Arattai reaches No 1 in app stores, Zoho says working hard to expand servers – India Today

Arattai has surpassed WhatsApp and surges to the top of India’s app stores. The app’s success highlights growing user demand for local digital platforms amid global scrutiny of the tech industry. Arattai messenger (Photo: X/@Arattai) New Delhi, UPDATED: Sep 29, 2025 08:00 IST Make way for India’s homegrown messaging application, Arattai, has just raced to the top spot in app stores, surpassing WhatsApp. The company took to X (aka Twitter) announcing, “We’re officially #1 in Social Networking on the App Store!” The milestone caps off a week of rising buzz around the app, fuelled by endorsements, memes, and a wave of patriotic downloads. Launched back in 2021, Arattai, whose name comes from Tamil for “chat” or “chit-chat”, was initially seen as a scrappy side project by its parent company, Zoho. But in the age of AI anxiety, spyware scandals, and heightened scrutiny of Big Tech platforms, its promise of being a “spyware-free, made-in-India messenger” has suddenly struck a chord. The app’s sudden surge in popularity is partly thanks to fresh visibility from government circles. Earlier this week, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan encouraged Indians to switch to local digital platforms, with Arattai being a top mention. And it looks like
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