Zoho Arattai Review 2025: 8 Stunning Features Worth Your Time

Zoho Arattai has exploded onto India’s messaging scene like a digital revolution waiting to happen. When daily sign-ups jumped from 3,000 to 350,000 in just three days, the tech world took notice. This Made-in-India messenger isn’t just another WhatsApp clone – it’s positioning itself as a privacy-first alternative that understands what Indian users actually need.

After weeks of testing Arattai across multiple devices and comparing it with WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, I’m here to share the real story. This review covers everything from setup to security, helping you decide if Arattai deserves a spot on your phone alongside or instead of your current messaging apps.

What Is Zoho Arattai?

Arattai, meaning “casual chat” in Tamil, is Zoho Corporation’s answer to the messaging app monopoly. Launched in 2021 but gaining massive traction only in 2025, this free communication platform offers text messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and unique features you won’t find elsewhere.

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Unlike WhatsApp’s ad-driven model under Meta’s umbrella, Arattai promises a completely ad-free experience. All data stays within India’s borders, addressing growing concerns about digital sovereignty. The app runs on Zoho’s own infrastructure, not external cloud providers, giving users more control over their digital footprint.

Who Is Arattai For?

Zoho Arattai targets three main user groups. Privacy-conscious individuals who want their data to stay in India will appreciate the local storage approach. Rural users with low-end devices and slow internet connections benefit from its lightweight design optimized for 2G/3G networks. Business users seeking integrated communication tools can leverage its meeting features and potential enterprise integration.

The app particularly appeals to users frustrated with WhatsApp’s frequent policy changes and Meta’s data practices. Government endorsements from ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan have also sparked interest among users supporting indigenous technology.

Setup & Onboarding Experience

Getting started with Arattai feels refreshingly simple. Download takes seconds from Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The verification process requires just your phone number and a one-time password – no lengthy forms or complex permissions.

During setup, you’ll grant access to contacts, microphone, camera, and notifications. The app automatically syncs with your address book to find existing Arattai users. Profile creation involves adding your name and photo, making you recognizable to contacts.

One standout feature: you can chat with people using just their username, completely bypassing phone number sharing. This addresses privacy concerns many users have with traditional messaging apps.

User Interface & Ease of Use

Zoho Arattai’s interface closely mirrors WhatsApp’s familiar design, making transition almost effortless. The chat screen offers standard messaging features with custom background options. Navigation feels intuitive with clearly labeled tabs for chats, channels, stories, and the unique Meetings section.

The app responds quickly on both high-end and budget devices. Text input, media sharing, and call initiation happen without noticeable lag. Voice message recording works smoothly, and video calls maintain decent quality even on slower connections.

Menu organization makes sense, with settings easily accessible and features logically grouped. New users won’t struggle to find basic functions, while power users can explore advanced options without confusion.

Main Tools & Functionalities

Zoho Arattai delivers comprehensive messaging capabilities. Text messages support formatting, emoji, and stickers. Voice notes record clearly with playback controls. Photo and video sharing works up to 2GB file size – significantly higher than many competitors.

Group chats accommodate up to 1,000 members, matching WhatsApp’s capacity. Video calls support up to 50 participants, making it suitable for large team meetings. The Stories feature offers 24-hour temporary sharing similar to WhatsApp Status.

Document sharing covers common formats including PDFs, Word files, and spreadsheets. Location sharing includes the innovative “Till I reach” feature that automatically stops sharing when you arrive at your destination.

Unique Features That Stand Out

Pocket Storage: This personal cloud space lets you save important messages, photos, videos, and notes across all devices. Unlike WhatsApp’s “chat with yourself” workaround, Pocket provides dedicated organization tools.

Dedicated Meetings Tab: Schedule video meetings directly within the app, similar to Google Meet integration. Record meetings and manage your calendar without switching between multiple apps.

Android TV Support: Join meetings or chat from your television – a feature WhatsApp still hasn’t implemented. This multi-device approach extends to up to 5 connected devices simultaneously.

Smart Location Sharing: Set destinations beforehand and automatically stop location sharing upon arrival. This thoughtful feature eliminates manual intervention.

Performance & Reliability

Zoho Arattai’s lightweight architecture shines on older devices and slower networks. The app consumes minimal battery and data, making it accessible for users with limited resources. Message delivery happens quickly, though recent traffic spikes have caused occasional delays during peak usage.

Call quality remains consistently good, even on 2G/3G connections. Video calls adapt to available bandwidth, prioritizing audio clarity when video quality drops. Group calls handle multiple participants without significant lag or dropped connections.

Server stability has improved since the initial surge, though Zoho continues expanding infrastructure to handle growing user numbers. Backup and sync work reliably across devices, ensuring message history stays consistent.

Integrations & Compatibility

Zoho Arattai works across Android, iOS, web browsers, and Android TV. The web version provides full functionality, allowing seamless switching between devices. Cross-platform messaging works smoothly regardless of operating system differences.

Contact import from existing messaging apps helps users transition gradually. The app doesn’t currently integrate with other Zoho products, though enterprise integration is planned for future updates.

