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Zoho's Arattai Surges Past Global Rivals, Sparking Privacy Debate
15 Oct
Summary
- Arattai aims to build India's self-reliant tech ecosystem
- Lacks end-to-end encryption despite branding as a secure app
- Faces infrastructure challenges due to sudden surge in popularity
In October 2025, Zoho's Arattai messaging app has emerged as a surprise challenger to global platforms like WhatsApp, surging past its rivals to claim the top spot in app store rankings. The Chennai-based company has positioned Arattai as a trustworthy, privacy-first alternative, touting its "Made in India, Made for the World" branding.
Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu has emphasized the need for India to develop its own core technologies, arguing that global tech can be "weaponized" in adverse geopolitical situations. This sentiment has resonated with Indians, particularly as the app has gained the backing of India's Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.
However, despite Arattai's positioning as a secure messaging platform, the app currently does not offer end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default for text chats, a feature already provided by competitors like WhatsApp and Signal. This has raised concerns among privacy-conscious users, who have highlighted the crucial lack of this safeguard.
The sudden surge in Arattai's popularity has also brought its own set of challenges. Zoho has acknowledged issues such as delayed OTPs, slower contact sync, and occasional lag during sign-ups, all due to the strain on the app's infrastructure. The company says it is working to expand its servers and mitigate these glitches within a few days.
