Arratai, the instant messaging app developed by Zoho, is making waves in the digital communication landscape, presenting a formidable challenge to established players like WhatsApp. This Made In India alternative has swiftly ascended to the top position in the social networking category on app stores, a feat that has not gone unnoticed. Zoho’s CEO recently shared on ‘X’ that the app’s traffic has surged by an impressive 100 times within just three days, prompting the company to ramp up its infrastructure to accommodate the influx of users.
Congrats to Zoho for a very successful launch! https://t.co/WBvwiSyjjT— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) September 29, 2025
Arratai’s Rapid Growth!
The app has experienced a meteoric rise in daily sign-ups, skyrocketing from 3,000 to an astonishing 350,000 in a mere three days. This remarkable growth has prompted Zoho’s Chief Scientist and co-founder, Sridhar Vembu, to announce that teams are working tirelessly to enhance infrastructure and address technical challenges resulting from this unprecedented surge. “We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work,” he noted on X, emphasizing that this growth has occurred well ahead of a planned rollout of new features and marketing initiatives set for November.
Arattai’s ascent to the top of app store rankings signifies not only its increasing popularity but also the challenges that accompany such rapid growth.
Why the Sudden Surge?
Initially launched in 2021, Arattai was regarded as an experimental project. However, with growing concerns about data privacy, global surveillance, and the quest for “tech sovereignty,” the app’s positioning as a “spyware-free, made-in-India” messaging platform has struck a chord with users across the country. The momentum gained further traction when India’s Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, publicly encouraged citizens to support local digital platforms, naming Arattai among his recommendations. Additionally, influential tech figures like Vivek Wadhwa have praised the app, even dubbing it “India’s WhatsApp killer” for its user-friendly messaging experience.
Features and Privacy Focus
Arattai offers a comprehensive suite of features familiar to users, including one-to-one and group chats, voice notes, media sharing, voice and video calls, stories, and channel broadcasting. The app is also compatible with multiple devices, including desktop computers and Android TVs.
What sets Arattai apart for many users is its commitment to user privacy and the assurance that personal data will not be monetized. While many global platforms face scrutiny over their data practices, Zoho is dedicated to upholding strong privacy principles with Arattai. However, some privacy protections are still being developed; currently, end-to-end encryption is available for calls, but chat encryption is not yet fully implemented. Zoho has indicated that it is actively working on this feature.
Growing Pains: Infrastructure Under Strain
As Arattai enjoys its newfound popularity, it is also grappling with the typical challenges faced by overnight sensations. Zoho has acknowledged issues such as delayed OTPs, slower contact synchronization, and occasional lag during sign-ups, all attributed to the increased server load. The company is committed to expanding its server capacity and aims to resolve these glitches within a few days, ensuring a smoother experience for its rapidly growing user base.
