Zoho Mail vs Kolab Now
On privacy it's Kolab Now. On price it's Zoho Mail. On features it's a tie. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Go for Zoho Mail if you'd like the lower price ($1 per user a month, yearly); a free plan to start on; and more years of history: it started in 2008.
- Kolab Now suits you best if you want open-source apps anyone can check.
| Feature | Zoho Mail | Kolab Now |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Mail Lite $1 per user a month, yearly | Mailbox CHF 5 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, up to 5 users, 5 GB, own domain | No |
| Storage | 5 GB | 5 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | India | Switzerland |
| Your data is kept in | EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2008 | 2013 |
| Free trial | 15 days free, and a free plan for small teams | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | Unknown | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How Zoho Mail and Kolab Now differ
- Cheapest plans: Zoho Mail Mail Lite, $1 per user a month, yearly. Kolab Now Mailbox, CHF 5 a month.
- Zoho Mail has a free plan (up to 5 users, 5 GB, own domain); Kolab Now has no free plan.
- Your mail is stored in the EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live with Zoho Mail, and in Switzerland with Kolab Now.
- The companies sit under different laws: Zoho Mail in India, Kolab Now in Switzerland.
Questions people ask
Is Zoho Mail more private than Kolab Now?
Kolab Now scores 3 out of 5 for privacy and Zoho Mail 1.5. Kolab Now gives you open-source apps anyone can check.
Is Zoho Mail cheaper than Kolab Now?
Zoho Mail is cheaper. Its Mail Lite plan is $1 per user a month, yearly, against CHF 5 a month for Kolab Now's Mailbox. Zoho Mail also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Zoho Mail or Kolab Now?
Yes, both do. Zoho Mail: Yes. Kolab Now: Yes.
Where is my email stored with Zoho Mail and Kolab Now?
Zoho Mail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam, Dublin); UK data centre announced for 2026, not confirmed live. Kolab Now keeps it in Switzerland.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Zoho Mail news · Kolab Now news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Zoho Mail vs mailbox.org · Kolab Now vs mailbox.org · Zoho Mail vs Posteo · Kolab Now vs Posteo · Zoho Mail vs Proton Mail · Kolab Now vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Zoho Mail · Moving from Zoho Mail. Or see all my switching guides.