Multi-device sync maintains conversation history and settings across all logged-in devices. Unlike some competitors, Arattai doesn’t limit functionality on secondary devices.

Pricing: Free vs Paid Plans

Zoho Arattai operates as completely free software with no subscription tiers, premium features, or hidden costs. Zoho commits to keeping the app ad-free permanently, unlike competitors that may introduce advertising later.

This zero-cost approach contrasts sharply with emerging messaging apps that monetize through premium features or business accounts. Users get full functionality without payment, making it accessible regardless of economic background.

Zoho’s business model relies on its broader enterprise software suite rather than monetizing individual messaging app users. This approach should maintain free access for personal users long-term.

What Works Well

Zoho Arattai excels in several key areas that set it apart from competitors:

Privacy and Data Sovereignty: All data remains within India, addressing concerns about foreign surveillance and data mining. The no-ads policy eliminates tracking for advertising purposes.

Accessibility: Lightweight design makes it usable on budget smartphones and slow internet connections common in rural India. Battery optimization extends device usage significantly.

Unique Productivity Features: Pocket storage and integrated meetings provide genuine utility beyond basic messaging. These features address real user needs overlooked by larger platforms.

Government and Enterprise Trust: Official endorsements and Zoho’s enterprise reputation build confidence among business users and government organizations.

Cultural Relevance: Made-in-India positioning resonates with users supporting digital independence and local technology development.

Where It Falls Short

Despite impressive features, Zoho Arattai has notable limitations:

Encryption Gap: Text messages lack end-to-end encryption, a critical security feature standard in WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram. Only voice and video calls currently offer full E2EE protection.

Limited User Base: With around 1 million users compared to WhatsApp’s 500 million in India, network effects favor established platforms. Most contacts remain on other apps.

Missing Advanced Features: No payment integration, limited bot support, and fewer third-party integrations compared to mature competitors.

Scaling Challenges: Recent traffic surges exposed infrastructure limitations, causing delayed OTPs and slower performance during peak times.

Feature Gaps: Missing polls, disappearing messages, chat locks, and other security features users expect from modern messaging apps.

Data Privacy & Security

Zoho Arattai’s security approach mixes strengths and weaknesses. Voice and video calls use end-to-end encryption, protecting against eavesdropping. However, text messages currently lack this crucial protection, creating a significant vulnerability.

Data storage within India addresses sovereignty concerns, but encryption implementation remains incomplete. Zoho promises full E2EE for messages in upcoming updates, though no specific timeline exists.

The company’s privacy policy commits to no data selling or advertising-based profiling. User information stays within Zoho’s ecosystem rather than being shared with third parties or used for targeted advertising.

Two-factor authentication options include biometric login and OTP verification. Account security features continue developing, though they currently lag behind Signal’s advanced privacy tools.

Customer Support & Updates

Zoho provides customer support through standard channels including email and help documentation. Response times vary, though the company actively addresses user feedback through app store reviews and social media.

Update frequency has increased since the recent user surge, with regular bug fixes and performance improvements. The development team communicates openly about known issues and planned features.

Community support grows through user forums and social media groups. Official communication from Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu provides transparency about development priorities and company philosophy.

Alternatives to Consider

While evaluating Zoho Arattai, consider these established alternatives:

WhatsApp remains the dominant choice with 500 million Indian users, full E2EE, extensive features, and universal adoption. However, privacy concerns and Meta’s data policies drive some users away.

Signal offers the strongest privacy protection with minimal metadata collection and open-source transparency. Limited adoption and fewer convenience features may deter mainstream users.

Telegram provides feature-rich messaging with large file sharing, channels, and bot integration. End-to-end encryption only works in secret chats, not standard conversations.

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Final Verdict: Is Zoho Arattai Worth It in 2025?

Zoho Arattai represents a promising start rather than a finished WhatsApp replacement. The app delivers unique features like Pocket storage, integrated meetings, and Android TV support that address real user needs. Its Made-in-India identity and privacy-first approach appeal to users concerned about digital sovereignty.

However, the missing end-to-end encryption for text messages creates a significant security gap. Limited user adoption means most contacts remain on other platforms, reducing practical utility. Infrastructure scaling challenges during traffic spikes raise questions about long-term reliability.

You should use Arattai if you prioritize data sovereignty, need unique features like integrated meetings, use older devices requiring lightweight apps, or want to support Indian technology development.

You shouldn’t use Arattai if you require full end-to-end encryption for all communications, need extensive third-party integrations, prefer established platforms with large user bases, or depend on advanced features like payments and extensive bot support.

The app shows genuine potential but needs time to mature. Consider it as a secondary messaging app while monitoring development progress. Once full encryption arrives and the user base grows, Arattai could become a legitimate WhatsApp alternative for Indian users.

For now, it’s worth downloading to explore unique features while keeping your primary messaging app for critical communications. The app’s rapid growth and continued development suggest exciting possibilities ahead.

Visit Zoho Arattai’s official website to download and experience this promising Made-in-India messenger yourself.