail, Zoho Cliq, and Zoho Desk, three separate apps with no unified view.

Does Zoho have e-signatures?

Zoho Sign is a separate paid app that handles e-signatures. The Standard plan costs $10/user/month. The free tier limits users to 5 envelopes per month. Zoho Sign is not integrated with Zoho Projects or Zoho Invoice, a signed contract in Zoho Sign does not automatically create a project or generate a deposit invoice. Plutio includes e-signatures as part of the built-in contract tool, connected to proposals and projects through the same workflow.

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