Last Updated: February 2026
Quick Verdict
Choose Viraly if you want a free plan with full scheduling, content recycling with AI caption variations, first comment on four platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), TikTok Photo Mode (35 images), and flat-rate pricing without per-brand fees.
Choose Zoho Social if you’re already invested in the Zoho ecosystem and need CRM/helpdesk integrations, or want a built-in social inbox for engagement management.
In this Viraly versus Zoho Social comparison, we examine whether Zoho’s ecosystem advantage and unified inbox justify its per-brand pricing model—and where a publishing-focused tool like Viraly delivers more value for the price.
At a Glance
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (Paid) | $19/mo (5 profiles, 200 posts) | $15/mo (1 brand, 40 AI credits) |
| Free Plan | Yes (with scheduling) | Yes (no scheduling) |
| Social Platforms | 10 platforms | 13 platforms (varies by plan) |
| Content Recycling | Yes (with AI variations) | Repeat posting only |
| First Comment | 4 platforms | 2 platforms (Professional+) |
| Social Inbox | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| AI Credits | Unlimited (all plans) | 5-80/month |
| Zoho CRM Integration | No | Yes (Premium+) |
| Team Members | 0-15 (then $2/member) | 1-5 by plan |
| Link in Bio | Yes (1-50 pages) | No |
| Best For | Creators, SMBs, agencies wanting flat-rate pricing | Zoho users, teams needing engagement management |
Pricing Comparison
Both tools use different pricing models: Viraly offers flat-rate pricing with tiered plans, while Zoho Social charges per-brand with different feature tiers.
Entry-Level Pricing
| Plan Type | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 (3 profiles, 10 posts/mo, full scheduling) | $0 (7 channels, no scheduling) |
| Entry Paid (Monthly) | $19/month (Influencer) | $15/month (Standard) |
| Entry Paid (Annual) | $15.80/month | $10/month |
| Mid-Tier (Monthly) | $49/month (Business) | $40/month (Professional) |
| Team Plan (Monthly) | $99/month (Agency, 15 members) | $55/month (Premium, 3 members) |
Agency/Multi-Brand Pricing
Zoho Social’s agency pricing is significantly different. While Viraly includes up to 50 profiles in the $99 Agency plan, Zoho requires dedicated agency plans starting at $230/month for 10 brands.
| Scenario | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Brands/Profiles | $49/month (Business) | $230/month (Agency annual) |
| 20 Brands/Profiles | $99/month (Agency) | $330/month (Agency Plus annual) |
| 50 Profiles | $99/month (Agency) | $330+ with add-ons |
| Annual Savings | 17% off | ~33% off |
Verdict: Trade-offs. Zoho Social’s Standard plan is cheaper at $10/month annual, but Viraly’s free plan includes full scheduling while Zoho’s doesn’t. For agencies managing multiple brands, Viraly is dramatically more affordable—$99/month vs $230-330/month.
Platform Support
| Platform | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) | |
| Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) | |
| X (Twitter) | Yes (Influencer+) | Yes (all plans) |
| Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) | |
| TikTok | Yes (all plans) | Standard+ only |
| YouTube | Yes (all plans) | Premium only ($55/mo) |
| Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) | |
| Threads | Yes (all plans) | Standard+ |
| Google Business Profile | No | Yes (all plans) |
| Mastodon | Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| Bluesky | Yes (all plans) | Standard+ |
| WhatsApp Business | No | Premium (inbox only) |
| Telegram | No | Premium (inbox only) |
Verdict: Trade-offs. Zoho Social supports Google Business Profile, WhatsApp, and Telegram that Viraly lacks. However, Viraly includes YouTube and TikTok on lower-tier plans, while Zoho reserves YouTube for Premium ($55/mo). For most social media marketers, the platforms that matter most are accessible on both.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Calendar | Yes (all plans) | Yes (Standard+) |
| Scheduling on Free Plan | Yes | No (immediate publish only) |
| Drafts | Yes (all plans) | Standard+ only |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes (all plans) | Professional+ |
| Content Queues | Yes (all plans) | Professional+ (CustomQ) |
| Smart AI Timing | No | Yes (SmartQ, Premium) |
| RSS Feeds | Yes (3-50 by plan) | 10-20 (Professional+) |
| Post Preview | Yes | Yes |
| Hashtag Groups | Yes (all plans) | Professional+ only |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Zoho Social’s free plan cannot schedule posts at all—a critical limitation. Viraly includes scheduling, drafts, queues, and hashtag groups on all plans including Free.
