Using Zoho Mail for a decade

Why I’ve Been Using Zoho Mail for 5+ Years (and Still Avoid Google)

Lately, I’ve noticed a trend — more people are switching to Zoho Mail and other Zoho products. For me, this isn’t something new. I’ve been using Zoho Mail for over five years, long before it became the “privacy-friendly” trend it is today.

Back in college, I made a conscious decision to go anti-Google. Not because Google is evil or anything — but because I didn’t want to rely entirely on one company for everything I do online. I stopped using Gmail and Chrome, and slowly replaced other Google services too — except for YouTube and Maps, because, let’s be honest, they’ve become unavoidable.

I even use a Xiaomi phone running a rooted Android, where I removed almost all default Google apps. My setup feels light, private, and mine — exactly how I want my digital life to be.

But that doesn’t mean Zoho is perfect. Avoiding Google doesn’t mean blindly following Zoho. Every tool has its flaws, and Zoho Mail has a few I’ve learned to live with.

The Downsides of Zoho Mail (Free Plan Perspective)

Here’s what I’ve personally experienced after years of using Zoho Mail — especially the free plan:

Limited storage – You only get 5GB, which fills up quickly if you’re using it regularly.

No mail recall – Once you hit Send, that’s it. There’s no “Undo Send” like Gmail - unless you upgrade for ₹59/month

Slow loading – Especially on low internet speeds, the web client can feel sluggish.

Spam filters are weak – I’ve seen a lot of spam mails slip through, which Gmail filters out easily.

User Interface - UI – Zoho is definitely colorful, but not as refined as Gmail.

User Experience - UX – Gmail’s button placement, spacing, and tab flow feel smoother. Zoho’s design is vibrant but less intuitive.

Limited integrations – Works best inside the Zoho ecosystem; third-party app support is narrow.

Community support – Fewer users mean you won’t find quick answers online as easily as you would for Gmail issues.

I haven’t tried the paid version, and honestly, I don’t plan to. My take is purely from the free-tier experience — which is still decent, but definitely not flawless.

Arattai: Zoho’s Homegrown Chat App

Zoho’s Arattai is their attempt to build an Indian alternative to WhatsApp or Signal. It looks just like WhatsApp in 2015. It’s a nice concept — simple, privacy-friendly, and made in India. Here’s why:

Small user base – Most of my friends are still on WhatsApp, so there’s no real network effect.

UI and UX gaps – It’s clean but lacks the polish of mainstream apps.

Limited features – Lacks deeper group tools, advanced file sharing.

Still, I like the effort. It’s good to see an Indian tech company stepping up to build privacy-first alternatives.

Why I Still Stick With Zoho

So, after all that, why do I still use Zoho Mail? Because I believe in diversity in tech ecosystems.

I don’t want a world where one company — no matter how good — dominates everything. Google Maps might be unbeatable today because of its strong community data (which is kind of open-source in spirit), but that doesn’t mean we should stop supporting alternatives.

Zoho, being Indian, privacy-focused, and ad-free, gives me a sense of digital independence. It’s not about being anti-Google; it’s about being pro-choice.

I’ll take a few UI flaws and slower load times any day if it means my data stays with a company that respects privacy and keeps my digital life decentralized.