Outlook.com vs Zoho Mail
In short: Zoho Mail wins on privacy, they tie on price, and Zoho Mail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Outlook.com suits you best if you want email without paying for it; more room (15 GB, against 5 GB); and more years of history: it started in 1996.
- Choose Zoho Mail if you want your mail kept in the EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live; a company that isn't funded by advertising; and an address on your own domain.
| Feature | Outlook.com | Zoho Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | Mail Lite $1 per user a month, yearly |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | Yes, up to 5 users, 5 GB, own domain |
| Storage | 15 GB | 5 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | India |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live |
| Founded | 1996 | 2008 |
| Free trial | Free | 15 days free, and a free plan for small teams |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- On price: Outlook.com Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) at Free, against Zoho Mail Mail Lite at $1 per user a month, yearly.
- Outlook.com has a free plan (15 GB); Zoho Mail has a free plan (up to 5 users, 5 GB, own domain).
- Space: Outlook.com gives 15 GB of storage, Zoho Mail 5 GB of storage.
- Outlook.com keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while Zoho Mail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live.
- The companies sit under different laws: Outlook.com in United States, Zoho Mail in India.
- You can use your own domain with Zoho Mail, but not with Outlook.com.
- Outlook.com (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Zoho Mail doesn't.
Common questions
Is Outlook.com more private than Zoho Mail?
Zoho Mail scores 1.5 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. Zoho Mail gives you your mail kept in the EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is Outlook.com cheaper than Zoho Mail?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). Zoho Mail's cheapest plan, Mail Lite, is $1 per user a month, yearly. Zoho Mail has a free plan too: up to 5 users, 5 GB, own domain.
Can I use my own domain with Outlook.com or Zoho Mail?
Only Zoho Mail does (Yes). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Outlook.com and Zoho Mail?
Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Zoho Mail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live.
Recent price changes
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Outlook.com news · Zoho Mail news.
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Moving your email
Ready to move? My step-by-step guides cover your mail, contacts, forwarding and your own domain: Outlook.com to Zoho Mail · Zoho Mail to Outlook.com.