Content Types Supported
| Content Type | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | Yes | Yes (Free for Reels) |
| Instagram Stories | Yes | Yes (Standard+) |
| Instagram Carousels | Yes (up to 10) | Yes (up to 10) |
| Facebook Reels | Yes | Yes (Standard+) |
| Facebook Stories | Yes | Yes (Standard+) |
| X Threads | Yes (up to 25 tweets) | Yes (Standard+) |
| LinkedIn Documents (PDF/PPTX) | Yes | Yes (Standard+) |
| LinkedIn Carousels | Yes (up to 20 images) | Not mentioned |
| TikTok Photo Mode | Yes (up to 35 images) | No |
| YouTube Shorts | Yes (all plans) | Premium only |
| Pinterest Video Pins | Yes | Yes |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Viraly supports TikTok Photo Mode (up to 35 images) and LinkedIn carousels (up to 20 images) that Zoho Social lacks. YouTube Shorts are available on all Viraly plans vs Premium-only on Zoho.
Evergreen Content Recycling
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Content Recycling | Yes (automatic evergreen) | Repeat posting only |
| AI Caption Variations | Yes (3-10 per post) | No |
| Custom Intervals | 7-365 days | Manual repeat only |
| End Date Options | Yes | No |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Viraly’s content recycler automatically republishes evergreen posts with AI-generated caption variations. Zoho Social only offers manual repeat posting without variation options.
Link in Bio
| Feature | Viraly Free | Viraly Influencer | Viraly Business | Viraly Agency | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bio Pages | 1 | 5 | 15 | 50 | No |
| Custom Links | 5 | 25 | 50 | 100 | No |
| Email Collection | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Products Display | No | 10 | 30 | 75 | No |
| Custom Domain | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Zoho Social doesn’t offer Link in Bio pages at all. Viraly includes a full-featured bio page builder with themes, email collection, product displays, and custom domains.
AI & Content Tools
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI Caption Generator | Yes (GPT-4) | Yes (Zia) |
| AI Credits | Unlimited (all plans) | 5-80/month |
| AI Reply Suggestions | No | Yes (Premium) |
| AI Idea Generator | Yes | No |
| Content Templates | Yes (10 categories) | No |
| Idea Board (Kanban) | Yes | No |
| Media Library | Yes (unlimited) | Yes (Professional+) |
| Image Editor | Yes | Yes (Standard+) |
| Canva Integration | No | Yes (Professional+) |
Verdict: Trade-offs. Viraly offers unlimited AI credits on all plans vs Zoho’s limited 5-80 credits/month. Zoho has Canva integration and AI reply suggestions for engagement. Viraly has content templates and an idea board for planning.
Idea Board Limits by Plan
| Feature | Viraly Free | Viraly Influencer | Viraly Business | Viraly Agency | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idea Boards | 5 | 10 | 25 | 50 | N/A |
| Ideas per Social Set | 50 | 200 | 500 | 1,000 | N/A |
| RSS Feeds | 3 | 10 | 25 | 50 | 10-20 (Professional+) |
| Content Templates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Media Library | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Professional+ |
Analytics
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics on Free Plan | Yes (2 weeks) | No reports |
| Standard Plan History | 6 months (Influencer) | 15 days only |
| Business Plan History | 12 months | 3 months (Professional) |
| Agency Plan History | 2 years | 1 year (Premium) |
| Custom Reports | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Scheduled Reports | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Export Reports | Yes (Influencer+) | Yes (Premium) |
| Hashtag Reports | No | Yes (Professional+) |
Verdict: Trade-offs. Viraly offers longer data retention across all plans (6 months on $19 plan vs 15 days on Zoho’s $15 plan). Zoho offers custom and scheduled reports on Premium, plus hashtag tracking. Both require paid plans for full analytics.
