Invoicing, Estimation and Budgeting
ZOHO Book has an interesting concept in this area. It provides a simple invoicing system but with an extensive reporting functionality - there are easily accessible invoicing reports based on contacts. Estimations are possible too, but only as individual sales estimation for one contact. Budgeting is not possible in ZOHO Books at all.
In the basic functions area, Arithmo is very similar to ZOHO Books. Arithmo offers common features for evidence and processing of incoming/outgoing invoices. But these features in Arithmo are slightly less elaborated then in its competor.
We would go for: ZOHO Books.
Working with Third Parties
ZOHO Books has one shared contact list. Contact can have custom fields, which is rare feature in applications of this category. This single shared contact list is then possible to use across the entire application both for vendors and clients and create quick and illustrative reports based on these contacts. But we missed a feature for employee management or management of payrolls.
Arithmo has a different contact list for each area: customers, suppliers, and employees. These contact lists are part of its core modules. Except customers/suppliers invoices processing Arithmo provides quick transactions report for each person in contacts list like ZOHO Books. There is an employee’s management, too, but it is little bit confusing.
We would go for: Arithmo.
Look&Feel and Application User Interface
ZOHO Books is very simple and intuitive application. All important features are quickly accessible and its functionalities are well integrated, so that the application stays user-friendly. User interface is robust and reliable.
Arithmo is also focused on simplicity and minimalistic interface, but it provides all indispensable functions. User interface in Arithmo is available for common mobile devices without long loading times. Arithmo doesn’t offer many options for customization, because it is highly focused on accounting. Its big disadvantage is that Artihmo isn’t very stable.
We would go for: ZOHO Books.
Banking
ZOHO Books and Artihmo offer only manual evidence of transactions. It is not possible to integrate them with online banking or perform credit card payment directly from the applications.
We would go for: No one.
Report Creation
In the report creation area ZOHO Books provides wide selection of reports. It is possible choose from the common financial reports like profit & loss and balance sheet. There are also cashflow report and executive summaries. The interesting report in ZOHO Books is its quick contacts report.
Arithmo offers a smaller number of reports, but they are more useful. It is possible to create quick overviews of transactions with customers/suppliers directly in their modules in application. This report is similar to contacts report in ZOHO Books.
We would go for: Both.
Technical Requirements and Capabilities
ZOHO Books and Arithmo don’t have any special requirements and works well in all common modern browsers. But Arithmo has an advantage in access from mobile devices. Both applications don’t require Adobe Flash for full functionality.
We would go for: Arithmo.
Conclusion
It is difficult to create strict and clear conclusion. Arithmo and ZOHO Books have simple user interface and they provide similar features with some practical useful extensions for its users. ZOHO Books is better choice for global business. Arithmo is closer designed for UK and European Union. ZOHO Books is more robust and stable. So we must suggest ZOHO Books, because it is more mature and more stable application and is more suitable for international roll-out.