Zoho vs monday.com Comparison: Complete 2024 Project Management Tool Guide

Summary: Looking for flexible and versatile project management software? monday.com and Zoho Projects are the two top contenders. This blog comprehensively compares both tools to help you make the best decision for your business.

Managing time, allocating resources, and keeping your team productive can be challenging without the right project management software. If you’ve been exploring solutions, you’ve likely come across monday.com and Zoho Projects. Both are well-known, but how do you choose the best fits your needs?

We understand the decision can be overwhelming, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll compare monday.com and Zoho Projects side-by-side, helping you discover which tool better aligns with your business goals and workflow.

By the end of this comparison, you will clearly understand which software will drive your project management success.

A Quick Feature Comparision

This quick feature comparison will provide a clear overview of the task management features in both tools, helping you understand their strengths. 

While one tool offers unlimited projects, the other provides more advanced features. Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. Let’s dive in and explore what each tool brings to the table.

Features
Ease of Use	Simple interface with easy-to-navigate and use features.	Zoho offers limited functionality and thus is easy to use too.
Collaboration	No built-in chat feature	Built-in chat feature
Templates	200+ templates available	Unavailable in the free plan
Sprint Management	Easy sprint planning	Not available, would require integration with Zoho sprints.
Free Plan	Upto 2 users and 3 projects	Upto 3 users and 2 projects
Trial	14 days	10 days
Project views	Provides multiple project views including, Kanban, Gantt Chart, Workload view, Map view, and more.	Provides two project views i.e., Gantt chart and Knaban View.
Integration	Integration with third parties like Google Calendar, Dropbox, Slack, and more.	Third-party integrations like Slack, spreadsheet, MS Excel etc. Along with first-party integrations like Zoho Invoice, Zoho Desk etc.
Suitability	Small, medium and large enterprises	Small and medium enterprise
Pricing Plan	Starting at $9/ month	Starting at $4/month

In-detail Feature Comparison to Decide The Right Software

An in-depth analysis will help you pick the right software by evaluating each tool’s strengths and limitations

1. Ease of Use

Zoho Projects	monday.com
Ease of Use: It is easy to use, but the interface can be tricky to navigate. Basic functions are easy to execute, but advanced tools can be hard to find.	Ease of Use: More beginner-friendly with a clean and intuitive interface. Easy to navigate, even for beginners.
Interface Navigation: Requires clicking through various submenus to find advanced tools.	Interface Navigation: All main features are accessible from the left-hand panel menu with prominent icons and big buttons.
In-App Support: Basic in-app support.	In-App Support: Better in-app support with built-in tutorials and a help center.
Task Organization: Uses the milestone system: milestones, list tasks, tasks, and subtasks.	Task Organization: Uses workspaces and boards: boards are composed of groups, columns, and items.
Support for Advanced Tools: Advanced tools like blueprints can take time to find.	Support for Advanced Tools: Easy access to all tools with better navigation support.

In conclusion, while both Zoho Projects and monday.com offer strong project management capabilities, monday.com stands out for its ease of navigation and superior in-app support, making it more beginner-friendly and easier to use overall.

2. Collaboration

Zoho Projects	monday.com
Real-Time Communication: Built-in chat function for individual or group communication.	Real-Time Communication: No built-in chat feature; communication through discussion threads. Integration with third-party apps like Slack for direct messaging.
Long-Form Discussions: Forums for questions, comments, and tagging team members.	Long-Form Discussions: Discussion threads with comments, thumbs up, and mentions.
Meeting Integration: Connect via the Zoho Meeting app available in Zoho Projects’ App Market.	Meeting Integration: There is no built-in meeting app, but it can integrate with third-party tools and post comments.
Client Communication: No specific feature is mentioned for client communication.	Client Communication: Clients can be invited to view project information.
File Uploads: Upload files from desktop or online storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. Attach files to tasks, projects, and forums.	File Uploads: Upload files from desktop or online storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. Attach files to tasks and statuses.
File Sharing: Basic file-sharing capabilities.	File Sharing: The annotation feature allows adding and replying to comments on documents.
Mobile App: Edit tasks and log work hours, but it has limited functionality.	Mobile App: Access inbox and dashboards, edit project columns, create new tasks, and more.
Overall Collaboration Tools: Offers more communication channels.	Overall Collaboration Tools: Better mobile app and greater file-sharing capabilities.

While monday.com excels in mobile app functionality and file sharing, Zoho Projects offers more built-in communication channels. Making it a stronger choice for users who prioritize communication and collaboration.

3. Automation

Zoho Projects	monday.com
Automation Tools: Blueprint feature to create automation.	Automation Tools: Automation builder for creating custom automation.
Ease of Automation: It is easy to create automation, such as automatically sending emails or creating tasks.	Ease of Automation: It is easy to create automation, such as sending emails, creating tasks, and creating workflow.
Integration Support: Strong integration support to enhance workflow automation.	Integration Support: Strong integration support to enhance workflow automation.

Whether you choose Zoho Projects or monday.com, both platforms offer excellent automation and integration features. Making it easy to automate everyday work and set up recurring tasks to improve project management efficiency.

