India is getting a new contender in the messaging arena, and the government is giving it a push. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday encouraged citizens to try Arattai, a homegrown messaging app developed by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation, positioning it as a made-in-India alternative to WhatsApp.
Pradhan, in a post on social media platform X, described Arattai as “free, easy-to-use, secure, and safe,” highlighting its domestic roots. He tied his recommendation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swadeshi drive, urging people to support locally made digital tools to stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues.
What Is Zoho’s Arattai?
The app’s name, Arattai, meaning “casual chat” in Tamil, is a nod to its core mission: making everyday communication simple and enjoyable. Users can send text messages, images, videos, and documents, make voice and video calls, create stories, and even manage channels. Businesses can also use the platform to reach audiences through content-sharing features, making it a versatile option for personal and professional use.
Built with user privacy in mind, Arattai currently offers end-to-end encrypted calls, ensuring that voice and video conversations remain secure from prying eyes. According to Zoho, the app forms part of the company’s broader strategy to provide Indian alternatives to global tech products, allowing users to stay connected while supporting local innovation.
Coming to the parent company, founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, Zoho Corporation is a veteran in the software space. Headquartered in Chennai, the company offers over 55 business applications spanning email, CRM, HR, accounting, and project management. Serving more than 130 million users across 150 countries, Zoho counts global giants such as Amazon, Netflix, Deloitte, Puma, Toyota, Sony, and L’Oral among its clients. Its motto, “Made in India. Made for the world,” reflects its ambition to compete internationally while remaining deeply rooted at home.
The government has taken note. Earlier in the day, Union IT and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted Zoho’s products during a Union Cabinet briefing, revealing that the presentation had been prepared using Zoho Show instead of Microsoft PowerPoint — a subtle endorsement of local tech solutions.
Can Arattai Replace WhatsApp in India?
Despite its growing popularity and glowing reviews, Arattai is not yet ready to fully challenge WhatsApp. One key limitation is the lack of end-to-end encryption for messages.
End-to-end encryption is a security system that ensures only the sender and recipient can read the messages. Even the service provider cannot access the content. It protects sensitive personal and business communications from hackers, surveillance, and unauthorised access. While Arattai does offer encrypted calls, messages remain vulnerable, a gap that may concern privacy-conscious users.
Without end-to-end encryption for messages, Arattai cannot yet offer the same level of privacy protection that users expect from WhatsApp.
The promotion of Arattai also reflects a broader push by the government to encourage domestic technology adoption. By advocating for Indian-made platforms, ministers are hoping to create a digital ecosystem that reduces reliance on global giants while supporting local innovation.
For now, Arattai is carving out its niche as a homegrown alternative with room to grow. If Zoho can address key security gaps and continue expanding features, it may just become the app that redefines casual chat for millions of Indians.
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