Quick answer: Zoho Mail is a business email service for your own domain, such as you@yourbusiness.com. Its free plan covers up to 5 users with 5 GB each, but it’s only available in some regions and doesn’t include IMAP, POP or ActiveSync. If you want to use Outlook or another mail app, you’ll probably need a paid plan.
Is Zoho Mail free?
Yes, in some regions. Here’s what Zoho’s pricing page says about the Forever Free plan:
- Up to 5 users
- 5 GB of mail storage per user
- Email hosting for one domain
- No IMAP, POP or ActiveSync
- Available only in select data centres
Watch the sixth user. Zoho’s Workplace page says that from the 6th user, all users move to a paid plan. It isn’t only the extra person.
Why the missing IMAP and POP matter
IMAP and POP let other email apps connect to your mailbox. Without them, you can’t simply add your account to apps like Outlook or Apple Mail. You use Zoho’s own website or app instead. People have raised this in Zoho’s community forum, so check it before you choose the free plan.
Zoho Mail plans compared
| Plan | Best for |
|---|---|
| Mail Free | Trying Zoho Mail with a very small team |
| Mail Lite | Low-cost email only |
| Mail Premium | Email-only users who want more |
| Workplace Standard | Email plus office and team apps |
| Workplace Professional | Bigger teams that want more from the suite |
Zoho says you can try its highest edition free for 15 days with no credit card. You can also mix mail-only and Workplace plans in one organisation. Prices depend on your country.
How much storage does each Zoho Mail plan include?
Storage is the clearest difference between the plans. This is the mail storage per user that Zoho’s pricing page listed when we checked:
| Plan | Mail storage per user | Other apps included |
|---|---|---|
| Mail Free | 5 GB | Mail, Calendar, ToDo and Cliq (free) |
| Mail Lite | 5 GB or 10 GB | Mail, Calendar, ToDo, Directory and Cliq (free) |
| Workplace Standard | 30 GB | Mail plus WorkDrive, Writer, Sheet, Show, Cliq and Meeting |
| Mail Premium | 50 GB, plus 50 GB for retention | Mail with eProtect retention and compliance tools |
| Workplace Professional | 100 GB, plus 100 GB for retention | Everything in Standard, plus more storage and admin tools |
How much does Zoho Mail cost?
Zoho prices its paid plans per user, per month. The figure you see depends on your country and currency, so we don’t quote a single price here. Open the Zoho Mail pricing page to see the price for where you are.
- Mail Lite and Mail Premium are billed yearly. Zoho’s page says there’s no monthly plan for them.
- Workplace plans can be paid monthly or yearly.
- Free trial: Zoho says you can try its highest edition free for 15 days, with no credit card.
- Mixing plans: you can give some people Mail Lite and others Workplace in the same organisation.
Free or paid: which Zoho Mail plan suits you?
- Stay on Mail Free if you have 5 people or fewer, one domain, and you’re happy using Zoho’s website and apps.
- Pay for Mail Lite if you need Outlook, Apple Mail or another app through IMAP or POP, or you have more than 5 people.
- Choose Mail Premium if you must keep email for legal or compliance reasons.
- Choose Workplace if you also want shared files, documents, chat and video meetings.
Zoho Mail or Zoho Workplace?
Zoho Mail is the email service. Zoho Workplace bundles it with other apps, such as WorkDrive, Writer, Sheet, Show, Cliq and Meeting. Choose Mail alone if email is all you need. Choose Workplace if you want a full office suite too.
How to set up Zoho Mail
- Choose a plan on Zoho’s website.
- Add your domain and prove that you own it.
- Create your users.
- Change your domain’s MX records so mail reaches Zoho.
- Add SPF and DKIM records to help your email reach inboxes.
- Send a test email both ways.
Zoho’s setup screens show the exact values to use. Copy them carefully, and keep a note of your old DNS records.
Common Zoho Mail setup problems
| Problem | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| Domain won’t verify | The TXT or CNAME record is missing or has a typo. Copy the value again from Zoho’s setup screen and wait for DNS to update. |
| Mail still goes to your old provider | The old MX records are still there. Remove them and keep only Zoho’s MX records. |
| Emails land in spam | SPF or DKIM is missing. Add both records from Zoho’s setup screen. |
| Can’t add the account to Outlook | IMAP and POP aren’t included on the free plan. Use Zoho’s apps or move to a paid plan. |
DNS changes can take from a few minutes to a day to work everywhere, so test again later before changing anything else.
Zoho Mail login
Sign in at mail.zoho.com. If your account is hosted in another region, your address may be different, such as mail.zoho.eu or mail.zoho.in. See our Zoho login help.
Related guides
- Zoho CRM Guide: Free Plan, Editions and How to Start
- Zoho People Guide: HR Software, Free Plan and Payroll
- What Is Zoho? Apps, Free Plans and Who It’s For
Zoho Mail FAQ
Can I use Zoho Mail free with my own domain?
Yes. The free plan hosts email for one domain for up to 5 users, in the regions where Zoho offers it.
What happens if I add a 6th user?
Zoho’s pricing page says that from the 6th user, all users move to a paid plan, not just the new person.
Is Zoho Mail safe?
Zoho is an established company, but no email service can stop every scam. Turn on two-step sign-in and be careful with links in emails.
Is Zoho Mail better than Gmail?
It depends. Zoho Mail’s free plan can host your own domain with limits. Gmail may suit people who want a personal address. Compare the current plans side by side.
Can I use Zoho Mail with Outlook?
Not on the free plan, as it leaves out IMAP, POP and ActiveSync. Check that your paid plan includes what you need.
Does Zoho Mail have an app?
Yes. Zoho offers mobile apps. Download them only from your phone’s official app store.
Checked against Zoho’s official pages on 5 November 2026. ZohoSoftwares Guide is independent and is not run by Zoho. Plans, limits and prices change and can differ by country, so confirm them on Zoho’s website.
Sources: Zoho Mail pricing, Zoho Workplace pricing