Arattai: India’s Homegrown Contender Against WhatsApp

WhatsApp has become an integral part of daily life in India. From family chatter to office updates, the immediate solution for communication is often, “Let’s create a WhatsApp group.” This isn’t just anecdotal—over 500 million users in India rely on the app regularly. But now, a homegrown alternative called Arattai is emerging, aiming to challenge WhatsApp’s dominance in the country.

What is Arattai?

Arattai is a messaging platform developed by Zoho, headquartered in Chennai. The name “Arattai,” meaning “casual chat” in Tamil, reflects its purpose: facilitating everyday conversations. The app offers familiar features such as text messaging, voice and video calls, media sharing, stories, and channels. While voice and video calls already enjoy end-to-end encryption, text messages are yet to receive the same level of security.

Recently, Arattai gained a notable boost when India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recommended it as a secure domestic ...