Zoho People Review - Features, Pricing & Deals

Last Updated
Apr 10, 2025

Zoho People is a comprehensive HR management system that helps companies handle their workforce data and processes from a central platform. It serves businesses of all sizes, from small teams to large enterprises, by providing tools for essential HR tasks like employee data management, attendance tracking, and performance reviews.

At its core, the platform streamlines day-to-day HR operations through automation and self-service features. Employees can manage their own profiles, submit time-off requests, and track their work hours. Meanwhile, HR teams can oversee everything from recruitment to retirement, with tools for document management, performance evaluations, and compliance.

The software integrates smoothly with other Zoho applications and third-party tools, making it particularly useful for organizations already using Zoho's business solutions. It comes with a mobile app that lets users handle HR tasks on the go, while robust security features ensure sensitive employee data stays protected.

Available in several tiers starting with a free plan for up to 5 users, Zoho People's paid plans range from $1.50 to $10 per employee per month, with discounts available for annual subscriptions. Each tier adds more sophisticated features, letting companies choose the level of functionality that matches their needs.

Who is Zoho People for?

Zoho People is perfect for HR teams and companies that want to reduce paperwork and streamline their people management processes. This comprehensive HR platform delivers significant time savings through automation while giving employees the self-service tools they need for managing their work life.

  • HR Managers in Growing Companies: Ideal for professionals who need to transition from manual spreadsheets to a centralized system that can scale with their organization.
  • Small Business Owners: Great fit for entrepreneurs who handle HR responsibilities themselves and need an affordable solution with essential features like time-off tracking and employee data management.
  • Mid-sized Company Executives: Well-suited for leaders looking to standardize HR processes across departments with custom workflows and performance evaluation tools.
  • IT Managers: Appeals to tech decision-makers who value strong security features and seamless integration with other business systems.
  • Remote Team Leaders: Valuable for managers of distributed teams who need mobile accessibility and digital tools to maintain workforce connectivity.

Zoho People is commonly used across industries from retail and manufacturing to professional services and technology firms, especially those already using other Zoho business applications.

Online Reviews (Last 6 Months Summarised)

Zoho People is a mixed bag for HR professionals. While users praise its ability to centralize HR functions and boost productivity, the platform struggles with a cluttered interface that can frustrate navigating its comprehensive features. The system effectively manages leave requests, attendance tracking, and performance evaluations, providing a reliable tool for organizational management.

The software's strengths lie in its comprehensive approach to HR operations, helping align organizational expectations with individual capabilities. However, its complexity can be a significant drawback, with users reporting difficulties finding specific functions. Despite these navigation challenges, many still find Zoho People a trustworthy solution for streamlining HR processes.

Features

  • Employee Self-Service Portal: Provides a comprehensive personal profile where staff can manage their details, request time off, and access company policies directly.
  • Advanced Leave Management: Enables custom leave policy creation, quick leave submissions, and provides managers with a consolidated view of employee leave balances and holiday schedules.
  • Intelligent Timesheet Tracking: Allows precise project time tracking, job allocation, and workload monitoring to help teams optimize productivity and billing accuracy.
  • Flexible Attendance Management: Supports IP-based tracking, biometric integrations, and shift management with real-time attendance capture capabilities.
  • Automated Performance Appraisal: Streamlines performance review processes with automatic reminders, notifications, and a structured evaluation framework.
  • HR Process Automation: Automates routine tasks like birthday wishes, work anniversary emails, and workflow approvals to reduce administrative burden.
  • Comprehensive HR Analytics: Provides detailed insights into employee performance, attendance trends, and demographic data to support strategic decision-making.
  • Seamless Software Integration: Connects easily with other Zoho applications and third-party tools to create a unified business management system.
  • Robust User Access Control: Offers role-based permissions, IP restrictions, and customizable access controls to enhance organizational security.
  • Mobile HR Management: Delivers a mobile app for on-the-go access to HR services, enabling employees and managers to handle tasks from anywhere.
  • Centralized Document Repository: Provides secure storage, electronic document generation, and easy sharing of critical organizational files.
  • Dedicated HR Help Desk: Includes built-in service level agreements and a comprehensive knowledge base to resolve employee queries efficiently.

Pricing

  • Free version supports up to 5 users with basic features like employee database and time off management.
  • Essential Plan costs $1.50 per employee per month ($1.25 annually), offering core HR management functionalities.
  • Professional Plan priced at $2.50 per employee per month ($2 annually), providing expanded HR tools and tracking capabilities.
  • Premium Plan at $3.50 per employee per month ($3 annually), including advanced performance and reporting features.
  • Enterprise Plan costs $5 per employee per month ($4.50 annually), delivering comprehensive HR management with full system access.
  • People Plus Plan offers advanced integration at $10 per employee per month ($9.50 annually), including Zoho Vault and Zoho Recruit.
  • Annual billing provides discounted rates across all plans, with potential cost savings of approximately 15-20%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What integrations does Zoho People offer?

Zoho People connects with many tools to make your HR system work better. It works seamlessly with other Zoho apps like Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, and Zoho Projects. You can also link it with third-party tools for accounting and project management. One notable integration is with Xoxoday, which lets you reward employees with over 10 million gift options including vouchers and experiences. These connections help create a unified system that makes HR tasks simpler and your entire business run more smoothly.

How secure is employee data in Zoho People?

Zoho People takes security seriously with several layers of protection. You can set up role-based permissions so employees only see what they need to. The system lets you restrict access based on IP addresses to prevent unauthorized logins. Managers can customize who sees what information, and you can control document access and sharing. If security is a top concern for your company's HR data, these features help keep sensitive employee information safe while still making it available to the right people.

Can employees use Zoho People on their phones?

Yes! Zoho People has a mobile app that works on both iPhones and Android devices. Employees can check their leave balances, request time off, and submit their timesheets right from their phones. Managers can approve requests and check team attendance while on the go. The app is handy for workers who aren't at a desk all day or who need to handle HR tasks while traveling. It has most of the key features from the desktop version in a phone-friendly format.

How does Zoho People handle employee time off and attendance?

Zoho People makes tracking time off and attendance simple for everyone. You can create custom leave policies based on your company rules. Employees request time off through the system, and managers get notifications to approve or deny these requests. For attendance, you have flexible options - use IP-based check-ins, connect biometric systems, or even use facial recognition. The system also helps with shift management if your company runs different work schedules. All this information feeds into reports so you can spot patterns like which departments take the most sick days.

What kind of reports can I generate with Zoho People?

Zoho People offers many helpful reports that give you a clear picture of your workforce. You can create reports on attendance trends to see who's coming in late or working overtime. Leave reports show you which teams might be understaffed at certain times. Performance reports help identify your top performers and those who might need more support. The system also provides diversity insights about gender, age, and other demographics. These reports come with visual charts that make the information easy to understand at a glance. You can schedule reports to run automatically and share them with other managers.

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