Analytics History by Plan
| Plan Level | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 2 weeks | None |
| Entry Paid | 6 months | 15 days |
| Mid-Tier | 12 months | 3 months |
| Top-Tier | 2 years | 1 year |
| Enterprise | Unlimited | Custom |
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Team Members (Free) | 0 | 1 |
| Team Members (Entry) | 0 (Influencer) | 1 (Standard) |
| Team Members (Mid) | 5 (Business) | 1 (Professional) |
| Team Members (Top) | 15 (Agency) | 3 (Premium) |
| Additional Members | $2/month each | $10/month each |
| Approval Workflows | Yes (Business+) | Yes (Premium) |
| Custom Roles | Yes | Yes (Premium) |
| Social Sets (Brand Grouping) | Unlimited (all plans) | 1 brand per business plan |
| Team Chat | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Audio/Video Calls | No | Yes (Premium) |
Verdict: Viraly wins. Viraly includes more team members at every tier (5 on Business vs 1 on Professional) and charges only $2/month per additional member vs Zoho’s $10/month. Zoho adds team chat and video calls, but these are less critical for social media management.
Comment Management & Engagement
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Social Inbox | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| DM Management | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| Comment Monitoring | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| First Comment Automation | Yes (4 platforms) | Yes (2 platforms, Professional+) |
| Brand Monitoring | No | Yes (Professional+) |
| Review Management | No | Yes (Google/Facebook) |
Verdict: Zoho Social wins. Zoho Social includes a full social inbox for managing comments, DMs, and brand mentions. Viraly focuses on publishing and doesn’t offer engagement management features. However, Viraly supports first comment on 4 platforms vs Zoho’s 2.
Integrations
| Integration Type | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| Email Marketing | 8 platforms (Mailchimp, HubSpot, Klaviyo, etc.) | Zoho Campaigns only |
| CRM | No | Zoho CRM (Premium+) |
| Helpdesk | No | Zoho Desk (Premium+) |
| Design Tools | No (Canva) | Canva (Professional+) |
| Stock Photos | Unsplash (built-in) | Pixabay, Pexels, Giphy |
| Cloud Storage | No | Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box |
| URL Shortener | Built-in (vrl.link) | Built-in (zurl) + Bit.ly |
| Tracking Pixels | 4 (GA4, Meta, TikTok, GTM) | No dedicated pixel support |
| WordPress | Yes (plugin) | No |
Verdict: Trade-offs. Zoho Social excels if you’re in the Zoho ecosystem with CRM and helpdesk integrations. Viraly offers 8 email marketing integrations (vs just Zoho Campaigns), tracking pixels for bio pages, and WordPress integration.
Compliance & Security
| Feature | Viraly | Zoho Social |
|---|---|---|
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| CCPA Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Data Encryption | 256-bit AES at rest | Enterprise-grade |
| Cloud Hosting | AWS | Zoho Cloud |
| DPA Available | Yes | Yes |
Verdict: Tie. Both tools meet standard security and compliance requirements for business use.
Where Viraly Wins
- Free plan with full scheduling — Viraly’s free plan includes scheduling, drafts, and queues. Zoho’s free plan only allows immediate publishing with no scheduling.
- Content recycling with AI variations — Automatically republish evergreen content with fresh AI-generated captions. Zoho only offers manual repeat posting.
- First comment on 4 platforms — Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube vs Zoho’s 2 platforms.
- TikTok Photo Mode — Support for image carousels up to 35 images, not available on Zoho Social.
- YouTube on all plans — Zoho reserves YouTube for Premium ($55/mo).
- Link in Bio builder — Full-featured bio pages with themes, email collection, and e-commerce. Zoho has no equivalent.
- Unlimited AI credits — Use AI as much as you need vs Zoho’s 5-80 credits/month limit.
- Better agency pricing — $99/month for 50 profiles and 15 team members vs Zoho’s $230/month for 10 brands and 5 members.
- More team members at lower cost — Business plan includes 5 members, Agency includes 15, with $2/month add-ons vs Zoho’s $10/month.
- Longer analytics retention — 6 months on $19 plan vs 15 days on Zoho’s $15 plan.
Where Zoho Social Wins
- Social inbox — Manage comments, DMs, and mentions across platforms. Viraly doesn’t offer engagement management.
