Zoho People Essential HR
The Zoho People Essential HR plan costs $3 per user / month, billed annually ($4 billed monthly).
What the plan includes
AI agent, onboarding and offboarding, documents, benefits and compensation planning, engagement surveys, HR help desk and reports.
As stated on zoho.comThe plans either side of it
- Free$0one below
Up to 3 users, with the employee database, time off and documents.
- Workforce$5 per user / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly)one above
Essential HR plus time off, attendance for full-time staff and timesheets with overtime rules.
What else costs about this much
| Tool | Starts at | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Small Improvements | $3 a month | No |
| absence.io | $3.01 a month | No |
| Lano | $3.35 a month | No |
| PeopleForce | $2.50 a month | No |
| Sesame HR | $3.75 a month | No |
| Truein | $2.25 a month | No |
Each tool’s own starting price, within a quarter of what this plan costs. A starting price is not the same plan, so read what each one includes before weighing them against each other.
Zoho People Essential HR questions
How much is the Zoho People Essential HR plan?
The Zoho People Essential HR plan costs $3 per user / month, billed annually ($4 billed monthly). AI agent, onboarding and offboarding, documents, benefits and compensation planning, engagement surveys, HR help desk and reports.
What is the difference between Zoho People Free and Essential HR?
Free costs $0 and gives you up to 3 users, with the employee database, time off and documents. Essential HR costs $3 per user / month, billed annually ($4 billed monthly) and gives you AI agent, onboarding and offboarding, documents, benefits and compensation planning, engagement surveys, HR help desk and reports.
Is it worth moving from Essential HR to Workforce?
That depends on what you need. Workforce costs $5 per user / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly) and adds essential HR plus time off, attendance for full-time staff and timesheets with overtime rules. The listing is what each plan states; neither plan is graded on its own.
Does Zoho People have a free plan or a trial?
Yes. Free for up to 3 users: employee database, time off and vacation planning, and document management. There is also a 30-day free trial.
When was this checked?
Oct 18, 2026, against https://www.zoho.com/people/zohopeople-pricing.html. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.