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Arattai Messenger Review: Simple Secure Chat for Everyday Use

Communication

5.0/5 Votes: 1

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Description

Arattai Messenger is a fast lightweight chat app that feels built for India first and general users second. It covers the basics — chat voice notes calls and file sharing — and adds a few thoughtful extras such as a TV client and local language support. Performance on low end phones is impressive and the experience is ad free. Privacy is a major talking point. Arattai encrypts some traffic now and Zoho has been rolling out end to end encryption for personal conversations. Still the app began without full E2EE for texts and that history keeps security conversations alive. If you want a simple modern chat app that puts usability and Indian data residency first try it. If you demand mature E2EE by default you may wait for the dust to settle.

What is Arattai Messenger

Arattai is a messaging app created by Zoho to give users a simple and secure place to chat. The name means “chat” in Tamil and the design favors quick access and low friction so people with basic phones and patchy connections can still communicate reliably. The app aims to be an Indian alternative to globally dominant messaging services while focusing on privacy and performance.

Who makes it and the app’s mission

Zoho builds Arattai. The company is known for cloud productivity tools and a privacy first stance. With Arattai Zoho wants to provide a homegrown chat option that keeps data local to India and gives users choice on how their messages are handled. Zoho has emphasized no ads and no data selling as part of the pitch.

Platforms and where to download

Arattai runs on Android and iOS. It also offers desktop clients for Windows and macOS plus an Android TV version which is unusual in this space. You can download the apps from the official Arattai site or the usual app stores. System requirements are modest which helps adoption on older phones.

Install, onboarding and first run

Installing Arattai is straightforward. The app asks for your phone number and verifies it through OTP. From there the UI guides you to your profile and contacts.

Registration and phone number setup

You register with a mobile number. That gives Arattai a simple identity model similar to other popular messengers. If you prefer accounts without phone numbers then Arattai is not that tool, at least not yet. The OTP flow is fast and on my test devices it finished in seconds.

First impressions of UI and flow

On first run Arattai presents a clean home view with recent chats and a prominent action button so you can start a new chat or call. The layout focuses on large tappable targets and readable fonts which helps on small screens. There are helpful prompts for adding contacts and moving chats from other apps via import tools. The overall feel is practical rather than flashy.

Messaging basics

Arattai covers the essentials you expect in 2025. Text chat supports threading and media sharing. Voice notes feel snappy and easy to record.

Text chat, voice notes and media sharing

You send text voice notes images and documents. Media uploads are straightforward. The app supports common file types and the share sheet integrates cleanly with Android and iOS. For day to day messaging the experience is smooth and predictable.

Groups, channels and stories

Arattai includes group chats plus channel like feeds for broadcast messages and public updates. There is also a Stories style feature for ephemeral updates. These extras help Arattai feel more than a one to one messenger and make it useful for small communities or local groups.

Calling and meetings

Arattai supports audio and video calling and it tries to make meetings simple across devices.

Audio and video calls

Calls are reliable and optimized for lower bandwidth conditions. Voice and video quality are good on stable networks and acceptable under weaker signals. Zoho says the calling stack focuses on efficiency so older phones can participate without excessive lag or battery drain.

Desktop and TV calling experience

Where Arattai gains points is multi device support beyond phones. Arattai provides desktop clients and a TV app so you can place calls on a big screen which is useful for family catch ups or group viewing. The TV client is a neat differentiator for households that use Android TV.

Privacy and encryption

Privacy is central to any chat app review. Arattai’s stance evolved quickly and you should know what is protected now.

What is encrypted today

Arattai encrypts voice calls and video calls and many media uploads. In earlier stages text messaging did not have full end to end encryption by default. Zoho published a privacy policy and emphasised local data storage in India which comforts some users. For specifics consult the privacy page and in app settings.

E2EE rollout and implications

Zoho has been rolling out end to end encryption for personal chats and the company’s founder has shared screenshots showing users can enable E2EE by default. That is a big step because it means conversations are unreadable by intermediaries once enabled. The rollout timeline and defaults matter though. If E2EE is optional you need to toggle it and that can catch casual users unaware. Recent reporting shows Zoho moved to add E2EE and encouraged feedback from users as it iterated.

Privacy policy and data residency

Zoho publishes a privacy policy that states how it collects and stores information. The app positions itself as Indian made with data residency in India which aligns with local regulations and is important for users worried about cross border data flows. Still always read the policy carefully and consider what metadata a server based service retains even with encryption.

Performance and data efficiency

One of Arattai’s strongest selling points is performance on low resources.

Low bandwidth and older phones

The app runs well on Android 6 and newer and the team tuned the network stack for low bandwidth. That makes Arattai a practical choice in rural and semi urban areas where connections are inconsistent. Many early reviews highlight how fast the app feels even on cheap phones.

