Zoho Ulaa Browser Review: Finally, a Real Chrome Alternative?
In a world dominated by Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, introducing a new browser is always a bold move. But Zoho — a name well known in productivity and SaaS software — has taken that leap with Ulaa.
Ulaa is marketed as a privacy-first, productivity-oriented browser that tries to carve out a niche among users who feel mainstream browsers compromise too much user data or lock them into ecosystems. (Ulaa)
In 2025, Zoho also launched an enterprise variant, Ulaa Enterprise, targeting business users who want tighter security and control. (Business Wire)
This blog post digs deep: features, advantages, drawbacks, user reactions, enterprise potential, and whether Ulaa might really be a contender in the browser wars.
1. What Is Ulaa Browser?
Here are the basics:
- Developer / Publisher: Zoho Corporation (the same company behind Zoho CRM, Zoho Office suite, etc.) (Wikipedia)
- Engine / Base: Ulaa is based on Chromium (the open-source code underlying Chrome, Edge, Opera, etc.). (YouTube)
- Platforms / Devices: Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS (though mobile is still in beta). (Ulaa Support)
- Core Positioning / Promise: A browser that respects privacy (less tracking, fewer “spyware-like” behaviors), integrates productivity tools, and gives users more granular control over how they browse. (Ulaa)
Some notable claims from the official side include:
- No metrics reporting, no DNS prefetching, no serial API, etc. — features commonly thought to expose user behavior are disabled. (Ulaa)
- Ad / tracker blocking by default across multiple “tiers.” (Technext)
- Multiple modes — each tailored to a different use case (work, personal, developer, kids, open season) so you can switch browsing behavior depending on context. (Ulaa)
- Sync, password manager, smart tab grouping, notes, screen capture, etc. — built-in productivity features to reduce the need for extensions. (Ulaa)
- Automatic security patches and a quick patch policy (24 hours) for vulnerabilities. (Ulaa)
Modes in Ulaa — What They Mean
One of Ulaa’s more unique differentiators is its mode-based browsing. The modes are:
| Mode | Purpose / Behavior | What changes or features |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Default privacy-first mode | Blocks trackers, standard adblock, secure logins, minimal profiling (Ulaa) |
| Work | Productivity-focused | More aggressive ad/tracker blocking, blocking distracting sites, enhancing security for work tasks (Ulaa) |
| Kids | Safe browsing for children | Content filtering, parental controls, restricting access to other modes without password (Ulaa) |
| Developer | For web devs / testers | Tools for inspecting HTML, CSS, network, JS assets etc. (Ulaa) |
| Open Season | “No restrictions” mode | Disables ad & tracker blocking so sites behave “normally” (useful when some sites break) (Ulaa) |
Each of these modes often has a distinct UI theme to help users visually recognize which mode they are in. (Ulaa)
2. How to Install & Use Ulaa
Getting started with Ulaa is relatively straightforward:
- On desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), you go to ulaa.com and download the appropriate installer. (Ulaa Support)
- On Linux, Zoho provides an install script (for example, via
curl … | bash) and also supports Flatpak distribution. (Ulaa Support) - On Android, Ulaa supports Android 7.0+; you can install from the Google Play Store. (Ulaa Support)
- On iOS / iPadOS, the app is available via the App Store. (Apple)
Once installed, you pick a mode and begin browsing. Ulaa also supports sync across devices using Zoho accounts. Data (bookmarks, history, passwords) is end-to-end encrypted, meaning Zoho claims they can’t read it themselves. (Google Play)
For updates and patches, Ulaa aims to push security updates rapidly. (Ulaa)
3. Strengths / Why People Might Use Ulaa
Having seen features and claims, here are the key advantages that attract users or might in time:
- Privacy-first design
- Integrated productivity tools
- Having built-in notes, screen capture, tab grouping, etc. reduces dependence on extensions or separate apps. (Ulaa)
- Mode switching allows tailoring behavior (e.g. strict blocking in work mode, relaxed rules in “open season”).
- Better control and transparency
- Users are more aware of what features are enabled/disabled, and can toggle modes or override when needed.
- Zoho’s brand, reputation in business software, and existing user base may help drive trust.
- Strong enterprise prospects (Ulaa Enterprise)
- Zoho’s enterprise version adds granular policy controls, security at browser-level (less need for external tools), and pricing transparency. (Business Wire)
- According to some writeups, Ulaa Enterprise aims to reduce reliance on virtualization or third-party browser security stacks. (Business Wire)
- Zoho claims Ulaa Enterprise can help organizations close “the browser as an attack surface.” (Business Wire)
- Made in India / Local trust
- In India especially, there is interest in “home-grown” alternatives to big tech. Ulaa won India’s Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC) by Ministry of Electronics and IT. (Ulaa)
- Users wary of large corporations collecting data may prefer Zoho’s approach.
- Positive user reviews in certain areas
4. Weaknesses / Why Some Might Avoid Ulaa
No browser (especially a newcomer) is perfect. Here are the main criticisms or concerns:
- Memory / resource usage and performance
- When launched with multiple tabs or extensions, Ulaa is said to launch many processes and consume more memory than Chrome. (Constellation Research Inc.)
- Unlike Chrome’s “tab hibernation” or memory optimization, Ulaa tends to keep tabs active, further taxing resources. (Constellation Research Inc.)
- Some reports say that it launches ~13 processes even with a blank session and may use over 500 MB at startup. (Constellation Research Inc.)
