With the recent push for “Swadeshi” tools in India—highlighted by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s switch to Zoho—there is renewed interest in comparing Zoho Sheets and Google Sheets. Below is a breakdown of how they compare across features, cost, performance, privacy, and geography.
What are Zoho Sheets and Google Sheets?
- Zoho Sheets is part of the Zoho Office Suite / Zoho Workplace suite, offering a cloud-based spreadsheet application. It includes collaboration, formulas, charts, data import/export, version history.
- Google Sheetspart of Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite), similarly allows cloud-based spreadsheets with strong real-time collaboration, add-ons, scripting support via Apps Script, mobile and web access, etc.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Zoho Sheets | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time collaboration | Yes; multiple users editing, comments, version history | Yes; strong real-time editing, comments, version history, extensive sharing controls |
| Add-ons / integrations | Integrates with other Zoho tools (CRM, Mail, WorkDrive etc.); supports importing Excel / CSV etc. | Vast ecosystem of add-ons; integration with Google Drive, Google Forms, Google Data Studio, etc. |
| Offline access | Yes, via Zoho’s desktop/web sync or mobile apps (with some limitations) | Yes, via Google Drive offline mode; mobile apps support offline capabilities |
| Formula / functions support | Offers standard formulas; some advanced ones; compatibility with common spreadsheet functions, conditional formatting, pivot tables | Very extensive library of functions; scripting via Apps Script enables custom functions; Excel compatibility; robust pivot table support |
| Performance with large datasets | Generally good; performance depends on size and complexity; may slow with very large datasets or large number of simultaneous users or heavy formulas | Google Sheets known to slow down when spreadsheets become very large (many tens of thousands of rows, many volatile formulas, etc.), though performance optimizations and caching help; Google imposes some limits (e.g. cell count) |
| Version history / revision tracking | Yes; version history available; ability to revert | Yes; detailed version history; often considered smoother UI for version checkpoints |
Cost and Availability
- Zoho Sheets / Zoho Workplace: Zoho offers different pricing tiers; there are free tiers (for basic users), and paid plans which bundle multiple apps. In many cases in India, its paid plans are cheaper than comparable Google Workspace plans.
- Google Sheets / Google Workspace: Also offers free version for personal users; business / enterprise tiers cost more, especially for additional storage, admin controls, enhanced security.
Privacy, Data Locality, Regulation
- Zoho positions itself with a “Made in India” ethos: data hosting options in multiple geographies, more control over data location, and privacy focus (less reliance on ad-based revenue models).
- Google hosts its infrastructure globally, with strong standards and compliance (various certifications). However, concerns over data sovereignty or regulatory compliance are more commonly raised in jurisdictions with strict data laws.
Ecosystem & Integration
- Zoho’s ecosystem includes Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, WorkDrive, etc.—so Sheets integrates more tightly with Zoho’s internal tools.
- Google’s ecosystem is wider globally: strong tie-ins with Gmail, Google Drive, Google Forms, Google Analytics, Google Data Studio etc. Also more third-party add-ons available.
Which may be “better” (based on use-case data)
“Better” depends on user’s priorities. Based on available comparisons:
- For users prioritizing cost, privacy, data localityZoho may have the edge.
- For users needing extensive add-ons, scripting, very large datasets, or widespread third-party integrationsGoogle Sheets often has more mature support.
- For collaborative remote work, both offer strong collaboration, but Google’s real-time editing is generally considered more robust in large scale use cases.
Key Statistics & Numbers
- Zoho has over 100 million users across 150+ countries.
- Google Sheets is part of Google’s tens of millions of Workspace users; exact numbers vary, but Google Workspace is widely adopted globally in enterprise and education.
- Pricing differentials (as of mid-2025) show Zoho’s paid tier costs are often lower in India vs equivalent Google plans (storage, number of users, features); exact numbers depend on plan.
