Arattai Messenger has quickly become one of the most downloaded apps in the world, crossing the 5 million mark within days of launch.<\/p>\n
Developed in India as part of Zoho\u2019s new messaging platform, the insant messanger app\u2019s sudden rise reflects both a surge of local pride and growing interest in alternatives to established communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger.<\/p>\n
Arattai has already outpaced popular apps like Telegram, Messenger, and Snapchat, each currently holding around 2 million downloads on the global chart for October 2025.<\/p>\n
An ambitious homegrown challenger<\/p>\n
However, while Aratti’s download numbers look impressive, questions remain about its long-term sustainability and its approach to privacy protection.<\/p>\n
Arattai, which means \u201cchat\u201d in Tamil, is designed to offer an inclusive experience for users across all device types, particularly those with low-end smartphones and unstable internet connections.<\/p>\n
According to Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, the goal is to build a lightweight communication tool accessible even in areas where high-speed connectivity is still limited.<\/p>\n
The app includes standard messaging functions such as text, calls, and file sharing, along with an Android TV version, a feature that WhatsApp has yet to introduce.<\/p>\n
These capabilities have positioned Arattai as both a general communication tool and a potential enterprise messaging<\/a> solution for smaller organizations seeking reliability without heavy data use.<\/p>\n Part of Arattai\u2019s appeal lies in its efficiency. The app has been optimized for low-bandwidth environments, ensuring messages and calls work even under weak connectivity.<\/p>\n This design choice has made it popular in rural and semi-urban markets, where internet quality remains inconsistent.<\/p>\n By minimizing resource demand, Zoho has opened access to digital communication for users who might otherwise be excluded from platforms requiring faster speeds or higher-end devices.<\/p>\n This focus on accessibility gives Arattai an advantage in markets where data affordability and device capability still limit technology adoption.<\/p>\n Despite its progress, Arattai faces criticism for lacking full end-to-end encryption in text chats.<\/p>\n While the app offers encrypted voice and video calls, it does not yet provide complete encrypted messaging<\/a> for standard conversations.<\/p>\n Instead, Zoho relies on localized data storage and promises that user data will not be shared externally.<\/p>\n Security experts argue this falls short of modern privacy expectations, as server-based encryption still allows potential access to message data by providers or external attackers.<\/p>\n For a platform aiming to rival WhatsApp, achieving full end-to-end security is not optional; it is essential for credibility in a privacy-conscious digital world.<\/p>\n Via Storyboard 18<\/a> and FE Tech Bytes<\/a><\/p>\n Follow TechRadar on Google News<\/strong><\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/strong><\/a> to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!<\/p>\n And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok<\/strong><\/a> for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp<\/strong><\/a> too.<\/p>\n You might also like<\/p>\n