- Zoho ecosystem integration — Native connections to Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, and other Zoho apps.
- Google Business Profile support — Publish to GBP on all plans, not available on Viraly.
- SmartQ AI timing — AI-powered optimal posting time recommendations on Premium plan.
- WhatsApp and Telegram inbox — Manage messaging app conversations (Premium).
- Canva integration — Design directly within the platform on Professional+.
- Cloud storage connections — Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box integration.
- Brand monitoring — Track mentions, keywords, and competitor activity on Professional+.
- Custom reports — Build and schedule custom analytics reports on Premium.
- Lower entry price — Standard plan at $10/month (annual) vs Viraly’s $15.80.
Who Should Choose Viraly
Content Creators & Influencers
Viraly’s content recycling with AI variations keeps your evergreen content fresh without manual effort. TikTok Photo Mode (35 images), first comment automation, and Link in Bio pages help monetize your audience.
Agencies Managing Multiple Clients
At $99/month for 50 profiles and 15 team members, Viraly costs a fraction of Zoho’s agency pricing ($230-330/month for 10-20 brands and 5 members). Social sets let you organize clients with granular permissions.
Budget-Conscious Teams
Viraly’s free plan includes actual scheduling, drafts, and content queues. You can test the full workflow before upgrading. Zoho’s free plan only publishes immediately—no scheduling at all.
YouTube-Focused Marketers
YouTube scheduling is included on all Viraly plans. Zoho Social reserves YouTube for Premium ($55/month)—a significant cost difference if video is your primary content.
Who Should Choose Zoho Social
Existing Zoho Users
If you already use Zoho CRM or Zoho Desk, the native integrations create a unified workflow. Social leads can flow directly into your CRM, and customer complaints can become support tickets.
Teams Needing Engagement Management
Zoho Social’s unified inbox manages comments, DMs, and mentions across platforms. If community management is central to your workflow, Viraly’s publishing focus won’t meet your needs.
Local Businesses
Google Business Profile support on all plans helps local businesses maintain their GBP presence alongside social media. Viraly doesn’t support GBP publishing.
Brands Monitoring Competitors
Zoho’s monitoring dashboard tracks brand mentions, keywords, and competitor activity. Viraly doesn’t offer social listening features.
FAQ
How do Viraly and Zoho Social pricing compare?
Zoho Social’s Standard plan ($10/month annual) is cheaper than Viraly’s Influencer plan ($15.80/month annual). However, Viraly’s free plan includes full scheduling while Zoho’s doesn’t. For agencies, Viraly is dramatically cheaper: $99/month for 50 profiles vs Zoho’s $230/month for 10 brands.
Which is better for agencies: Viraly or Zoho Social?
Viraly is more cost-effective for most agencies. The Agency plan ($99/month) includes 50 profiles and 15 team members. Zoho’s Agency plan costs $230/month for just 10 brands and 5 team members. Choose Zoho only if you need CRM integration or social inbox features.
Which tool supports more social media platforms?
Zoho Social supports 13 platforms including Google Business Profile, WhatsApp, and Telegram (inbox only). Viraly supports 10 platforms but includes YouTube and TikTok on lower-tier plans where Zoho restricts them. Neither is clearly superior—it depends on which platforms matter to you.
How do the free plans compare?
This is a major differentiator. Viraly’s free plan includes scheduling, drafts, content queues, and 2 weeks of analytics. Zoho Social’s free plan only allows immediate publishing—no scheduling, no calendar, no drafts. For testing which tool fits your workflow, Viraly’s free plan is far more useful.
Which tool has better analytics?
Zoho Social offers custom reports and scheduled report delivery on Premium. Viraly provides longer data retention at every tier (6 months on $19 plan vs 15 days on Zoho’s $15 plan). If you need custom reports, choose Zoho Premium. If you need historical data access, Viraly offers better value.
How do AI features compare between Viraly and Zoho Social?
Viraly offers unlimited AI credits on all plans including Free. Zoho Social limits AI to 5-80 credits per month depending on plan. Zoho adds AI reply suggestions for engagement (Premium). For content creation volume, Viraly’s unlimited AI is more practical.
Which tool is better for small businesses?
