Softwr

Spreadsheets · head to head

Google Sheets vs Zoho Sheet

Google Sheets logo

Google Sheets

Spreadsheets

Cloud spreadsheet, free for a personal Google account and bundled into paid Google Workspace for organisations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Sheet logo

Zoho Sheet

Spreadsheets

Free standalone cloud spreadsheet from Zoho, also bundled into the low-cost Zoho Workplace suite

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Sheets performance degrades noticeably on very large or formula-heavy spreadsheets compared with desktop Excel, particularly with complex array formulas.; Zoho Sheet its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Sheets covers Formulas and pivot tables, Zoho Sheet covers Deluge scripting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Sheets and Zoho Sheet actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Sheets and Zoho Sheet differ
AttributeGoogle SheetsZoho Sheet
Pricing modelFree personally, bundled into paid Google Workspace for organisationsFree standalone, bundled into paid Zoho Workplace for organisations
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Spreadsheets).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Sheets

  • Formulas and pivot tables
  • Apps Script automation
  • Offline mode
  • Connected Sheets

Only in Zoho Sheet

  • Deluge scripting
  • Pivot tables and formulas
  • Zoho ecosystem integration
  • Offline access

Both cover

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Excel compatibility

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Sheets

  • A freelancer or small team wanting real-time spreadsheet collaboration without installing softwarenot Zoho Sheet
  • A school or nonprofit already using free or discounted Google Workspace for Educationnot Zoho Sheet
  • A company standardising on Google Workspace for email and file storage that gets Sheets includednot Zoho Sheet
  • A team building lightweight internal tools with Apps Script rather than a dedicated databasenot Zoho Sheet

Zoho Sheet

  • An individual wanting a genuinely free spreadsheet without a Google or Microsoft account requirementnot Google Sheets
  • A small business already using Zoho CRM that wants spreadsheet data flowing directly from itnot Google Sheets
  • A price-sensitive team choosing Zoho Workplace over Google Workspace for the same headcountnot Google Sheets
  • A nonprofit or startup on the Zoho Workplace Forever Free plan for up to 5 usersnot Google Sheets

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Sheets

  • Performance degrades noticeably on very large or formula-heavy spreadsheets compared with desktop Excel, particularly with complex array formulas.
  • Its charting and pivot table features are less capable than Excel for advanced statistical or financial analysis.
  • Offline editing requires the Chrome browser or a specific offline-enabled setup, so it is not as seamless as a native desktop application.
  • The free personal tier has no admin controls, audit logging or data loss prevention, so it is not appropriate for regulated business data on its own.
  • Apps Script has execution time limits and quota restrictions that make it unsuitable for heavier automation workloads a dedicated backend would handle better.

Zoho Sheet

  • Its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • Collaborators outside a company who are used to Google Sheets or Excel face a small adjustment to the Zoho interface and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Zoho Workplace Forever Free is capped at 5 users and 5GB, so it stops being viable the moment a team grows past that.
  • Deluge, its scripting language, is Zoho-specific, so automation logic written for Zoho Sheet does not transfer to Google Apps Script or Excel VBA if a company later switches suites.
  • Brand recognition and market share are far smaller than Google or Microsoft, so IT departments evaluating vendors may have less familiarity or fewer case studies to draw on.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Sheets

Free
  • Personal Google accountFree
    • Full Sheets functionality
    • 15GB shared Drive storage across Gmail, Drive and Photos
    • No admin controls
  • Google Workspace Business Starter$7/month
    • Sheets bundled with Gmail, Drive and Meet
    • Admin console and centralised management
    • 30GB pooled storage per user

Zoho Sheet

Free
  • Zoho Sheet (standalone)Free
    • Full core spreadsheet functionality
    • No forced account upgrade
    • Individual use
  • Zoho Workplace Forever FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • 5GB storage
    • Sheet, Docs, Slides, Mail and Meeting bundled
  • Zoho Workplace Professional$6/month
    • Full Workplace suite for teams
    • Annual billing rate
    • Larger storage per user

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Sheets if

  • You need formulas and pivot tables.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want apps script automation.
Google Sheets review

Choose Zoho Sheet if

  • You need deluge scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want pivot tables and formulas.
Zoho Sheet review

Questions people ask

Is Google Sheets or Zoho Sheet better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Sheets starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Sheets or Zoho Sheet?
Google Sheets starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free.
Does Google Sheets or Zoho Sheet run on more platforms?
Google Sheets runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zoho Sheet runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Google Sheets for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Sheets best used for?
Google Sheets is most often used for a freelancer or small team wanting real-time spreadsheet collaboration without installing software, a school or nonprofit already using free or discounted google workspace for education, a company standardising on google workspace for email and file storage that gets sheets included, a team building lightweight internal tools with apps script rather than a dedicated database. Of those, a freelancer or small team wanting real-time spreadsheet collaboration without installing software and a school or nonprofit already using free or discounted google workspace for education are not what Zoho Sheet is typically brought in for.
What can Google Sheets do that Zoho Sheet cannot?
Google Sheets covers Formulas and pivot tables, Apps Script automation, Offline mode, Connected Sheets. Zoho Sheet covers Deluge scripting, Pivot tables and formulas, Zoho ecosystem integration, Offline access. Both handle Real-time collaboration, Excel compatibility.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Sheets: Is Google Sheets really free?

Yes, for a personal Google account with full functionality, subject to the 15GB Drive storage limit shared across Google services.

Zoho Sheet: Is Zoho Sheet free on its own, without buying the suite?

Yes, it can be used as a standalone spreadsheet with a free Zoho account with no forced upgrade.

Google Sheets: Why would a business pay for something that is free?

Businesses pay for Google Workspace, which bundles Sheets with admin controls, larger storage, audit logs and support that a personal account lacks.

Zoho Sheet: How does Zoho Workplace pricing compare with Google Workspace?

Independent pricing comparisons put Zoho Workplace at roughly 50 to 70 percent cheaper than equivalent Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plans.

Google Sheets: Does Google Sheets work with Excel files?

Yes, it opens, edits and exports Microsoft Excel format files directly.

Zoho Sheet: Does Zoho Sheet open Excel files?

Yes, it imports, edits and exports Microsoft Excel format files.

Share

Related pages

More on Google Sheets

More on Zoho Sheet

Keep looking

Other head to heads