When people think of spreadsheets, two names dominate the conversation: Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. For decades, Excel has been the backbone of financial modeling, data analysis, and enterprise reporting, while Google Sheets revolutionized cloud collaboration with real-time editing.
But in recent years, a homegrown challenger from India has emerged — Zoho Sheets. Part of the Zoho Office Suite under Zoho Workplace, Zoho Sheets has quietly built a strong reputation for affordability, privacy-first policies, and deep integration with Zoho’s 50+ business applications. And now, thanks to growing recognition in India and abroad, Zoho Sheets is proving that it can stand alongside — and in some cases, outperform — the big players.
A Brief History of Zoho
Zoho Corporation was founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas as AdventNet, a software company focused on network management. Over time, it pivoted into building business productivity applications and was rebranded as Zoho in 2009.
What makes Zoho unique is that it has remained bootstrapped and privately held for nearly three decades. Without outside investors, Zoho has grown steadily and independently, serving over 100 million users globally with its 50+ applications spanning CRM, HR, finance, analytics, and office productivity.
Indian IT Minister’s Announcement
Zoho’s credibility received a major boost in September 2025, when India’s Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that he had personally switched to the Zoho Office Suite. He praised Zoho as a symbol of India’s growing self-reliance in technology and encouraged more organizations to adopt indigenous solutions.
This endorsement is not only symbolic but also a strong signal that Zoho is being recognized at the highest levels of governance, positioning it as a trusted alternative to global tech giants like Google and Microsoft.
Zoho Sheets vs Google Sheets vs Microsoft Excel
| Feature/Aspect | Zoho Sheets | Google Sheets | Microsoft Excel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collaboration | Real-time editing, comments, version history | Best-in-class live collaboration | Strong, but requires OneDrive/SharePoint |
| Functions | 400+ functions, supports advanced formulas | 450+ functions, widely used | 500+ functions, most advanced |
| Pivot Tables | Supported with customization options | Available, but limited | Industry-standard pivot tables |
| Macros/Automation | Built-in macros, integrates with Zoho Flow | Google Apps Script | VBA macros & Office Scripts (most powerful) |
| Charts & Visuals | Wide range, including animated Race Charts | Good options but fewer visuals | Advanced charting, Power Query, Power Pivot |
| Integration | Tight with Zoho apps (CRM, Forms, Analytics) | Seamless with Gmail, Drive, and Google apps | Deep Windows and Office ecosystem integration |
| Offline Use | Limited offline support | Limited offline via Chrome extension | Full offline desktop capability |
| Best For | SMBs, privacy-conscious, integrated workflows | Teams needing simple online collaboration | Professionals needing advanced spreadsheet power |
Key Features of Zoho Sheets
Zoho Sheets isn’t just “another spreadsheet.” It’s built to meet the needs of modern businesses while keeping usability simple. Some highlights include:
- 400+ Built-in Functions covering math, financial, statistical, and text operations.
- Pivot Tables & Charts for data summarization and visualization.
- Macros & Automation to eliminate repetitive tasks.
- Integration with Zoho Forms to capture live data into sheets.
- Real-time Collaboration with granular permissions and version history.
- Privacy-first Design with Zoho’s strong data protection policies.
Advanced Functions in Zoho Sheets
What makes Zoho Sheets powerful is not just the basics, but also its support for advanced spreadsheet functions that data analysts, accountants, and business managers rely on every day. Here are some examples:
1. VLOOKUP
VLOOKUP (Vertical Lookup) lets you search for a value in one column and return a corresponding value from another column. It’s widely used for matching IDs, prices, or employee details.
Example:=VLOOKUP(101, A2:D20, 3, false)
Finds employee ID 101 in column A and returns the corresponding value from the 3rd column in the range.
2. XLOOKUP
An advanced replacement for VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, XLOOKUP allows both vertical and horizontal lookups, without the limitations of fixed column positions.
Example:=XLOOKUP("Laptop", A2:A50, B2:B50, "Not Found")
Looks for “Laptop” in column A and returns its price from column B.
3. FILTER
The FILTER function returns only the rows that meet certain criteria. This makes it powerful for data analysis.
Example:=FILTER(A2:D100, C2:C100="Approved")
Extracts all rows where the status column (C) equals “Approved.”
4. SUMIF
SUMIF adds up numbers based on a condition.
Example:=SUMIF(B2:B50, ">1000", C2:C50)
Sums all values in column C where column B is greater than 1000.
5. COUNTIF
COUNTIF counts cells that meet a condition.
Example:=COUNTIF(D2:D200, "Pending")
Counts the number of rows where column D equals “Pending.”
6. BYROW
BYROW applies a formula to each row in an array, simplifying repetitive calculations.
Example:=BYROW(A2:D10, LAMBDA(r, SUM(r)))
Calculates the sum of each row in the range.
7. LAMBDA
LAMBDA allows you to create custom reusable functions without VBA or external scripts.
Example:=LAMBDA(x, x^2)(5)
Returns 25 (5 squared). You can define complex formulas as functions to reuse across your sheet.
Together, these functions bring Excel-like power into Zoho Sheets while keeping everything in the cloud.
Read More: Excel Tutorials
Why Choose Zoho Sheets?
- Affordability: Lower cost compared to Microsoft and Google subscriptions.
- Integration: Works seamlessly with Zoho CRM, Analytics, and other apps.
- Privacy: Strong commitment to data protection and no reliance on ad revenue.
- Innovation: Advanced functions, animated charts, and macros make it suitable for both beginners and professionals.
For small and medium businesses, or anyone seeking a reliable alternative to Excel and Google Sheets, Zoho Sheets is a serious option.
Our Announcement
We’re excited to share that on Tutorials.SmartTejas.com, we are launching a detailed tutorial series on Zoho Sheets.
- The tutorials will cover step-by-step guides on formulas, pivot tables, macros, charts, and integrations.
- We will place special focus on advanced functions like VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, FILTER, SUMIF, COUNTIF, BYROW, and LAMBDA with examples.
- At this stage, our tutorials will focus exclusively on Zoho Sheets to help learners master this tool in depth.
Stay tuned — our first tutorial will be live soon!