Arattai, the homegrown messaging app developed by Zoho Corporation, is creating a significant stir in the Indian tech ecosystem. The app has witnessed a 100x surge in sign-ups over just three days, signaling its rapid ascent as a potential challenger to Meta’s WhatsApp in the country. Designed and built in India, Arattai positions itself as a spyware-proof platform for connecting with friends, family, and professional contacts, offering privacy-first messaging without monetizing personal data.
The brain behind Zoho and Arattai, Sridhar Vembu, expressed his excitement over the app’s sudden popularity. Aligned with his long-standing vision of creating Indian alternatives to global tech giants, Zoho launched Arattai in 2021. The name Arattai, meaning “casual chat” in Tamil, originally began as a side project but has now soared to the top of India’s download charts. The app features familiar messaging functionalities such as group chats, voice and video calls, stories, and broadcast channels, while promising a heightened focus on user privacy.
Government support has also played a role in Arattai’s meteoric rise. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan endorsed the app and encouraged citizens to adopt homegrown digital solutions, amplifying social media buzz and driving unprecedented sign-ups. Over a matter of days, daily registrations skyrocketed from 3,000 to 350,000, prompting Zoho to expand infrastructure rapidly to handle potential further spikes.
As Vembu highlighted on X (formerly Twitter): “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.” The statement underscores the app’s exponential growth trajectory and the company’s preparedness for scaling to meet demand.
Arattai’s success reflects both the growing appetite for locally developed digital solutions and the market’s readiness for privacy-centric alternatives to global messaging platforms. With Zoho continuing to enhance the app’s infrastructure and user experience, Arattai is well-positioned to cement itself as a major player in India’s messaging landscape, exemplifying the potential of homegrown tech innovation.
