<strong>Microsoft Outlook takes the lead</strong>

Microsoft Outlook is ruling the email category, closely followed by Gmail. Zoho Mail is also a strong contender for enterprises.

Email solutions are becoming increasingly popular among enterprises due to the numerous benefits they offer. In the last couple of years, awareness about these advantages has grown considerably, creating new opportunities for the global email marketing software market. According to marketresearchfuture, the email marketing market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period of 2030.

Microsoft Outlook retained its crown as the winner from last year, while Google's Gmail remained the first runner-up. However, Zoho Mail surpassed Zimbra to become the second runner-up.

In terms of familiarity index, the top two contenders from last year remain the same this year. Microsoft Outlook and Google's Gmail scored 88% and 85%, respectively, last year. However, this year, the gap between them has significantly widened. Zoho Mail secured 31%, followed by Yandex Mail with 30% and Zimbra Mail with 28%. Microsoft Outlook and Google's Gmail continue to dominate the market, but other email solutions are gaining ground.

Six out of every seven users would consider Microsoft Outlook when choosing an email solution service provider.

Nearly all respondents were able to spontaneously recall Microsoft's Outlook (100%) and Google's Gmail (97%). However, Yandex Mail emerged as more popular than Zoho Mail and Zimbra Mail, with 61% of respondents recalling it compared to 52% and 45%, respectively. Meaning Yandex Mail is gaining popularity and it will be interesting to see the future trends.

Looking at the current situation, Microsoft's Outlook is the most widely used email solution, capturing more than half of the market share at 53%, followed by Gmail at 22%. Interestingly, although Zimbra Mail was falling in other segments, it captured the second runner-up spot in current usage with 7%, leaving Yandex Mail at 6% and Zoho Mail at 5%.

Looking towards the future, the majority of respondents (85%) indicated a preference for Microsoft's Outlook, which is currently leading the market. Meanwhile, Gmail could also gain a larger share of the market, with a score of 68%. Zoho Mail maintained its third spot with 26%, followed by Zimbra Mail at 22% and Yandex Mail at 18% in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

Most respondents preferred Microsoft's Outlook due to its brand name, product quality, and after-sales support/service. Google's Gmail, on the other hand, was primarily chosen for its quality and pricing. Zoho Mail was selected for its brand name, Yandex Mail for its quality, and Zimbra Mail for its pricing.

By Satya Sunder Mohanty, CyberMedia & Ashok Pandey, PCQUEST