Sridhar Vembu breaks silence on Arattai app, says Zoho is working on some very important features
Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho, revealed the ongoing weekly updates for the Arattai chat app. The firm is planning a marketing push once the feature set is perfected, indicating a patient long-term strategy.
Zoho’s founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu has finally offered an update on Arattai, the homegrown chat app that made a splash in the last few years as India’s privacy-focused alternative to WhatsApp. Responding to an X user’s question about why the app hasn’t been “talked much about now,” Vembu revealed that the team is actively working on new and significant updates, and that the company intends to market it more widely once they are satisfied with the feature set. “We are doing updates weekly. We are working on some very important features,” Vembu wrote in an X post. “We will market it more once we feel we are satisfied with the feature set! This is a marathon. We are geared for it," he added.
The response came after an X user, @shakrajit_life, directly asked the Zoho chief about Arattai’s current status, wondering why the app hasn’t been in the spotlight lately. Vembu’s reply, while keeping the upcoming features under wraps, makes it clear that the Chennai-based software company is in no hurry to chase viral traction.
The long game for Arattai
Vembu’s “marathon” metaphor neatly sums up Zoho’s philosophy. The company, which has famously avoided venture capital and advertising-heavy growth, has been quietly nurturing Arattai since its beta launch in early 2021.
Arattai — which literally means “chit-chat” in Tamil — was introduced as a secure messaging platform built by the Zoho team during India’s COVID-19 lockdowns. Over time, it added a host of features familiar to messaging users: encrypted one-on-one and group chats, voice and video calls, media sharing, cloud backup, contact sync, and even disappearing messages.
More recently, the app has introduced multi-device login, custom themes, and tighter integration with Zoho’s ecosystem, particularly for users of Zoho Mail and Zoho Workplace. The company has also been testing richer media sharing options and advanced group management tools, aimed at small businesses and teams who already rely on Zoho’s suite of productivity apps.
Despite these updates, Arattai has remained relatively low-key compared to messaging giants like WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. That, however, seems to be a deliberate choice. Vembu’s post suggests that Zoho wants to perfect the product before pushing large-scale marketing. In typical Zoho fashion, the focus appears to be on engineering depth and long-term user trust rather than chasing downloads.
A quiet comeback in the making
Industry watchers have long speculated about Arattai’s next chapter. The app was initially viewed as a bold local alternative to global messaging giants, particularly when privacy debates peaked in 2021. Since then, Zoho has largely stayed mum, focusing instead on its enterprise and cloud products.
Now, with Vembu hinting at “very important features” and a steady rhythm of weekly updates, there’s reason to believe that Arattai could be preparing for a fresh push in 2026. Some users have reported beta tests for smarter file sharing and better cross-device sync, while others have spotted hints of integration with Zoho Cliq, the company’s internal communication tool. If those developments materialise, Arattai could evolve into a unique blend of consumer and enterprise messaging.
Zoho’s founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu has finally offered an update on Arattai, the homegrown chat app that made a splash in the last few years as India’s privacy-focused alternative to WhatsApp. Responding to an X user’s question about why the app hasn’t been “talked much about now,” Vembu revealed that the team is actively working on new and significant updates, and that the company intends to market it more widely once they are satisfied with the feature set. “We are doing updates weekly. We are working on some very important features,” Vembu wrote in an X post. “We will market it more once we feel we are satisfied with the feature set! This is a marathon. We are geared for it," he added.
The response came after an X user, @shakrajit_life, directly asked the Zoho chief about Arattai’s current status, wondering why the app hasn’t been in the spotlight lately. Vembu’s reply, while keeping the upcoming features under wraps, makes it clear that the Chennai-based software company is in no hurry to chase viral traction.
The long game for Arattai
Vembu’s “marathon” metaphor neatly sums up Zoho’s philosophy. The company, which has famously avoided venture capital and advertising-heavy growth, has been quietly nurturing Arattai since its beta launch in early 2021.
Arattai — which literally means “chit-chat” in Tamil — was introduced as a secure messaging platform built by the Zoho team during India’s COVID-19 lockdowns. Over time, it added a host of features familiar to messaging users: encrypted one-on-one and group chats, voice and video calls, media sharing, cloud backup, contact sync, and even disappearing messages.
More recently, the app has introduced multi-device login, custom themes, and tighter integration with Zoho’s ecosystem, particularly for users of Zoho Mail and Zoho Workplace. The company has also been testing richer media sharing options and advanced group management tools, aimed at small businesses and teams who already rely on Zoho’s suite of productivity apps.
Despite these updates, Arattai has remained relatively low-key compared to messaging giants like WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. That, however, seems to be a deliberate choice. Vembu’s post suggests that Zoho wants to perfect the product before pushing large-scale marketing. In typical Zoho fashion, the focus appears to be on engineering depth and long-term user trust rather than chasing downloads.
A quiet comeback in the making
Industry watchers have long speculated about Arattai’s next chapter. The app was initially viewed as a bold local alternative to global messaging giants, particularly when privacy debates peaked in 2021. Since then, Zoho has largely stayed mum, focusing instead on its enterprise and cloud products.
Now, with Vembu hinting at “very important features” and a steady rhythm of weekly updates, there’s reason to believe that Arattai could be preparing for a fresh push in 2026. Some users have reported beta tests for smarter file sharing and better cross-device sync, while others have spotted hints of integration with Zoho Cliq, the company’s internal communication tool. If those developments materialise, Arattai could evolve into a unique blend of consumer and enterprise messaging.