DeskTime vs Zoho Projects: Complete Comparison (2026)

Why choose DeskTime

• Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 6/10)
• Higher Security score (8/10 vs 7/10)
• Better fit for remote teams (8/10 vs 5/10)

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Why choose Zoho Projects

• Has a free plan (DeskTime does not)
• Higher Customization score (8/10 vs 5/10)
• Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 8/10)
• Better fit for startups (8/10 vs 6/10)
• Better fit for freelancers (6/10 vs 4/10)

DeskTime

Pros

• Tracking runs automatically in the background, so staff do not have to start or stop timers, which reviewers on G2 cite most often.
• ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certification, plus EU-based operation, helps buyers who must comply with GDPR.
• Project time tracking calculates costs from hourly rates, which helps agencies bill clients.
• Premium combines shift scheduling and an absence calendar with time tracking, so these do not need a separate tool.
• Per-user pricing starts at about 6.42 USD a month on annual billing, which is low for this category.

Cons

• Reviewers describe the URL tracking and screenshots as intrusive, and these features may need a legal basis in some jurisdictions.
• Capterra and G2 users report instability, such as tracking stopping or activity being marked as neutral.
• It has no Kanban boards, Gantt charts or task management of its own, so it depends on tools like Jira, Asana or Trello.
• Reviewers say time spent in meetings and offline work are tracked poorly.
• Screenshots and the API are only on Premium.

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Zoho Projects

Pros

• Paid plans start at $4 per user per month on annual billing, which reviewers rank among the cheapest in the category.
• The free plan supports 5 users and 3 projects, enough for very small teams to run real work.
• Built-in timers, timesheets with approvals, and budgeting serve teams that bill for their time.
• Blueprints, automation rules and custom functions allow detailed workflow control.
• Integrates closely with other Zoho apps such as Desk, Analytics and Sprints.

Cons

• Reviewers say the learning curve is steep, especially for blueprints and custom functions.
• Client and guest access cost extra on top of the plan price.
• Users report weaker portfolio and multi-project management than enterprise-focused rivals.
• Some reviewers find the configuration screens crowded and say support can be slow to respond.
• The free plan has no project templates, and its automation limit is low at 50 actions per month.