Introduction: The Rise of India's Own Messenger

In a digital landscape dominated by international tech giants, a homegrown messaging app is making waves across India. Arattai—meaning "casual chat" in Tamil—has emerged from relative obscurity to become the talk of the nation, experiencing a phenomenal 100x surge in user sign-ups within just three days in September 2025.

Developed by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation, Arattai represents more than just another messaging app. It embodies India's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) vision, offering users a privacy-focused, locally-controlled alternative to global platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

When Was Arattai Launched? The Journey from Beta to Breakthrough

The Early Days (2021)

Arattai was initially soft-launched in January 2021, coinciding with widespread concerns about WhatsApp's updated privacy policy that would share more data with parent company Meta. The app was first tested internally among Zoho employees before being released to the public as a beta "friends-and-family trial."

During its initial years, Arattai remained relatively low-key, serving a modest user base while the development team refined its features and infrastructure.

The 2025 Breakthrough

The app experienced an unprecedented surge in September 2025, with new sign-ups skyrocketing from 3,000 per day to 350,000 per day within just three days—a staggering 100x increase. During this period, Arattai reached the top position in Apple's App Store charts for the "Social Networking" category in India.

This explosive growth was fueled by several factors:

• Government Endorsements: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw publicly endorsed the app
• Privacy Concerns: Growing unease about data sharing practices of foreign platforms
• Digital Sovereignty: Increased awareness about data localization and the "Swadeshi" (indigenous) movement
• Social Media Momentum: Viral posts and word-of-mouth recommendations across platforms

Why Arattai Became Popular Now: The Perfect Storm of 2025

Cultural and Political Factors

The timing of Arattai's surge reflects a broader shift in Indian digital consciousness. Government officials have openly called for citizens to adopt indigenous solutions, with Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon Indians to embrace locally-made digital platforms.

Privacy and Data Sovereignty

Unlike international platforms, Arattai stores all user data in Indian data centers and operates under an ad-free model that doesn't monetize user information. This approach resonates strongly with users concerned about:

• Data sharing with foreign corporations
• Surveillance and privacy violations
• Lack of control over personal information
• Targeted advertising based on private conversations

Technical Excellence

Arattai is designed to work exceptionally well on low-end smartphones and slower 2G/3G networks, making it ideal for rural users or those with budget devices. This inclusive design philosophy ensures that digital India's messaging revolution reaches every corner of the country.

Can Arattai Target WhatsApp? Migration and Competition

Importing WhatsApp Chats

One of Arattai's most compelling features is its ability to import existing WhatsApp conversations. Arattai supports chat import functionality, allowing users to transfer both individual and group WhatsApp chats into the platform, provided the contacts already use Arattai.

How to Import WhatsApp Chats to Arattai:

1. Export the desired WhatsApp chat (individual or group)
2. Open Arattai and navigate to the contact or group
3. Select the import option
4. Choose the exported WhatsApp chat file
5. The conversation history will be transferred to Arattai

This feature helps users continue conversations without losing important past messages, which is often the biggest barrier to switching messaging platforms.

Competitive Position

At launch, Arattai was positioned as a potential domestic rival to WhatsApp in India, though analysts noted challenges in competing with established platforms on encryption, ecosystem, and network effects.

Advantages Over WhatsApp:

• Data Sovereignty: All data stored in India
• No Monetization: No advertisements or data selling
• Regional Focus: Optimized for Indian networks and devices
• Meeting Scheduling: Dedicated feature similar to Microsoft Teams
• Government Backing: Official endorsements and support

Current Limitations:

• Smaller User Base: Significantly fewer users than WhatsApp's 500+ million in India
• Text Encryption Gap: Messages not yet fully end-to-end encrypted (though calls are)
• Feature Parity: Some advanced WhatsApp features still missing
• Network Effects: Convincing entire contact lists to switch remains challenging

How to Use Arattai: A Complete Guide

Getting Started

Step 1: Download the App

• Android: Visit Google Play Store and search for "Arattai Messenger (Zoho Corporation)"
• iOS: Search "Arattai Messenger" in the Apple App Store
• Desktop: Download from the official website (arattai.in) for Windows, Mac, or Linux
• Android TV: Download "Arattai – Secure Communication" app

Step 2: Initial Setup

1. Open the app and allow necessary permissions (contacts, microphone, camera, notifications)
2. Select your country code
3. Enter your mobile number
4. Verify with the OTP (one-time password) sent via SMS
5. Add your profile name and photo
6. Optionally set up a username (allows contact without sharing phone number)

Step 3: Start Messaging If granted contact access, Arattai automatically identifies which contacts already use the app. Others can be invited via the in-app share option through SMS.

Key Features and How to Use Them

1. Messaging

• Send text messages, voice notes, photos, videos, and documents
• File size limit: Up to 100 MB per file
• React to messages with emojis
• Use custom and animated stickers

2. Voice and Video Calls Arattai offers clear, stable audio and video calls even on slower data speeds, with end-to-end encryption for all calls.

