Zoho People is cloud HR software from Zoho for employee records, time off, attendance, shifts and performance reviews at small and mid-sized companies. It is free for up to 3 users in the US, and paid US plans cost $3 to $8 per user per month on yearly billing, with a 5-user minimum.
The bottom line
A strong value pick for core HR if you can live inside Zoho's ecosystem.
7.7
Our score
7.7 / 10
Conversion Gems editorial verdict
Free up to 3 users; from $3/user/mo yearly
Features8/10
8 - leave, attendance, shifts, timesheets, performance, LMS and an HR helpdesk on Zoho's feature pages.
Value8/10
8 - free for up to 3 US users and paid plans from $3 per user per month yearly; the 5-user minimum keeps it from a 9.
Ease of use7/10
7 - self-serve sign-up and a 30-day trial, but policies and workflows need configuring.
Ecosystem8/10
8 - Zoho Payroll, Recruit and Expense, Microsoft Teams, webhooks and an API add-on.
Support7/10
7 - help docs, virtual classroom training and paid Jumpstart setup; premium support only on Enterprise.
What it really is
A low-cost cloud HR system from Zoho, priced per user, with a small free tier.
Our take
Zoho People gives small companies a full HR record, leave, attendance and performance setup for a few dollars a head. The free tier is real but tiny in the US at 3 users, and every paid plan needs 5 seats. Plan names and prices change by region, so check the page from your own country. Payroll lives in a separate Zoho product.
Why we rate it
Broad HR coverage, a free tier and per-user prices well below most HR suites.
The catch
5-user minimum on paid plans, regional price differences and payroll sold separately.
Best for
Small and mid-sized companies on a tight HR budget
Teams already using Zoho apps
Companies that need leave and attendance tracking with mobile clock-in
Not good for
Teams that want payroll built into the same product
Companies that want a PEO to handle compliance for them
Friction report
Time to value
Moderate: setting up leave policies, shifts and approval flows takes some admin time; Zoho sells paid Jumpstart setup help.
Scale breakpoint
Over 500 users needs a sales quote.
Walled garden
Works best with other Zoho apps; payroll and expenses push you toward Zoho Payroll and Zoho Expense.
Zoho People pricing (US)
Plan
Yearly billing
Monthly billing
Highlights
Free
$0
$0
Up to 3 users; employee database, time off, documents
Adds time off, timesheets with overtime rules, attendance
Talent
$5/user/mo
$6/user/mo
Adds OKRs, performance reviews, LMS
Enterprise
$8/user/mo
$10/user/mo
Essential HR + Workforce + Talent, sandbox, premium support
From Zoho People's pricing page, checked 4 October 2026. US prices; paid plans need at least 5 users, over 500 users is quote-based, and prices outside the US differ.
Which Zoho People plan fits
If you mainly need
Pick
Employee records for 3 people or fewer
Free
Records, onboarding and an HR helpdesk
Essential HR
Leave, attendance and timesheets
Workforce
Performance reviews and training
Talent
Everything plus a sandbox
Enterprise
Based on the plan feature lists on Zoho People's pricing page, checked 4 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the US, Essential HR costs $3 per user per month billed yearly ($4 monthly), Workforce and Talent cost $5 ($6 monthly), and Enterprise costs $8 ($10 monthly). Paid plans need at least 5 users (checked 4 October 2026).
Yes, for very small teams. The Free edition covers up to 3 users in the US (5 users elsewhere) with the employee database, time off and document management (checked 4 October 2026).
Yes. You get 30 days of your chosen plan; after the trial the account moves to the Free plan.
Conversion Gems is a review site, not Zoho. Sign in through Zoho's official page at https://www.zoho.com/people/login.html or the Zoho People mobile app.
Zoho People is the HR system on its own. Zoho People Plus is a bundle that adds Zoho Recruit, Expense, Connect, Cliq, Sign and Vault for hiring, expenses and collaboration.
Not directly. Payroll runs in Zoho Payroll, which integrates with Zoho People.
Zoho People alternatives
Other HR and payroll tools in our directory:
Justworks: A PEO that handles payroll, benefits and HR compliance for US companies.
Paycor: Payroll and HR from one US vendor, aimed at growing employers.
Sage HR: Simpler core HR with leave tracking for small businesses.
PayFit: Payroll and HR software focused on European employers.
