Until recently, Zoho’s Aratai app was touted as a local alternative to WhatsApp. It also became the most downloaded app on Google Play Store, but now its magic is fading. Compared to WhatsApp, it is not being liked by the users and is now out of the list of top 100 apps on Play Store. About a month ago, everyone was talking about the Aarttai app, and a large number of people had created accounts on it.
Why did Aarttai app lag?
Aarttai app was launched in 2021, but it gained popularity this year itself. After a post by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, people discovered this app and its user base grew rapidly. Although it has many features like WhatsApp, it did not last long. Initially, its messages were not end-to-end encrypted. Moreover, getting people away from WhatsApp was a big challenge for Arattai, which the company could not overcome. WhatsApp has been used for a long time, and for many people, it has become the default choice for messaging and calling. As a result, it became difficult for Aratai to remain at the top of the rankings.
Aratai’s focus on privacy
The Aratai app, completely made in India, offers features like personal chat, group chat, voice notes, image and video sharing, just like WhatsApp. It now features end-to-end encryption for personal chats, and the company is preparing to add many more new features. Preparations are underway to integrate the Zoho Pay app, which will allow users to use Aratai for payments apart from chatting. Developer Zoho says that privacy is fully respected at Aratai and it will never monetize personal data.