Arattai
by Zoho Corporation
Arattai - Chat and Calling app
About This App
Arattai is a free instant messaging app built by Zoho Corporation out of Chennai, India. Launched in September 2025 by Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, it gained 5 million installs in its first 10 days and has crossed 17 million downloads. The name "Arattai" means "chat" in Tamil, reflecting its Indian roots. It positions itself as a privacy-first, Made-in-India alternative to WhatsApp and Telegram. Arattai offers text messaging, voice notes, voice and video calls, photo/document/media sharing, and Stories โ covering the core feature set most users need from a messaging app. Its standout features include WhatsApp chat migration (import your existing chats), completely ad-free experience, no AI integration or data tracking, and data stored on Indian servers. The app supports group chats and has a clean, minimal interface that's easy for first-time smartphone users to navigate. The app is entirely free with no paid tiers, no in-app purchases, and no advertising โ Zoho funds it as part of its broader mission to build Indian-made software. There's no premium plan because there are no features locked behind paywalls. This makes it one of the rare messaging apps with zero monetisation pressure on users. Arattai is best suited for privacy-conscious Indian users who want a local alternative to WhatsApp without ads or data harvesting. Early adopters and Zoho ecosystem fans will find it appealing. However, the app's biggest challenge is network effect โ most contacts are still on WhatsApp, and features like polls, payments, disappearing messages, and chat lock are still missing. Users looking for a feature-complete WhatsApp replacement may find it too basic, but for simple, secure communication it delivers well.
Information updated 6 months ago
App Details
Zoho Corporation
Honest Review
4.4/5 on Google Play Store (2.26M reviews) ยท Last verified 2026-04-25
What works well
- +Completely free with no ads, no tracking, no in-app purchases โ zero monetisation pressure
- +Data stored on Indian servers โ addresses privacy and data sovereignty concerns
- +WhatsApp chat migration โ import existing conversations when switching
- +Clean, minimal UI that's easy for non-tech-savvy users to navigate
- +Built by Zoho (profitable, bootstrapped company) โ not dependent on VC funding or ad revenue
- +Works well on low-bandwidth networks โ optimised for Indian mobile connections
What needs improvement
- -Network effect problem โ most contacts are still on WhatsApp, limiting daily usability
- -Missing key features: polls, payments, disappearing messages, chat lock
- -End-to-end encryption not enabled by default for text messages (voice/video calls are encrypted)
- -Desktop app lacks storage settings โ everything auto-downloads
- -No business/channel features comparable to WhatsApp Business or Telegram channels
Common user complaints
- !Contact discovery doesn't work reliably โ many users report app shows no contacts at all
- !Voice and video calls have frequent disconnections and connection delays
- !Search returns hundreds of irrelevant results instead of finding the specific contact
- !No response from feedback/support โ issues reported via in-app feedback go unanswered for days
- !After initial hype, most contacts stopped using it โ back to WhatsApp within weeks
Learn Arattai on YouTube
Hand-picked videos to help you get started โ tutorials, demos, and reviews.
How to Use Arattai App โ Complete Guide
Arattai App Hidden Features โ WhatsApp Killer
Arattai App Kaise Use Kare | Review in Hindi | Complete Guide
India's Own WhatsApp Killer โ Arattai App Reality Test
Indian Alternative To
Arattai is a powerful Indian alternative to these international apps:
Is Arattai an alternative to WhatsApp?
Yes, Arattai by Zoho Corporation is an Indian alternative to WhatsApp. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to WhatsApp โ
Is Arattai an alternative to Telegram?
Yes, Arattai by Zoho Corporation is an Indian alternative to Telegram. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to Telegram โ
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