Zoho’s Made-in-India messaging app, Arattai, has witnessed an explosive rise in popularity, registering a 100-fold surge in downloads following official endorsements from Union leaders on X. This push has made Arattai one of the most downloaded apps on the Play Store, positioning it as a credible homegrown rival to WhatsApp.
Like its global counterpart, Arattai offers a familiar range of features such as text messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and multi-device access. However, what sets it apart is a unique feature that WhatsApp still lacks in 2025—dedicated support for Android TV.
With the new feature, Arattai users can log into their accounts directly on Android TVs, allowing conversations to seamlessly continue on large screens. Beyond simple text exchanges, the Android TV integration enables voice and group calls, making communication more immersive and collaborative for families, offices, and social groups.
The platform also supports multi-device access on up to five devices, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering greater flexibility for users who operate across ecosystems. In contrast, WhatsApp’s functionality remains restricted, with no official extension to smart TVs.
Zoho is emphasizing Arattai’s privacy-first foundation, highlighting that chats are encrypted during transit and user data is not shared with advertisers or third parties. This assurance of data security comes at a time when concerns over digital privacy are shaping user preferences.
Another advantage of Arattai is its lightweight design, which ensures smooth performance even on low-memory smartphones and slower 2G/3G networks. This makes the app particularly attractive for users in rural and semi-urban regions where connectivity challenges remain.
The combination of official support, privacy-focused features, and Android TV integration has fueled Arattai’s growing traction in India’s competitive messaging space. While WhatsApp continues to dominate globally, Zoho’s innovation signals a shift in how Indian tech companies are positioning themselves against international giants.
As the festive season approaches and digital adoption accelerates, Arattai could continue to expand its user base, potentially redefining the messaging app landscape in India.