• Make one-on-one or group calls (up to 50 participants)
• Screen sharing available during calls
• Free worldwide calling over internet

3. Groups and Channels

• Groups: Create discussion groups with up to 1,000 members
• Channels: Broadcast updates to large audiences without spam
• Up to 50 admins per group

4. Stories

• Share temporary posts similar to WhatsApp Status
• View friends' and family members' stories

5. Meetings Schedule professional meetings with titles, time zones, and co-hosts—a unique feature similar to Microsoft Teams.

6. Multi-Device Sync Use Arattai across up to five devices simultaneously (smartphones, tablets, desktops) with seamless message and settings synchronization.

Is Arattai Useful? Honest Assessment

Key Strengths

1. Privacy and Security Arattai emphasizes privacy with end-to-end encrypted calls and a commitment to never sharing user data with third parties. All data is stored in Indian servers, giving users greater control over their information.

2. Accessibility and Performance The app's lightweight design requires minimal storage and data, ensuring smooth performance even on budget smartphones and slower networks.

3. No Advertisements Arattai displays no advertisements and does not utilize user data for advertising purposes—a refreshing change from ad-supported platforms.

4. Made in India For users who value supporting domestic technology and digital sovereignty, Arattai offers a compelling indigenous alternative backed by Zoho's decade-plus experience in enterprise communication tools.

5. Feature-Rich Most essential messaging features are present: text, voice, video, media sharing, groups, channels, stories, and even meeting scheduling.

Current Limitations

1. Incomplete Text Encryption As of now, text messages are not end-to-end encrypted, representing a significant privacy gap compared to WhatsApp, which encrypts both messages and calls. This is reportedly being addressed in phases.

2. Infrastructure Challenges Some users report delays in sign-up, message sync issues, or OTP delays due to the sudden surge in users, though Zoho is rapidly upgrading infrastructure.

3. Network Effect Barrier The biggest challenge remains convincing entire friend circles, families, and professional networks to switch platforms—a task requiring critical mass.

4. Feature Maturity Some advanced features like disappearing messages, extensive privacy controls, and chat locks may be less mature or absent compared to established platforms.

Who Should Use Arattai?

Ideal Users:

• Privacy-conscious individuals concerned about data sovereignty
• Users with low-end devices or limited internet connectivity
• Indians seeking to support indigenous technology
• Small businesses wanting ad-free, India-based communication
• Rural users needing optimized performance on slower networks

Consider Staying with WhatsApp If:

• Your entire network is on WhatsApp with no willingness to switch
• You require fully mature end-to-end encryption for text messages
• You depend on WhatsApp Business features like payment integration
• You need proven, battle-tested infrastructure for critical communications

Verdict: A Promising Alternative with Room to Grow

Arattai represents a significant milestone in India's digital self-reliance journey. User testimonials highlight the app's simplicity and reliability, with one user noting video call quality on low data is "far better than WhatsApp."

The Bottom Line:

• For privacy advocates and patriots: Arattai is absolutely worth trying
• For mainstream users: It's a viable secondary app while the ecosystem matures
• For early adopters: An exciting opportunity to be part of India's messaging revolution
• For everyone: Keep watching—Arattai's trajectory suggests it will only improve

The app is completely free with no subscription fees or hidden costs, making it risk-free to try alongside your existing messaging apps.

Future Outlook: Can Arattai Challenge WhatsApp's Dominance?

The question isn't whether Arattai can completely replace WhatsApp overnight—that's unrealistic given WhatsApp's massive 500+ million user base in India. The real question is whether Arattai can carve out a significant niche and force global platforms to take Indian alternatives seriously.

Early signs are promising:

• Rapid infrastructure scaling to meet demand
• Government support providing visibility and credibility
• Strong technical foundation from Zoho's experienced team
• Growing user enthusiasm driven by privacy and patriotism

However, success will depend on:

• Completing end-to-end message encryption quickly
• Maintaining performance during rapid growth
• Adding missing features to achieve parity
• Building network effects through sustained growth

Conclusion: India's Messaging Revolution Has Begun

Arattai's meteoric rise from 3,000 to 350,000 daily sign-ups demonstrates that Indian users are ready for indigenous alternatives when they deliver on privacy, performance, and national pride. While challenges remain, Arattai has already achieved what many thought impossible: making Indians seriously consider an alternative to WhatsApp.

Whether Arattai becomes the primary messaging app for millions or serves as a valuable secondary platform, its existence pushes the entire industry toward better privacy practices and greater respect for data sovereignty. In that sense, Arattai has already succeeded in changing the conversation about digital independence in India.

Ready to try Arattai? Download it from the Play Store or App Store today and be part of India's homegrown messaging revolution. Your chats, your data, your India.