Introduction
India now has its own rising star: Arattai. Built by Zoho Corporation, a Chennai‑based tech company, Arattai means “casual chat” in Tamil.
Launched in 2021, the app gained massive attention in 2025 after a surge in downloads and endorsements from Indian officials. Arattai is designed as a Made‑in‑India alternative to WhatsApp, offering simple messaging, calling, and collaboration features while keeping data stored locally in India.
Key Features
- One‑to‑One & Group Chats – Send texts, photos, videos, voice notes, and documents.
- Voice & Video Calls – High‑quality calls with encryption for added security.
- Arattai Meeting – Built‑in video meeting tool, like Google Meet inside the app.
- Arattai Pocket – Personal storage space for saving files, notes, and links.
- Location Sharing – Share live location with privacy controls.
- Cross‑Platform Support – Works on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Data Localization – Indian users’ data is stored within India.
- Ad‑Free Experience – No ads, unlike many global apps.
Privacy & Security
- Data Storage: Indian users’ data is hosted in India.
- Encryption: Calls are end‑to‑end encrypted; full chat encryption is still being rolled out.
- No Ads: Zoho has confirmed Arattai will remain ad‑free.
Arattai vs WhatsApp vs Telegram
When people hear about a new messaging app, the first question is: “How does it compare to WhatsApp or Telegram?”
| Feature | Arattai | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | India (Zoho) | US (Meta) | Russia (Pavel Durov) |
| Privacy Focus | High – data stored in India | Medium – linked to Meta | High – strong privacy tools |
| Encryption | Calls encrypted, chats partly | Full end‑to‑end | End‑to‑end only in Secret Chats |
| Group Support | ~500 members | 1,024 members | 200,000 members |
| File Sharing | Up to 1 GB | Up to 2 GB | Up to 2 GB + unlimited cloud |
| Multi‑Device | Yes (5 devices) | Yes (4 devices) | Yes (unlimited) |
| Special Features | Meeting, Pocket | WhatsApp Pay, Business | Channels, Bots, Public Groups |
| Ads | Ad‑free | Integrated with Meta | Ad‑free (with sponsored posts) |
| User Base (2025) | Growing in India | 3+ billion | 900+ million |
Quick Analysis
- Arattai → Best for Indian users who want a local, privacy‑focused, ad‑free app.
- WhatsApp → Best for global reach and business tools.
- Telegram → Best for large groups, channels, and advanced features.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Made in India, with local data storage
- Ad‑free and simple to use
- Extra tools like Arattai Meeting & Pocket
- Strong government and cultural support
Cons:
- No full end‑to‑end encryption for chats yet
- Smaller user base compared to WhatsApp/Telegram
- Still scaling servers to handle rapid growth
Why Arattai is Trending in 2025
- Massive Growth: Daily sign‑ups jumped from 3,000 to 350,000 in just three days.
- Government Endorsements: Several Indian ministers publicly supported the app.
- Made in India Movement: Growing demand for local alternatives to global apps.
- Privacy Concerns: Users worried about WhatsApp’s data‑sharing policies.
Frequently Asked Question
Q1. Is this messaging app safe to use?
Yes, it stores user data locally in India and offers encrypted calls. Full chat encryption is being rolled out gradually.
Q2. How is it different from WhatsApp or Telegram?
Unlike global apps, this one focuses on local data storage, an ad‑free experience, and extra tools like built‑in meetings and personal storage.
Q3. Can I use it on more than one device?
Yes, it supports up to 5 devices, including Android TV, making it flexible for both personal and work use.
Q4. Does it show ads?
No, the platform is completely ad‑free, which makes the experience cleaner and distraction‑free.
Q5. Who created it?
It was developed by Zoho Corporation, a Chennai‑based tech company known for its enterprise software.
Q6. Is it popular in India?
Yes, downloads surged in 2025, with daily sign‑ups jumping from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands in just days.
Final Thoughts
It’s a made‑in‑India app that blends casual messaging with productivity tools. With features like Arattai Meeting and Arattai Pocket, it goes beyond WhatsApp by offering storage and collaboration inside a messaging app.
While it still needs to improve encryption and scale its user base, Arattai’s rapid rise shows that Indians are ready to embrace a local, secure, and ad‑free messaging platform.
👉 If you’re looking for a simple, private, and Indian‑made app, Arattai is worth trying.
