Zoho Cliq
by Zoho Corporation
Team chat & communication software for businesses - Zoho Cliq
About This App
Zoho Cliq is a business messaging and team collaboration platform built by Zoho Corporation out of Chennai, India. It brings together team channels, direct messages, group chats, HD video and audio meetings, screen sharing, and real-time file collaboration in a single workspace โ positioned as an affordable, privacy-first alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams for Indian SMBs and enterprises. Cliq's standout advantage is its deep integration with the 55+ app Zoho One suite โ conversations can trigger actions in Zoho CRM, Projects, Desk, People, Books, and more without leaving the chat. Bots and custom commands can be built in Zoho's own Deluge scripting language, and admins get granular controls over message retention, data residency, and user permissions. Pricing is a major differentiator: the Free plan supports up to 100 users with unlimited messages (vs Slack's 90-day history cap on free), while the Unlimited plan is priced at roughly Rs 90โ180 per user per month depending on region โ typically 40โ60% cheaper than Slack Pro. Data is hosted in Indian data centres for customers who opt for the in.zoho.com data region, addressing data sovereignty concerns for Indian businesses. Cliq is best suited for teams already invested in the Zoho ecosystem, cost-sensitive SMBs, and Indian organisations that need local data residency. Large enterprises coming from Slack may find the UI and third-party integration ecosystem less polished, but for most Indian teams, Cliq delivers 80% of Slack's functionality at a fraction of the price.
Information updated 6 months ago
App Details
Zoho Corporation
Honest Review
4.4/5 on G2 (400+ reviews) ยท Last verified 2026-04-25
What works well
- +Free plan supports up to 100 users with unlimited message history โ no 90-day cap like Slack
- +Deep native integration with Zoho One's 55+ business apps (CRM, Projects, Desk, People, Books)
- +Built-in HD video and audio meetings, screen sharing, and whiteboarding โ no separate app needed
- +40โ60% cheaper than Slack or Microsoft Teams at comparable tiers
- +Indian data residency available via the in.zoho.com region for data sovereignty compliance
- +Custom bots and automations via Deluge (Zoho's low-code scripting language)
What needs improvement
- -Third-party integration marketplace is much smaller than Slack's (~100 vs 2,400+)
- -Mobile apps feel less polished than Slack and Teams โ occasional sync lag on Android
- -Desktop notifications can be inconsistent on macOS
- -UI feels dated compared to Slack; learning curve for teams switching over
Common user complaints
- !Search within old messages is slower than Slack's indexed search
- !Notification sounds and badge counts sometimes don't match unread state on mobile
- !Initial onboarding for non-Zoho teams is confusing โ forces Zoho account creation
Learn Zoho Cliq on YouTube
Hand-picked videos to help you get started โ tutorials, demos, and reviews.
Webinar | The ultimate beginner's guide to Zoho Cliq | Getting started
Complete Guide to Zoho: Mail, WorkDrive, Writer, Sheet, Cliq & Meeting
Zoho Cliq - Availability and Integrations | Zoho One Course
Zoho Cliq Full Product Overview and Integrations
Move Your Work Chats Forward With Zoho | Zoho Cliq
Indian Alternative To
Zoho Cliq is a powerful Indian alternative to these international apps:
Is Zoho Cliq an alternative to Slack?
Yes, Zoho Cliq by Zoho Corporation is an Indian alternative to Slack. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to Slack โ
Is Zoho Cliq an alternative to Microsoft Teams?
Yes, Zoho Cliq by Zoho Corporation is an Indian alternative to Microsoft Teams. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to Microsoft Teams โ
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