In the ever-expanding digital communication landscape, a new player is making waves in India’s tech scene. Arattai, a messaging app developed by Zoho Corporation, has rapidly risen to prominence as a proudly “Made-in-India” alternative to WhatsApp. With user sign-ups skyrocketing by 100x in just three days, endorsements from government officials, and a groundswell of public interest, Arattai is positioning itself as a serious challenger to established global platforms.
From Casual Chat to National Buzz
Launched in January 2021, Arattai (which means “casual chat” in Tamil) was initially a quiet entrant in the messaging app market. But its moment has arrived in 2025, as growing calls for digital self-reliance and data privacy fuel a surge in adoption. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that daily sign-ups had jumped from 3,000 to 350,000 per day, pushing the platform’s user base well past the 1 million mark.
“We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in 3 days. We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential surge. That is how exponentials work,” Vembu said.
Features That Mirror WhatsApp And More
Arattai provides most of the functionalities users expect from a top-tier messaging service:
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Text and voice messages for everyday communication.
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Audio and video calls, rivalling WhatsApp and Telegram.
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Media and file sharing, including images, videos, and documents.
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Groups, broadcast channels, and stories, supporting community conversations.
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Cross-device access across smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
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Conversation imports from other chat apps to make switching easier.
While these features make it highly competitive, there’s still a catch: Arattai currently lacks end-to-end encryption for text messages. This means conversations are not fully shielded from potential breaches. Voice and video calls are encrypted, but experts caution that fixing this gap will be crucial if Arattai is to win over privacy-conscious users.
Explosive Growth Driven by Government Support
Arattai’s rise has been bolstered by endorsements from influential leaders. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently took to X, describing the app as “free, easy-to-use, secure, safe and Made in India.” His remarks aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Swadeshi adoption, urging citizens to embrace indigenous technologies.
Even the Ministry of IT and Railways has taken note, with Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acknowledging Zoho’s tools in government use. This national visibility, paired with grassroots adoption, has turned Arattai into a symbol of India’s push for digital sovereignty.
How Does It Compare to WhatsApp?
With over 500 million active users in India, WhatsApp remains the undisputed leader in messaging. By comparison, Arattai’s user base is still small, though its recent growth shows promise. Analysts believe that with the right balance of security upgrades and feature innovation, Arattai could carve out a niche, especially among users seeking local, privacy-conscious platforms.
Unlike WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), Arattai appeals to those who distrust foreign tech companies’ handling of user data. Its branding as an “Indian-made, Indian-owned” solution is resonating strongly with younger users and professionals alike.
The Parent Company Behind Arattai
Arattai is backed by Zoho Corporation, a Chennai-headquartered software giant founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas. With over 55 business applications, Zoho is globally recognized for its CRM, productivity, and project management tools. The company serves more than 130 million users across 150 countries, making it one of India’s biggest tech success stories.
This global credibility adds weight to Arattai’s positioning as not just another start-up app, but a platform with serious infrastructure and long-term backing.
Can Arattai Really Replace WhatsApp?
The question on everyone’s mind: Can Arattai dethrone WhatsApp?
For now, the answer is cautious optimism. The app is undeniably gaining traction, but it faces challenges:
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End-to-end encryption gap: Without this, privacy-focused users may hesitate to switch.
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Feature depth: WhatsApp continues to innovate with payments, shopping integrations, and AI features.
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Market scale: Building a community-driven ecosystem at WhatsApp’s scale will take years.
However, Arattai’s national identity, explosive growth, and Zoho’s proven tech pedigree mean it has the foundation to become India’s strongest homegrown rival to WhatsApp yet.
The Bigger Picture: India’s Digital Self-Reliance
Arattai’s rise comes amid a broader wave of digital nationalism. From UPI payments to data localization laws, India is increasingly building its own tech infrastructure. Messaging apps are one of the most sensitive battlegrounds, as they sit at the heart of daily communication.
If Zoho can close its security gaps and continue scaling at its current pace, Arattai could become a flagship Indian app on the global stage, reshaping how millions of Indians stay connected and setting the tone for India’s tech independence.
