Arattai Gets End-to-End Encryption: WhatsApp’s Rival Levels Up

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has confirmed that Arattai's much-anticipated end-to-end encryption for text messages is in final testing, bringing India's homegrown messenger closer to rivaling WhatsApp's privacy standards. Table of…

By Hardik Dhamija

November 3, 2025

2 min read

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Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has confirmed that Arattai’s much-anticipated end-to-end encryption for text messages is in final testing, bringing India’s homegrown messenger closer to rivaling WhatsApp’s privacy standards.

Encryption Feature in Final Testing Phase

Responding to user queries on X (formerly Twitter), Vembu confirmed: “Yes going through testing right now. We are doing multiple rounds of QA to be sure.” The feature was originally scheduled for November 2025 but has been accelerated due to growing public demand.

Feature	Current Status	After Update
Voice/Video Calls	End-to-end encrypted	End-to-end encrypted
Text Messages	Cloud-stored	End-to-end encrypted
Data Storage	Server-based	Device-only
Encryption Protocol	N/A for texts	Signal Protocol

What Changes for Users?

Currently, all voice and video calls on Arattai are already end-to-end encrypted, but text messages have lacked this protection. The upcoming feature will use the audited Signal protocol, one of the most trusted standards for secure communication.

Key Benefits:

Messages stay on your device only
No cloud storage unless you specify backup
Even Zoho cannot read your chats
Lower server costs for the company
Better privacy than cloud-based alternatives

Vembu explained: “End-to-end encryption keeps that data on the device only (no cloud storage, unless a backup is specified). So it is actually easier on our servers and lowers our cost to serve users.”

How Arattai Compares to WhatsApp

With this update, Arattai will match WhatsApp’s encryption standards while maintaining its Made-in-India identity. The app already offers unique features like Pocket (organized message storage), built-in video meetings, and no forced AI integrations—unlike WhatsApp’s Meta AI feature.

India’s Data Sovereignty Push

Vembu addressed concerns about India’s dependence on foreign platforms like WhatsApp, stating “We are in this for the long haul” and emphasizing Arattai’s commitment to data sovereignty. Reports also suggest Zoho plans to integrate Zoho Pay for UPI-based payments, directly competing with WhatsApp Pay and Google Pay.

For more app updates and tech news, visit Technosports. Learn about Arattai features on Zoho’s official website!