Electronics
Arattai: Rapid Rise of Zoho’s Homegrown Messaging App
Arattai, which means “casual conversation” in Tamil, was launched by Zoho in 2021 as a simple, everyday messaging app. Initially, it had a modest user base. However, things changed significantly in September 2025. Following strong endorsements from government leaders, including Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, daily sign-ups surged dramatically. Within three days, registrations jumped from 3,000 to 350,000 users. This swift growth quickly positioned Arattai as a promising homegrown messaging platform.
Founder’s Message On X.com : Addressing the Sudden Surge
- “We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in 3 days, with new sign-ups soaring from 3,000 per day to 350,000 per day.”
- “We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work.”
- “Alongside infrastructure expansion, we are fine-tuning and updating the code to fix issues as they arise. We have all-hands-on-deck working flat out.”
- “Initially, a big release with new features, a major capacity boost, and a marketing push was planned for November. Then suddenly, it went vertical.”
- “We have a lot more planned for Arattai. Please give us some time. Thank you for your patience and support! Jai Hind 🙏”
Arattai’s Journey So Far: Key Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Arattai quietly launched by Zoho (Arattai Official Site) |
| Sept 2025 | Government endorsements spark surge in user adoption |
| Sept 2025 | Daily sign-ups soar from 3,000 to 350,000 in three days |
| Nov 2025 | Planned major update for stability, encryption, capacity, and marketing push |
What Arattai Offers: Messaging Features Overview
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Chat Types | One-to-one and group chats supporting text, voice notes, images, and files |
| Group Size | Supports large groups of up to 1,000 members |
| Calls | Audio and video calls with end-to-end encryption (India Today Features) |
| Stories & Broadcasts | Stories feature and broadcast channels for creators and businesses |
| Device Support | Multi-device access including desktop apps and Android TV |
| Mentions Page | Consolidated view of all user mentions across groups and chats |
Data Privacy and Accessibility: Core Strengths of Arattai
- Encryption: Voice and video calls are currently end-to-end encrypted; text encryption is in development (MoneyControl).
- Optimization: Designed to perform smoothly on low-end phones and low-bandwidth networks across India.
- Data Storage: All user data is securely stored in India.
- No Monetization: Zoho commits to not monetize personal user data.
Growing Fast: Challenges Faced and Planned Improvements
- Current Issues: Rapid growth caused occasional OTP delivery delays and slower contact syncing.
- Zoho’s Response: Scaling infrastructure to support the surge.
- Planned Update: November 2025 release will improve stability, introduce text message end-to-end encryption, and add new features.
Arattai vs WhatsApp: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Arattai (Zoho) | WhatsApp (Meta) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Indian (Zoho Corporation) | US-based (Meta Platforms) |
| Launch Year | 2021 | 2009 |
| User Base | Growing, India-focused | Over 3 billion globally, 500 million+ in India |
| Encryption | End-to-end encrypted for calls only; text encryption underway | End-to-end encrypted for all chats and calls |
| Ads/Data Monetization | No ads, does not monetize user data | Ads may appear; data used to support ads/business |
| Device Support | Multi-device including desktop and Android TV | Multi-device excluding Android TV |
| Language Support | Strong focus on Indian languages/regional support | Extensive global language support |
| Group Chat Size | Up to 1,000 members | Up to 1,024 members |
| Additional Features | Stories, broadcast channels, meeting scheduler | Stories, broadcast lists, payments integration |
| Data Storage | User data stored in India | Global/cloud servers |
| Performance | Optimized for low-end devices/low bandwidth | High performance; less optimized for low-bandwidth |
Important Note
While Arattai demonstrates promising features tailored to Indian users and has gained rapid adoption, it is still in its early growth phase compared to WhatsApp’s mature global ecosystem. Many advanced features and full encryption for texts are still being developed by Arattai. Therefore, it is premature to directly compare Arattai with global leaders like WhatsApp. Instead, Arattai’s strengths lie in addressing India-specific needs with a strong emphasis on privacy, accessibility, and digital sovereignty.
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