When WhatsApp’s privacy policy changes sparked mass panic, a homegrown solution was quietly building something special. Arattai, developed by Zoho Corporation, isn’t just another WhatsApp clone—it’s India’s answer to data sovereignty concerns, combining security, functionality, and local understanding.
The name “Arattai” means casual chat in Tamil, reflecting its unpretentious approach. It offers end-to-end encryption, multi-device support, zero ads, and complete Zoho integration—all completely free. Your data stays on Indian servers, subject to Indian privacy laws, with no third-party trackers or message logging.
Security and Privacy That Actually Matters
Arattai takes security seriously with end-to-end encryption that scrambles messages from sender to recipient—not even Zoho can read them. Unlike competitors that merely claim encryption, Arattai provides local data storage with device-level encryption, optional self-destruct messages, and screenshot notifications for private conversations.
Setup takes three minutes: download from app stores, verify your phone number, set up your profile, and start chatting. Multi-device support works seamlessly across phones, tablets, and computers through web.arattai.in with simple QR code scanning.
The platform supports 15 Indian languages natively, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and more, with real-time translation enabling seamless multilingual conversations. Families can chat with grandparents in Tamil while cousins respond in Hindi—everyone understands everyone.
Features Built for Indian Users
Arattai’s AI assistant genuinely helps by summarizing chaotic group chats, translating between Indian languages in real-time, and generating smart replies. The Stories and Channels features enable content sharing with better privacy controls, while channels let creators and businesses reach unlimited subscribers with rich media content.
Group calls support up to 8 participants with decent quality even on patchy mobile data. Custom stickers come with templates for Indian festivals and regional celebrations. File sharing supports up to 100 MB per file with all standard formats.
For businesses, Zoho integration is transformative. Connect Arattai to Zoho CRM, Cliq, Projects, Books, and Campaigns for seamless workflows. Customer conversations automatically log in your CRM, enabling you to share quotes, track purchase history, and schedule follow-ups without leaving the chat—perfect for small businesses and solopreneurs.
Making the Switch
WhatsApp chat migration works for text messages, contacts, and group structures, though some features like voice messages aren’t yet supported. The process is straightforward: export WhatsApp chats, import to Arattai, and review.
Arattai isn’t perfect—network effects mean friends aren’t on it yet, feature parity with WhatsApp isn’t complete, and international adoption is limited. However, for privacy-conscious users, small businesses, multilingual families, and those valuing “Made in India,” it’s a compelling alternative.
The revolution won’t be televised—it’ll be encrypted, made in India, and delivered through secure servers. Download Arattai today and experience messaging that respects your privacy while understanding Indian needs.