Battery and background behavior

Battery use seems reasonable. The app minimizes background work when idle. However some features such as continuous call presence or always on sync will use more battery. If you are careful about background sync and notification settings you can keep energy use low. Tests on midrange phones show acceptable battery impact.

Features that stand out

Arattai Messenger packs some extras that are worth calling out.

Local languages and accessibility

Arattai supports local languages and accessibility options that make the app inclusive. This is not just translation. UI ergonomics and font choices aim to help older users and people who prefer regional languages. That local focus is one of the app’s strongest draws.

No ads and zero data selling claim

Zoho advertises Arattai as ad free and not selling user data. That promise is attractive and part of the company’s positioning. Independent observers still encourage scrutiny and transparency such as independent audits and clarity around backups and metadata retention.

Extra tools: self destruct, stories, UPI prospects

Arattai offers ephemeral messages that self destruct and Stories style updates. There is public discussion and analyst commentary about potential future integrations such as UPI payments and commerce features which would add utility if done safely. Integration with payments would push Arattai beyond chat into services that keep users inside the app.

Where Arattai needs work

No app is perfect on day one. Arattai has gaps to close.

Feature gaps vs mature rivals

Compared with mature platforms like WhatsApp and Signal Arattai lacks years of incremental polish and advanced community features. Businesses may miss deep APIs and mature integrations. Power users expect granular privacy and export tools that take time to build robustly.

Trust and security critics

Security researchers and privacy advocates will question early defaults, especially if E2EE is not set by default. Rolling out encryption is positive but the community will expect full transparency about key management and whether backups are encrypted client side. Zoho must continue audits to build trust.

Comparison: Arattai vs WhatsApp vs Signal

Arattai aims to be a home grown alternative. Compared with WhatsApp it is lighter and focuses on India centric features. WhatsApp still has mature global reach and universal E2EE by default. Signal remains the gold standard for privacy with open protocols and default E2EE and minimal metadata. Arattai sits between these worlds offering usability and local features while accelerating encryption features to catch up. Which to pick depends on whether you value local features and Indian data residency or zero compromise default privacy.

Use cases and who should try Arattai

Try Arattai if you want an Indian made chat app that runs well on older phones and supports regional languages. It is good for family groups community organizers and small local businesses that want straightforward chat plus the potential to add payments and commerce later. If your priority is maximum privacy and E2EE by default then wait until the features are enabled by default and audited thoroughly.

Tips and settings to improve your experience

Enable end to end encryption for personal chats when it appears in your settings. That keeps messages private.
Review notification and background sync settings to save battery.
Use the TV client for family video calls to get everyone on the big screen.
Back up media you care about outside the app if you want control over file copies.
Keep the app updated as Zoho ships security and performance fixes frequently.

Roadmap and future potential

Arattai’s future depends on execution. The app already shows rapid adoption and a focus on features that suit local needs. If Zoho expands payment integrations and tightens default privacy settings Arattai could grow into an ecosystem for local commerce and community services. The company’s reputation and engineering depth are real advantages but adoption will depend on trust and consistent experience. Recent reporting shows rapid download growth which signals user interest.

Final verdict

Arattai is a promising newcomer with clear strengths in performance and local focus. It already meets the needs of many users who want a simple ad free chat experience that works on older phones. The security story has improved as Zoho added end to end encryption for personal chats. Still the app must close gaps on defaults audits and enterprise grade features to stand toe to toe with mature rivals. For everyday use and regional communities Arattai is worth installing and testing. For users who require default E2EE and minimal metadata wait until the encryption settings are enabled by default and independently audited.

Conclusion

Arattai launched with a clear set of priorities: make chat fast simple and local. It succeeds at those goals. The app is smooth on low end hardware covers basic messaging needs and presents a path toward more services. Privacy improvements such as E2EE are moving in the right direction but the final verdict rests on defaults audits and transparent key management. If you live in India or have contacts there give Arattai a try and see how it fits your circle. If you are highly privacy sensitive follow the encryption updates closely before using it for sensitive conversations.

FAQs

Q1 — Is Arattai free to use
Yes Arattai is free to download and use. The app is designed as an ad free messaging platform.

Q2 — Does Arattai have end to end encryption by default
Arattai has rolled out E2EE for personal chats and the company has guidance on enabling it. Check your app settings and the official announcements for current defaults.

Q3 — Can I use Arattai on TV and desktop
Yes Arattai offers desktop clients and an Android TV app in addition to mobile apps. That makes it useful for group video calls on larger screens.

Q4 — Where is my data stored
Zoho states that Arattai stores user data in India and publishes a privacy policy describing data handling practices. Review the privacy page for details on retention and local handling.

Q5 — Is Arattai safe for groups and family chat
For everyday family and group chats Arattai is a good fit because of speed and low bandwidth behavior. For highly sensitive conversations prefer apps with default end to end encryption until you confirm Arattai’s encryption settings and backups work the way you need.