5 Ways Zoho Sucks

2024

Zoho is not just a time-tracking platform, it is a suite of applications that includes project management as one of its many features. Zoho offers various products such as Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Projects, Zoho Meeting, Zoho Inventory, and many others, all of which are designed to help businesses manage their operations.

That being said, while Zoho offers many features to improve business productivity, it does come with some limitations. In this article, I explore all these limitations in detail, outlining five reasons why you may want to consider alternatives to Zoho for your business needs.

1. iOS app crashes and freezes

I must tell you that Zoho’s iOS app isn’t its strongest suit. The app has a rating of 3.8/5 stars on the App Store. This is because of frequent crashes and the fact that the app freezes when users try to clock in.

Visualising Zoho's mobile app

2. Navigation is difficult at times

Unfortunately, I find that Zoho’s navigation can be challenging at times. One possible reason for this difficulty in navigation is the vast array of features and options that are available within the platform. This sometimes result in a cluttered and overwhelming interface, which requires some time and effort to learn how to use effectively.

Another factor that could contribute to this issue is the lack of intuitive organization in the platform’s layout. Its difficult to locate specific features or tools that are needed.

Screen showing Zoho's navigation

3. Calendar doesn’t update in real-time

Zoho’s calendar is a powerful feature that allows users to schedule appointments, meetings, and tasks efficiently. However, all of this is pointless if it doesn’t update in real-time. What concerns me is that if you create an appointment on your desktop, it does not show up on your mobile device’s calendar app right away. Similarly, if someone else changes the date or time of a meeting, you cannot see the updated information until you manually refresh the calendar. This delay in updates can be frustrating, especially for businesses that rely heavily on calendars to manage their schedules. It can also lead to confusion and missed appointments if users are not diligent about checking for updates regularly.

Showing Zoho's calender

4. Cannot customize financial reports

Another drawback of using Zoho for financial management is that users cannot fully customize financial reports. For example, users cannot add custom fields or calculations to financial reports, nor can they change the format or layout of existing reports. 

Showing Zoho's less virtual reports

5. Doesn’t fully integrate with Zoho Recruit

So, one notable limitation of Zoho HR is that it does not fully integrate with Zoho Recruit, another software from Zoho that focuses on recruitment and applicant tracking.

Screen showing Zoho's integration options

Conclusion

It is evident that Zoho has limitations that lead to a rocky user experience, especially for iOS users. Despite that, Zoho remains a popular choice among businesses, and it is not hard to see why. Its intuitive integrations, user-friendly interface, and ease of setup are some of the reasons behind Zoho’s rapid growth, among several others.

However, I always recommend businesses to explore alternatives before deciding on a tool that fits your needs. In this regard, read my verdict on the top time tracking software for 2024 to identify the best-suited option for you. And I’d suggest to take a deeper look at Zoho’s pricing too, so you have a clear picture on hidden fees, cancellation policies, and overall flexibility.

Alternatively, why not read my Honest Review: Zoho where I give our final verdict on Zoho.