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Arattai has achieved a significant milestone, climbing to the top of the Social Networking category on the App Store; All questions answered
Arattai
India’s homegrown messaging platform Arattai has achieved a significant milestone, climbing to the top of the Social Networking category on the App Store amid a dramatic surge in users and rising calls for indigenous digital solutions.
The platform, developed by Zoho Corporation, announced the feat on its official X account, thanking users for their support and celebrating its rise to the No. 1 spot. The announcement came during an extraordinary period of growth, with daily sign-ups soaring from 3,000 to 350,000 in just three days — a staggering 100-fold increase.
Arattai, which means “chat” in Tamil, was launched in January 2021 in response to concerns over changes to WhatsApp’s privacy policy. The app offers a secure, Indian-made alternative for messaging and communication, in line with the government’s push for “Swadeshi” (self-reliant) digital platforms.
‘The Swadeshi App’ gains momentum
The app’s rapid ascent has been bolstered by high-profile endorsements, including one from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who last week urged citizens to adopt Arattai, calling it “free, easy-to-use, secure, safe, and made in India” and linking its use to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for self-reliance.
Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas also praised Zoho for Arattai’s strong momentum, describing it as a serious Indian challenger to global players like WhatsApp.
Zoho’s co-founder and Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu said the company is scaling up infrastructure rapidly to keep pace with the surge. “We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work,” he wrote on X, noting that the growth spurt arrived months ahead of the company’s planned November marketing campaign and feature rollout.
We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in 3 days (new sign-ups went vertical from 3K/day to 350K/day). We are adding infrastructure on an emergency basis for another potential 100x peak surge. That is how exponentials work.As we add a lot more infrastructure, we are…
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) September 28, 2025
What is Arattai?
Arattai is a cross-platform instant messaging app developed by Chennai-based Zoho. It enables users to send text and voice messages, make audio and video calls, share photos, videos, and documents, post stories, and create group chats — all within a secure, privacy-focused interface, the company says.
Netizens recall Koo after Arattai’s meteoric rise
The app’s sudden rise has sparked chatter online. One X user, @Jhunjhunuwala_, wrote: “@narendramodi we need you to tweet on this, we missed the bus on the Koo app, not again.”
Another user tweeted: “As @Arattai is going to be huge now, we should demand Koo app to make a comeback as well. Also, we need alternate apps for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. Let’s go #Swadeshi 👍🏼 full head-on.”
FAQs
Is Arattai free to use?
Yes. Arattai is completely free to download and use, offering a privacy-first communication solution without subscription fees.
What can I use Arattai for?
It serves as a comprehensive communication tool — users can send messages, share media files and documents, make voice and video calls, connect via group chats and channels, and post stories to stay in touch with friends and family.
Can I use Arattai on multiple devices?
Yes. Arattai supports up to five linked devices — including smartphones, tablets, and desktops — with automatic sync of messages, contacts, and settings for a seamless experience.
Can I import chats from other messaging apps?
Currently, chat import is not supported, but Zoho says it’s working to expand features to make the transition smoother for new users.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
September 29, 2025, 14:51 IST
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