- Less mature / some missing polish
- Extension compatibility: While many Chrome extensions work, some may not, especially niche or less-maintained ones. (SelectHub)
- Mobile version is still in beta — meaning potential bugs, missing features, or performance issues. (Google Play)
- Occasional freezes, lags, or instability reported by users. (G2)
- Feature trade-offs / strict privacy can break sites
- Some websites or web features might fail or misbehave because of blocking trackers, scripts, or integrations disabled by default.
- Open Season mode partly addresses this by allowing full functionality, but toggling between modes may be an extra effort.
- Proprietary / closed source vs transparency concerns
- Although built on Chromium, some critics point out that Ulaa is proprietary (i.e. not fully open source). (YouTube)
- Because internal code is not fully open, some users question whether promised “no data leaks” or “no metrics” claims can always be trusted without external audits.
- Ecosystem lock-in / network effects
- Most users are deeply entrenched in Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox ecosystems. Extensions, syncing, workflows, and inertia make switching costly.
- Even if the browser is good, getting widespread adoption is difficult.
- Competition is fierce
- Leading browsers already invest heavily in privacy, performance, and features. Ulaa must continuously innovate to stay competitive.
- Some privacy-focused browsers (e.g. Brave, Firefox with strong privacy add-ons) already have loyal user bases.
5. Real User Feedback & Observations
Here’s what actual users, reviewers, and commentators are saying (beyond official marketing):
- From G2 reviews: “The only dislike is that it is not optimized for slow internet and RAM consumption is more compared to Edge.” (G2)
“The software has encryption features … customer support … makes sure they resolve all issues…” (G2) - From SelectHub / analysts:
- “Limited extension support” and “mobile version in beta” are cited as key downsides. (SelectHub)
- Nonetheless, Ulaa gets praise for its privacy defaults and performance for many typical browsing tasks.
- From Constellation Research:
- Found that Ulaa tends to spawn many processes and uses significantly more memory compared to Chrome. (Constellation Research Inc.)
- Complained about the lack of features like a built-in VPN or firewall, or built-in Tor support. (Constellation Research Inc.)
- From Reddit (r/browsers): “Ulaa does quite well in security, which not all Chromium-based browsers do … The ad and tracker blocker work quite well.” (Reddit)
- From tech reviews (Technext, CIO Africa):
- Reviewers are impressed by how many malicious requests or trackers Ulaa blocked in short use. (Technext)
- Also noted that Ulaa feels familiar (Chrome-like) but safer. (CIO Africa)
In short: many users feel Ulaa is promising and delivers on core promises, but it’s not yet flawless or perfect for every scenario.
6. Ulaa Enterprise: Taking It to Businesses
To broaden its appeal beyond individual users, Zoho introduced Ulaa Enterprise, a version tailored for corporate and IT settings. Key features and positioning:
- Centralized policy controls, security enforcement at browser level, and less reliance on external security tools. (Business Wire)
- Zoho claims companies can reduce “layered tools” (e.g. separate browser security suites, virtualization) by using Ulaa Enterprise. (ERP Consultants)
- Pricing is designed to be transparent and predictable (e.g. roughly $1/month per device or $10/year, per some writeups) so IT budgeting is easier. (ERP Consultants)
- Because Zoho already serves many organizations with its SaaS products, the enterprise browser could integrate nicely with existing IT landscapes (SSO, security, data management) with lower friction. (Intellyx)
- Ulaa Enterprise avoids dependencies on Google for certain services (e.g. geolocation, translation) and relies on Zoho’s own stack instead, aiming for greater control. (Intellyx)
Thus, while the free version appeals to privacy-conscious consumers, the enterprise side may be Zoho’s real “strategic bet.”
7. Is Ulaa a Good Choice? Use Cases & Recommendations
To help you (or your readers) decide whether to try Ulaa, here are scenarios where it might or might not make sense:
When Ulaa makes sense
- You value privacy by default and don’t want to spend time tuning settings or installing many extensions.
- You want a browser that differentiates “work mode” vs “personal mode,” making multitasking easier.
- You already use Zoho’s ecosystem (Zoho CRM, Zoho One, etc.), so integration or trust is a plus.
- You are a developer or technical user who can tolerate occasional rough edges and want to test something new.
- For organizations seeking tighter browser-level security, Ulaa Enterprise could simplify architecture.
When Ulaa might not be ideal
- You run many memory- or resource-intensive tasks (e.g. many tabs, heavy web apps) and have limited RAM — Ulaa’s higher memory usage might become frustrating.
- You rely on niche browser extensions or web tools not compatible with Ulaa.
- You need rock-solid stability on mobile — the beta mobile build might have bugs or missing features.
- You prefer fully open-source browsers or ones with fully auditable code.
- You are deeply invested in another browser’s ecosystem (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) and switching costs are high.
8. What’s Next & Challenges
Some of the key things to watch:
- Performance optimization: Memory usage, tab hibernation, process management need improvement. Constellation’s criticism about resource consumption is real. (Constellation Research Inc.)
- Extension compatibility and ecosystem support: Bridging the gap between “most” and “all” extensions working reliably.
- Mobile stability and feature parity: The mobile version is in beta — getting it stable and polished is crucial for broad adoption.
- Transparency / open audit: To build trust, Zoho may need to open more of Ulaa’s internals or invite independent audits.
- Adoption challenges: Convincing users to switch browsers is hard. Ulaa must offer compelling reasons (privacy + performance + features) to justify the move.
- Competition: Other browsers continue evolving. Ulaa must stay ahead in privacy tools, security, performance, and UX.