Quick answer: Zoho People is HR software for managing staff records, leave, attendance, documents and reviews. Zoho says the free edition is free forever for up to 5 users. Paid editions are Essential HR, Professional, Premium and Enterprise, each with a 30-day trial. Payroll comes through Zoho Payroll, not Zoho People by itself.
What is Zoho People used for?
It keeps your HR work in one place, so staff details don’t sit in spreadsheets and email threads. Zoho lists these features:
- Employee records and documents
- Time and attendance
- Onboarding for new staff
- Performance reviews and appraisals
- Training management
- HR helpdesk
- Reports and dashboards
- Engagement surveys
Is Zoho People free?
Zoho’s pricing page describes a free edition for up to 5 users. It includes:
- Employee database management
- Time-off (leave) management
- Document management
That can suit a very small business that just wants staff records and leave in one place.
Zoho People editions
| Edition | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Free | Up to 5 users, core HR only |
| Essential HR | First paid edition |
| Professional | Adds more HR tools |
| Premium | Marked most popular by Zoho |
| Enterprise | Highest edition |
Prices differ by location. We saw US$1.25 to US$4.50 per user per month, billed yearly, from our location, while a US Zoho page says plans start at $3. Use the pricing page for your country and compare what each edition includes.
What each Zoho People edition adds
Each paid edition includes everything in the one above it. This is what Zoho’s pricing page listed on 5 November 2026:
| Edition | Adds |
|---|---|
| Free | Employee records, leave and documents, with 1 administrator |
| Essential HR | Onboarding and offboarding, HR reports and the Zia AI assistant |
| Professional | Attendance, timesheets and shift rosters |
| Premium | Performance reviews, pay reviews, engagement surveys and advanced HR analytics |
| Enterprise | HR help desk, a learning system for training, and a sandbox for testing changes |
Paid editions allow unlimited administrators. Pick the edition by the features you need now, since you can upgrade later.
How Zoho People pricing works
- You pay per user each month.
- Paid editions need at least 5 users.
- Zoho says yearly billing saves more than 20% compared with monthly.
- Every paid edition has a 30-day free trial. When it ends, Zoho moves your account to the Free edition.
- Organisations with more than 500 users can ask Zoho for a quote.
One detail varies by country. Zoho’s page shows the Free edition for up to 5 users in most regions, but up to 3 users on its US version.
Does Zoho People do payroll?
Zoho says payroll works through an integration with Zoho Payroll. If you want HR and payroll together, look at Zoho People Plus. Its plans include People, Recruit, Payroll and other apps, and a paid account needs at least 5 users. Payroll rules are local, so check that Zoho Payroll covers your country.
Zoho People or Zoho People Plus?
| Choose | If |
|---|---|
| Zoho People | You mainly need HR records, leave and reviews |
| Zoho People Plus | You also want hiring and payroll in one bundle |
How to set up Zoho People
- Add your company details and departments.
- Import your employee list.
- Set your leave types and holiday calendar.
- Add your attendance rules.
- Invite one team to test it.
- Roll it out to everyone.
Check your local employment and data protection rules before you record staff data. This guide isn’t legal or HR advice.
Zoho People login for employees
Your employer usually sends you an invitation. After that, sign in at people.zoho.com or through accounts.zoho.com. If you can’t get in, ask your HR team or read our Zoho login help.
Related guides
- Zoho Mail Guide: Free Plan, Limits and Paid Options
- Zoho Desk Software
- What Is Zoho? Apps, Free Plans and Who It’s For
Zoho People FAQ
Does Zoho People track location or activity?
It depends on the features your employer turns on. Ask your HR team what they use.
Is Zoho People part of Zoho One?
Check the current app list on Zoho’s website before you buy. See what Zoho One is.
What support is included?
Zoho’s pricing page lists 24/5 email support on all plans at no extra cost, with paid support options too.
What happens after the trial?
The trial lasts 30 days. Zoho says your account moves to the Free edition when the 30-day trial ends, unless you buy a paid plan.
Is there a minimum number of users?
Yes. Zoho’s paid editions need at least 5 users. The Free edition is for very small teams.
Is Zoho People free in the US?
Yes, but the US version of Zoho’s pricing page shows the Free edition for up to 3 users, rather than 5.
Checked against Zoho’s official pages on 5 November 2026. ZohoSoftwares Guide is independent and is not run by Zoho. Plans, limits and prices change and can differ by country, so confirm them on Zoho’s website.
Sources: Zoho People pricing, Zoho People features, Zoho People Plus pricing