It depends on your needs. Zoho Social is better if you use other Zoho products or need engagement management. Viraly is better if you want a free plan with actual scheduling, content recycling, or Link in Bio pages. For pure publishing needs, Viraly offers more features per dollar.
Does Zoho Social integrate with CRM systems?
Yes, but only with Zoho CRM on Premium+ plans. You can add social leads to CRM, view contact history, and create rule-based lead generation. Viraly doesn’t offer CRM integration but connects to 8 email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, HubSpot, Klaviyo, etc.).
Is Zoho Social free?
Yes, Zoho Social has a forever-free plan. However, it’s severely limited: no scheduling, no calendar, no drafts, no analytics reports. You can only publish immediately. For meaningful free usage, Viraly’s free plan (which includes scheduling) is more practical.
What is Zoho Social used for?
Zoho Social is a social media management tool for scheduling posts, monitoring brand mentions, managing engagement through a unified inbox, and analyzing performance. It’s designed to integrate with other Zoho products like CRM and Desk for a complete business workflow.
Can I schedule posts on Zoho Social’s free plan?
No. Zoho Social’s free plan only allows immediate publishing. You cannot schedule posts for future dates, save drafts, or use the content calendar. Scheduling requires at least the Standard plan ($10-15/month). This is a significant limitation compared to Viraly’s free plan, which includes full scheduling.
Does Zoho Social support TikTok?
Yes, on Standard+ plans. However, TikTok is not available in India due to regulatory restrictions. Zoho supports video publishing to TikTok but doesn’t mention TikTok Photo Mode (image carousels). Viraly supports TikTok on all plans including Photo Mode with up to 35 images.
Does Zoho Social have post approval workflows?
Yes, on Premium plans ($55/month). You can set up workflow rules for post approvals before publishing. Viraly offers approval workflows on Business+ plans ($49/month), making it slightly more affordable for teams needing this feature.
Can I recycle evergreen content with either tool?
Viraly offers true content recycling with automatic republishing at configurable intervals (7-365 days) plus AI-generated caption variations. Zoho Social only offers manual repeat posting without variation options. For evergreen content strategies, Viraly is significantly more capable.
Can I post documents on LinkedIn with both tools?
Yes. Both Viraly and Zoho Social (Standard+) support LinkedIn document posts (PDF, PPTX, DOCX). Viraly also supports LinkedIn image carousels up to 20 images, which Zoho doesn’t specifically mention supporting.
Which tool supports first comment automation?
Both tools support first comment, but with different coverage. Viraly supports first comment on 4 platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Zoho Social supports first comment on Instagram and Facebook only, and requires Professional+ ($40/month).
Final Verdict
Viraly and Zoho Social serve different needs despite both being social media management tools. Viraly focuses on publishing with features like content recycling, Link in Bio, and generous AI limits. Zoho Social offers engagement management with its social inbox and deep Zoho ecosystem integration.
The free plan difference is stark: Viraly lets you schedule posts, use drafts, and access queues. Zoho’s free plan is essentially a demo—immediate publishing only. For agencies, Viraly’s pricing is dramatically more affordable ($99 vs $230+ for similar capacity).
Choose Zoho Social if you’re invested in the Zoho ecosystem or need engagement management. Choose Viraly for publishing-focused workflows, content recycling, and better value at scale.
| Use Case | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Free plan for real testing | Viraly — free plan includes scheduling, drafts, queues |
| Content creators needing recycling | Viraly — automatic evergreen with AI caption variations |
| Agencies (10+ clients) | Viraly — $99/mo for 50 profiles vs $230/mo for 10 brands |
| YouTube-focused marketers | Viraly — YouTube on all plans vs Premium-only on Zoho |
| Link in Bio pages needed | Viraly — full bio builder with themes and email collection |
| Existing Zoho ecosystem users | Zoho Social — native CRM and Desk integrations |
| Teams needing social inbox | Zoho Social — unified engagement management |
| Local businesses (GBP focus) | Zoho Social — Google Business Profile support |
| Brand monitoring needs | Zoho Social — mentions, keywords, competitor tracking |
| Lowest entry price | Zoho Social — $10/mo annual vs $15.80 |