What is Zoho: Indian alternative to Google Docs, Sheets, and more

In a significant move towards digital self-reliance, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced his shift to Zoho, an Indian-developed suite of business applications, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. This decision highlights Zoho’s emergence as a robust alternative to global giants like Google Docs, Sheets, and other productivity tools, offering a comprehensive ecosystem tailored for Indian businesses and users.

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Understanding Zoho apps

Zoho Corporation, founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, has grown into a multinational technology company headquartered in Chennai, India. Known primarily for its online office suite, Zoho Office Suite, the company provides over 45 integrated applications spanning categories such as customer relationship management (CRM), marketing, sales, customer support, finance, human resources, collaboration, productivity, operations, IT management, and analytics. As of 2025, Zoho serves more than 80 million users across 160 countries, with a strong emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

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Key components of Zoho office suite

Zoho’s office suite is designed to compete directly with tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, offering a suite of applications that include:

• Zoho Writer: A word processor that rivals Google Docs, providing real-time collaboration, document sharing, and advanced formatting options. It supports features like mail merge, automation, and collaborative editing, making it suitable for both individual and team use.
• Zoho Sheet: An alternative to Google Sheets, Zoho Sheet offers spreadsheet functionality with features like data import, automation, and integration with other Zoho apps. It includes tools for data analysis, chart creation, and collaborative editing, enhancing its utility for business and personal projects.
• Zoho Show: Competing with Google Slides, Zoho Show provides presentation tools with options for creating, editing, and sharing slides. It supports real-time collaboration, embedding multimedia, and integrating with other Zoho tools, making it a versatile choice for professional presentations.

These applications are part of a larger ecosystem that includes Zoho Mail, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books (accounting), Zoho Workplace (collaboration), and Zoho People (HR management), among others. This integration allows for seamless workflow across different business functions, reducing the need for multiple disparate tools.

Push for digital sovereignty

Vaishnaw’s endorsement of Zoho aligns with a broader national strategy to foster indigenous technology solutions. In a video shared on X, the minister demonstrated Zoho’s capabilities, urging others to adopt these tools as part of the Swadeshi movement. This call to action is part of Modi’s vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat, which aims to make India self-reliant in various sectors, including technology.

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Sridhar Vembu, Zoho’s CEO, expressed gratitude for the minister’s support, noting it as a significant morale boost for the company’s engineers who have worked for over two decades to build these products. The move is seen as a step towards enhancing India’s digital infrastructure, reducing dependency on foreign technology, and promoting local innovation.

Advantages of Zoho

Zoho’s appeal lies not just in its nationality but also in its features and infrastructure. Unlike many global tech giants, Zoho has its servers located within India, ensuring data sovereignty and compliance with local regulations. This is particularly crucial in an era where data privacy and security are paramount concerns.

Moreover, Zoho’s pricing model is often more competitive, especially for SMBs. While Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) and Microsoft 365 offer similar functionalities, Zoho provides a cost-effective alternative without compromising on features. For instance, Zoho One, a bundle of over 40 applications, is priced affordably, making it accessible to a wider audience.

Challenges and opportunities

Despite its strengths, Zoho faces challenges in competing with established players like Google and Microsoft. The familiarity of users with these global tools, coupled with their widespread adoption, poses a significant hurdle. However, Zoho’s continuous innovation, such as the recent launch of AI-rich versions of Zoho Analytics and partnerships with entities like Payoneer and StartupSouth, demonstrate its commitment to staying relevant.

The opportunity for Zoho lies in the growing awareness and preference for indigenous solutions. As more government officials, businesses, and individuals shift towards Zoho, it could trigger a domino effect, encouraging broader adoption. Educational institutions, startups, and even larger enterprises are beginning to explore Zoho’s offerings, recognizing the value of supporting homegrown technology.

Zoho Apps represent a compelling Indian alternative to Google Docs, Sheets, and other productivity tools, offering a suite of integrated solutions that cater to diverse business needs. With strong government backing and a focus on digital sovereignty, Zoho is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s technological landscape. As users increasingly prioritize data privacy, cost-effectiveness, and local innovation, Zoho’s rise could mark a new era in the global tech arena, where Indian solutions stand shoulder to shoulder with international counterparts.

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Vyom Ramani

A journalist with a soft spot for tech, games, and things that go beep. While waiting for a delayed metro or rebooting his brain, you’ll find him solving Rubik’s Cubes, bingeing F1, or hunting for the next great snack. View Full Profile