Zoho Corporation has introduced Ulaa, a browser that has quickly gained attention for its focus on privacy, security, and productivity. Developed as a homegrown alternative to mainstream browsers, Ulaa has also emerged as the winner of the prestigious Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC). The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to encourage the creation of an indigenous browser, marking an important step in India’s digital self-reliance efforts.
Ulaa has been designed with the belief that browsing the internet should not compromise personal privacy. The browser shields users from tracking, advertisers, and cyber threats while offering features that enhance productivity and streamline online work. It is available across multiple platforms including Windows, macOS (Intel and ARM), Linux, Android, and iOS, ensuring access for both individuals and enterprises.
Utmost protection for everyday browsing
The foundation of Ulaa lies in its strong privacy and security design. It actively prevents tracking and includes anonymized statistics, automatic browser ID resets, and a 24-hour security patch policy. Geographical data isolation adds another layer of protection by restricting data access across regions.
Ulaa also ensures that no personal information is shared externally. It sends no data to third parties, avoids third-party account integration, blocks Google URL tracking, and disables DNS prefetching, motion sensors, serial APIs, and metrics reporting. Push client channel updates are disabled, and deceptive URL navigation suggestions are blocked. Together, these features minimize the risk of privacy abuse and protect users from online vulnerabilities.
Five Unique Browser Modes
One of the distinct features of Ulaa is the availability of five specialized modes, each tailored to different needs:
• Personal Mode
The default browsing mode that ensures privacy with secure logins, browsing history management, and tracking prevention.
• Work Mode
Optimized for productivity, this mode blocks distracting websites and protects against intrusive ads and phishing attempts.
• Kids Mode
Provides a safe browsing space for children with features such as parental controls, content filtering, child lock, and a Learning On The Go option to keep young users engaged in educational content.
• Developer Mode
Designed for developers and testers, it includes tools to inspect HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as monitor page resources and loading times.
• Open Season Mode
A no-restriction mode where ad and tracker blockers are disabled, allowing unrestricted access to all websites. The red theme of this mode reminds users that data protection is turned off.
Each mode has its own theme for easy recognition, operates in isolation to prevent data mixing, and supports dynamic switching that prompts users to change modes when accessing mapped sites.
Productivity and integrations
In addition to security, Ulaa focuses heavily on productivity. It offers features like smart tab grouping, a tab manager, Zoho Annotator for notes, a built-in password manager, a screen capture tool, and a smart dashboard. Multi-device sync ensures a smooth experience across platforms.
Ulaa integrates seamlessly with Zoho’s ecosystem. Through Single Sign-On (SSO), users can securely access Zoho apps without repeated logins. It also integrates with Zia, Zoho’s AI-powered search assistant, for unified searches, intelligent automation, and productivity enhancements.
Ulaa Enterprise: Built for business
For enterprises, Zoho offers Ulaa Enterprise, which turns the browser into a frontline cybersecurity defense. Unlike traditional tools that react after breaches, Ulaa Enterprise proactively prevents threats with phishing protection, data loss prevention, and centralized management.
IT teams benefit from a single dashboard that provides full visibility over browsing sessions, reducing the need for virtual desktops or external security add-ons. Ulaa Enterprise also integrates with Zoho applications, offering a secure and connected workplace. It ensures compliance with global standards like GDPR and extends enterprise policies to mobile devices for consistent protection across the workforce.
Recognition at IWBDC
The Indian Web Browser Development Challenge evaluated browsers based on strict criteria including compliance with W3C standards, security with an independent trust store, integration with the CCA India Root Certificate, support for 13 Indian languages, advanced parental controls, and in-browser digital signing using a crypto token.
Ulaa successfully met these requirements, winning the challenge and strengthening India’s vision of digital sovereignty. The inclusion of DigiSign, a built-in digital signing feature, allows users to sign documents directly within the browser, eliminating the need for additional software.
Why Ulaa matters today
For individual users, Ulaa remains free, with Zoho affirming that privacy is a right, not a business model. For enterprises, Ulaa Enterprise provides native security, compliance, and productivity enhancements built directly into the browser.
India’s recognition of Ulaa through the IWBDC is not just about creating a new browser but about setting a milestone for indigenous technology. In an era where browsers act as the primary gateway to the internet, Ulaa demonstrates how a tool can respect privacy, strengthen security, and enhance productivity, while also reinforcing India’s commitment to self-reliance in digital infrastructure.