BillCraft vs Zoho Books
Zoho Books is a polished cloud accounting suite. BillCraft is a free web invoice tool. Both are good at what they do — the real question is whether you need a full books platform, or just clean bills. Here’s the honest breakdown.
BillCraft
Free web-based invoice + GST bill generator. Works in any browser, also has an Android app. 13+ bill formats, instant PDF download, no signup wall.
Zoho Books
Cloud accounting suite from Zoho. Web + iOS + Android. Full accounting, GST returns, recurring invoices, multi-currency, payment gateways. Free tier for Indian businesses under ₹15 lakh annual revenue.
The 60-second verdict
If you only read one thing on this page, read this table. Everything else is detail.
| What you care about | BillCraft | Zoho Books |
|---|---|---|
| PriceFor a typical small business | Free forever | Free under ₹15L turnover Standard ₹749/mo, Premium ₹1,499/mo, Elite ₹2,999/mo |
| PlatformWhere it runs | Web (any browser) + Android | Cloud web + iOS + Android Multi-platform |
| Sign-up required | ✓No — just open and use | ×Yes — Zoho account required |
| GST invoicesCGST/SGST/IGST auto-calc | ✓Yes | ✓Yes — full GSTR-1/3B filing |
| Bill templatesDifferent formats for different uses | 13+ designs GST, retail, rent, e-commerce, etc. | Multiple, customisable Branding, themes, custom fields |
| Inventory management | ×No | ✓Yes (paid tiers) — or via Zoho Inventory |
| Accounting / ledger / P&L | ×No (focused on bills) | ✓Full double-entry, reports, multi-currency |
| Works offline | !Web cache + Android app | ×Cloud-only |
| PDF export | ✓Instant, one tap | ✓Yes |
| Learning curve | Zero — one form, one screen | Moderate Polished UI but lots of menus |
| Best for | Freelancers, side-hustles, occasional billers | Growing SMBs that want a full books + Zoho ecosystem |
Who should pick what?
Honest answer: there’s no “best.” There’s only what fits your workflow.
Pick BillCraft if…
You just need to issue bills — not run a full accounting platform.
- You’re a freelancer, consultant, or solo service provider
- Your turnover is small and you don’t need books in the cloud
- You don’t want a recurring SaaS bill for invoicing
- You don’t need CRM, Inventory, Payroll, Projects integration
- You want zero signup — just open the page and bill
- Your CA handles books in Tally or Excel anyway
Pick Zoho Books if…
You want a real cloud accounting platform that grows with you.
- Your turnover is approaching or past ₹15 lakh
- You file GSTR-1/3B returns yourself or want it automated
- You bill recurring customers (subscriptions, retainers)
- You already use Zoho CRM, Inventory, or other Zoho apps
- You need multi-currency for international clients
- You want bank-feed reconciliation, payment gateways, automation
Pricing deep-dive
Real numbers from each company’s public pricing page. Verify on their site before paying — prices change.
- Unlimited bills, every format
- GST auto-calc on every line
- PDF download — one tap
- 13+ bill templates included
- Web + Android, both free
- Optional sign-in to sync (also free)
- Free tier for Indian businesses under ₹15L annual revenue
- Standard ~₹749/mo (~₹8,988/yr) — up to 3 users
- Premium ~₹1,499/mo — budgets, custom domain, more users
- Elite ~₹2,999/mo — advanced inventory, multi-currency
- Ultimate ~₹4,999/mo — dashboards, 25 users
- 14-day free trial on paid plans
What each tool actually does well
Quick look at where Zoho Books pulls ahead, and where BillCraft is plenty.
1. Invoice creation
Both produce excellent GST invoices. Zoho’s editor is genuinely polished — templates, custom fields, your logo, brand colours, payment-gateway link on PDF.
BillCraft wins on zero-friction bills — no signup, no setup, no “create your organisation” flow. Zoho wins on repeat invoicing: party master, recurring schedules, payment-link tracking, partial-payment receipts.
2. GST compliance
Zoho Books is GST-native: HSN codes, e-invoice (IRN), e-way bills, GSTR-1, GSTR-3B filing direct from the app. Tax payments, reconciliation, the lot.
BillCraft generates compliant tax invoices but does not file returns. If you file yourself and want one tool, Zoho is built for it.
3. Inventory & stock
Zoho handles inventory in paid tiers (Standard upward) and via the dedicated Zoho Inventory app. Stock levels, reorder, warehouses, batches, serial tracking.
BillCraft does not do inventory. If your bills are tied to physical stock, lean Zoho (or Vyapar/Tally).
4. Accounting & reports
Zoho Books is a full cloud accounting suite: ledger, P&L, balance sheet, cash-flow, budget vs actuals, project profitability, bank reconciliation, multi-currency, audit trail.
BillCraft has no books. It generates bills; books happen elsewhere.
5. Where you can use it
Both are cloud-first. Zoho Books works on web, iOS, Android with native apps. Solid mobile experience.
BillCraft works in any browser plus an Android app. No iOS app yet (use Safari on iPhone — same web app, no install).
6. Customer support
Zoho has real support — chat, email, phone, knowledge base, India-based teams, partner consultants for migration and setup.
BillCraft is self-serve. Docs, FAQ, email contact. Free, but no phone hotline.
The honest pros & cons
Including the cons of our own tool. Because pretending we’re perfect is how trust gets broken.
BillCraft — Pros
- Free forever — no card, no trial, no upsell
- Zero learning curve — one form, one PDF
- Works in any browser — no install
- 13+ bill formats covering GST, retail, rent, electricity, e-com, medical, travel
- India-tuned defaults — rupee symbol, GST slabs, Indian number format
BillCraft — Cons
- No inventory — bills, not stock
- No customer ledger — no udhari tracking, no outstandings
- No accounting reports — pair with separate tool for books
Zoho Books — Pros
- Free tier under ₹15L turnover — generous
- Full GSTR filing — 1, 3B, e-invoice, e-way bill
- Polished UI on web, iOS, Android
- Multi-currency for international clients
- Zoho ecosystem — CRM, Inventory, Payroll, Projects integrate
- Recurring invoicing & payment gateways built in
Zoho Books — Cons
- Free tier limits — 1 user, basic features only
- Premium pricing is global-grade — can sting for small Indian businesses
- Cloud-only — no offline desktop mode
- Many menus — can feel overwhelming if you only want bills
- Lock-in to Zoho ecosystem over time
Switching from Zoho Books to BillCraft?
If you signed up for Zoho Books and realised you only needed invoicing, here’s how to step down without losing data.
Export contacts & invoices from Zoho Books
In Zoho Books, go to Contacts → ⋮ → Export for your customers. Use Sales → Invoices → ⋮ → Export for past invoices (CSV). Keep that data for reference, and hand the invoice export to your CA so books are squared.
Cancel paid plan, keep free tier or downgrade
If your turnover is under ₹15L, drop to Zoho Books free. Otherwise cancel from Settings → Subscription. You keep view-only access for a window — export everything before that ends.
Switch live billing to BillCraft
Open pybillcraft.shop/generator. Pick the GST tax invoice format. Bill new clients here from day one — no monthly fee, no signup needed.
Common questions
Try BillCraft free — no signup, no card
If you’ve been paying for invoicing alone, you’re probably overpaying. Generate your next bill in 30 seconds — on us.