4. Scrum Management

Zoho Projects	monday.com
Agile Methodologies: This does not offer agile methodologies directly; it requires integration with Zoho Sprints for scrum management.	Agile Methodologies: It offers functionality for scrum and agile management directly within the platform.
Dedicated Scrum Tools: Scrum boards, backlog management, and sprint tracks are available through Zoho Sprints integration.	Dedicated Scrum Tools: Comprehensive tools for planning, managing sprints, and tracking releases.
Ease of Use for Scrum: Requires integration with Zoho Sprints, which adds complexity but provides a hybrid approach.	Ease of Use for Scrum: Integrated agile tools make it straightforward to manage scrum and sprints.

In conclusion, while Zoho Projects requires integration with Zoho Sprints to manage scrum and agile methodologies, monday.com offers built-in agile management tools, making it a more seamless choice for teams.

5. Security

Zoho Projects	monday.com
Google Authentication: No	Google Authentication: Yes
Private Boards and Docs: No	Private Boards and Docs: Yes
Encryption: AES-256, TLS	Encryption: AES-256, TLS

Zoho Projects and monday.com offer comprehensive security features, ensuring top-tier data protection.

6. Free Service

Zoho Projects	monday.com
User Limit: Up to 3 users	User Limit: Up to 2 users
Project Limit: 2 projects	Project Limit: 3 boards
Project Templates: Limited options	Project Templates: Access to 200+ template libraries.
Project Views: No access to the Gantt Chart and workload report.	Project Views: You can view projects in the Gantt chart and more.
Document Sharing: Available	Document Sharing: Unlimited document sharing is allowed.
Additional Features: Limited to basic tools.	Additional Features: Some advanced features of paid plans need to be improved.

Zoho Projects and monday.com platforms offer free plans with essential features for small teams or freelancers. However, monday.com provides more robust features, such as an extensive template library and a powerful mobile app, making it a more feature-rich option even in its free tier.

7. Training Materials 

Zoho Projects	monday.com
Training Academy: No dedicated training academy, webinars, or interactive courses are available.	Training Academy: Extensive training academy with interactive courses and webinars.
Knowledgebase: Easily searchable knowledgebase with valuable articles and videos.	Knowledgebase: Easily searchable knowledgebase with easy-to-read articles and informative videos.
Tutorial Section: Comprehensive tutorial section in the help section.	Tutorial Section: This is not specifically mentioned but is likely covered by the training academy and knowledge base.
Community Support: An active community is needed for help and support.	Community Support: An active community is needed for help and support.
Overall User Experience: Training materials are helpful but not as visually appealing.	Overall User Experience: Training materials are easy to use and visually appealing.

Zoho Projects and monday.com provide extensive training materials to help users learn and navigate the software. However, monday.com stands out with its interactive courses, webinars, and visually appealing content, making the learning experience more engaging and accessible.

8. Pricing

Pricing Plan
Basic	$9 (per seat/month, billed annually)
Standard/Premium Plan	$12 (per seat/month, billed annually)	$4/user/month
Pro/ Enterprise Plan	$19 (per seat/month, billed annually)	$9
Enterprise	Contact Sales

Zoho Projects’ plans are more affordable than monday.com’s, but it’s important to note that Zoho Projects is just one component of the extensive Zoho ecosystem. To access many features available on monday.com, you may need to subscribe to additional Zoho products with free and paid tiers.

9. Customer Support

Zoho Projects	monday.com
Knowledge Base Structure: Well-structured but not as easy to navigate as monday.com.	Knowledge Base Structure: Better structured, making it easier to find information.
Email Response Time: Less than two hours for email support.	Email Response Time: Response in a few minutes, very helpful
Phone support: Available	Phone support: Available on higher plans.

In conclusion, while Zoho Projects offers more live support channels, monday.com excels in responsiveness and the quality of support provided through its email system. This makes monday.com a better option if quick and detailed support responses are a priority.

Which is Better For Project Management: monday.Com Vs. Zoho Projects

After thoroughly testing both tools, we concluded that monday.com is the #1 project management tool. Its robust features enable managers and companies to handle projects more efficiently. 

However, Zoho Projects is also a strong contender, though its reliance on third-party integrations can make it less desirable for some users.

Features
Gantt Chart	Yes	Yes
Timeline	Yes	No
Long Term Planning	Yes	No
Workload Planning	Yes	Yes
Scrum Management	Yes	No
Free Trial	Yes	Yes
Kanban Board	Yes	Yes
Forecasting	Yes	No
Multiple Projects	Yes	Yes

Choose Zoho Projects if you are looking for:

• Simple and no-fuss task management
• A budget-friendly solution
• Built-in collaboration features
• Multiple project management capabilities

 Choose monday.com if you are looking for:

• A comprehensive project solution
• Tools to manage complex projects
• Advanced features
• An easy-to-use platform for handling more intricate tasks

Both tools have unique strengths, so your choice should be based on your needs and preferences. 

However, it’s wise to consult an expert if you are still trying to decide which tool is best for your business and which project management features would benefit you the most. TaskRhino is well-versed in these tools and can provide tailored guidance. Our extensive experience in project management solutions helps us make the best decision for your organization.