- Arattai topped the Social Networking category on the App Store in India
- The app was launched by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation in January 2021
- Arattai supports text, voice, video calls, media sharing, and multi-device use
Homegrown messaging app Arattai has climbed to the top spot in the Social Networking category on the App Store. Developed by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation, the app is now being promoted as India's own messaging solution. Zoho launched Arattai in January 2021, after WhatsApp announced changes to its privacy policy.
We're officially #1 in Social Networking on the App Store!
— Arattai (@Arattai) September 27, 2025
Big thanks to every single Arattai user for making this possible. ????#StayConnected #Arattai pic.twitter.com/gqxPW108Nq
Last week, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged users to switch to Arattai, describing it as "free, easy-to-use, secure, safe, and made in India."
"Arattai instant messaging app developed by Zoho is free, easy-to-use, secure, safe and made in India. Guided by Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's call to adopt Swadeshi, I appeal to everyone to switch to India-made apps," Mr Pradhan posted on X.
Arattai instant messaging app developed by @Zoho is free, easy-to-use, secure, safe and ‘Made in India'.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 24, 2025
Guided by Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji's call to adopt Swadeshi, I appeal to everyone to switch to India-made apps for staying connected with friends and family.… pic.twitter.com/Tptgbzgivg
What Is Arattai?
Arattai means "casual chat" in Tamil. Much like WhatsApp, Arattai allows users to:
- Text and voice messages
- Voice and video calls
- Photo, video, and document sharing
- Stories, groups, and channels
- Multi-device support across smartphones, tablets, and desktops (up to five devices at a time)
Arattai also allows users to import conversations from other chat platforms.
Security Gap
While Arattai provides end-to-end encryption for calls, messages do not yet have the same protection. End-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and receiver can access content, preventing interception by third parties.
Who Can Use Arattai?
The app is accessible to everyone. Arattai is available for download on both Android (Google Play Store) and iOS (Apple App Store). Anyone can install it and start using it by registering with a mobile number.
Backed By Zoho Corporation
Arattai is developed by Zoho Corporation, a long-established player in India's software industry. Founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, the Chennai-headquartered company provides more than 55 business applications across functions such as email, CRM, HR, accounting, and project management. Today, Zoho serves over 130 million users in 150 countries, with global clients that include Amazon, Netflix, Deloitte, Toyota, Sony, Puma, and L'Oreal.
Arattai Sees 100x Increase In Traffic
Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu said on Monday that the platform experienced a 100-fold increase in traffic within only three days, with daily new sign-ups jumping from 3,000 to 350,000.
We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in 3 days (new sign-ups went vertical from 3K/day to 350K/day). We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work.
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) September 28, 2025
As we add a lot more infrastructure, we are…
"We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis to handle another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work," Mr Vembu said on X. "As we add more infrastructure, we are also fine-tuning and updating the code to fix issues as they arise. We have all-hands-on-deck working flat out."
Mr Vembu added that Zoho has planned a big update with new features and more capacity in November.
