Arattai, the made-in-India messaging app from Zoho, and honestly, it’s giving WhatsApp some serious side-eye. Yep, you read that right. People are actually leaving WhatsApp and checking out this homegrown alternative. And no, this isn’t just another random app that will disappear in two weeks. This one’s picking up serious traction, government endorsements, and even a massive spike in downloads.

Let’s break it down together — what’s happening with Arattai, why people are curious, and whether it’s really worth ditching WhatsApp for.

What is Arattai and why’s everyone suddenly using it?

First things first — Arattai literally means “casual chat” in Tamil. Nice, right? Straight to the point. Zoho launched it back in January 2021, but here’s the kicker: in the last few weeks, daily sign-ups didn’t just grow — they exploded. From a humble 3,000 sign-ups a day to a jaw-dropping 350,000 in three days. That’s a 100x surge. Zoho’s founder Sridhar Vembu even admitted on X (yep, Twitter’s cooler cousin) that they had to upgrade infrastructure “on an emergency basis” because traffic just went wild.

And when India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan himself posts about Arattai, calling it “free, secure, and easy to use,” you know this isn’t just hype — it’s getting official backing too.

Features of Arattai: What you actually get inside

Okay, let’s be real: no one is going to switch apps unless the features make sense. So, here’s what Arattai is putting on the table:

• Regular text and voice messages (obviously, that’s the bare minimum).

• Audio and video calls — smooth enough to keep up with your fam.

• Sharing options for pics, docs, videos, and random memes (the essentials).

• Groups, broadcast channels, and even stories (basically WhatsApp-style).

• Multi-device syncing across phone, tablet, and desktop (finally!).

• The cherry on top? You can import your old conversations from other chat apps so you’re not starting fresh like you just joined social media yesterday.

Not bad, right? For a new kid in the block, that’s pretty loaded.

Arattai vs WhatsApp: David vs Goliath vibes

Now, let’s not sugarcoat it. WhatsApp still rules India with its massive 500 million+ user base. Meanwhile, Arattai has just crossed the 1 million mark. It’s like comparing a neighborhood cricket team to the IPL. But here’s where it gets interesting — Arattai’s growth is on rocket fuel.

In August, it had less than 10,000 downloads. By September? Around 400,000. That’s not just growth, that’s a “blink and it’s everywhere” kind of surge. And in India, where sentiment for supporting local tech is at an all-time high, that wave of patriotism is working in Arattai’s favor.

Who’s behind Arattai?

If you’re wondering whether this is just another random startup experiment, nope. The brains behind Arattai is Zoho Corporation — a legit heavyweight in the tech space. Founded back in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, Zoho is based out of Chennai but has a global footprint. They’re the same folks who built over 55 business apps for everything from accounting to customer service.

Basically, these guys aren’t amateurs. They already serve over 130 million users across 150 countries. Fun fact? Even the Indian government uses Zoho tools — recently, a cabinet presentation was made using Zoho Show (their version of PowerPoint). So yeah, credibility? Check.

The security question: Can Arattai really compete?

Here’s the one place where Arattai still stumbles: end-to-end encryption for messages isn’t there yet. Ouch.

End-to-end encryption is that magic shield that ensures only the sender and receiver can read a message — not hackers, not nosy apps, nobody. WhatsApp has it. Signal has it. And users expect it. Without it, Arattai feels a bit… exposed. To be fair, Zoho has added encryption for audio and video calls, but texts? Not yet.

So, if privacy is your top concern, you might hesitate before making the switch. But let’s be honest, most people jump to apps for convenience and cool factor first — and then worry about security when something goes wrong.

Can Arattai replace WhatsApp?

The short answer? Not today. The long answer? Maybe someday.

WhatsApp is deeply embedded in our daily lives — from family chats to work groups to those random “Good Morning” images your uncle sends. But Arattai has something WhatsApp doesn’t: that “Made in India” badge. And right now, that matters to a lot of people. Combine that with government shoutouts and Zoho’s strong reputation, and you’ve got an app that feels more than just another clone.

If Zoho fixes the security gaps, keeps scaling its servers, and maybe throws in a few unique features, Arattai could genuinely be the local giant we’ve been waiting for.

Why people are ditching WhatsApp for Arattai

Let’s be honest: WhatsApp isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite right now. Between constant privacy concerns, data-sharing drama with Meta, and that nagging feeling that “your life is being tracked,” many users are looking for options.

Arattai, on the other hand, feels fresh. It feels local. And it feels like ours. Even if it’s not perfect yet, people love rooting for the underdog. And Arattai is positioning itself as exactly that — a proudly Indian alternative with the promise of getting better.

Final thoughts: Should you download Arattai?

If you’re curious and love trying new apps, absolutely. It’s user-friendly, it’s Indian-made, and it’s growing fast. Just remember: it’s not as secure as WhatsApp (yet), and its user base is still relatively small. But hey, every giant started small, right?

Who knows — today it’s just an app with a million users. Tomorrow, it might be the app your entire family group is spamming “Happy Diwali” GIFs on.