Zoho’s Big Moves in 2025: From Messaging & Browsers to India’s Swadeshi Push

While Silicon Valley giants dominate global headlines, one Indian company is quietly building an empire of tools — from cloud apps to AI platforms. And in 2025, Zoho is no longer “quiet.” It’s making bold moves: a new messaging app, a secure browser, and even catching the attention of the Indian government.

Let’s dive into why Zoho suddenly matters more than ever.

💬 Arattai: India’s Answer to WhatsApp?

Zoho’s homegrown messaging app, Arattai, has seen explosive growth — recording over a 100× surge in downloads in just three days.

It isn’t just a clone of existing chat apps. Arattai is designed with privacy and simplicity in mind:

• Secure messaging and calls
• Group collaboration features
• Lightweight, India-first design

With the government and enterprises emphasizing digital sovereignty, Arattai has the potential to become the “WhatsApp of India.”

🌐 Ulaa Enterprise: The Browser Reinvented

Browsers are often overlooked — but they’re also the gateway for most cyber threats. That’s why Zoho introduced Ulaa Enterprise, a browser designed for security-first enterprises.

• Prevents uploads of sensitive files
• Blocks screen captures to avoid data leaks
• Phishing protection and advanced security filters
• Built-in AI assistant Zia for productivity

This makes Ulaa more than a browser — it’s essentially a shield for the enterprise edge.

🌟 Swadeshi Endorsement: Indian Government’s Push

The biggest stamp of approval came when IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw publicly shifted to Zoho.

This wasn’t just a personal choice — it’s seen as a signal of India’s push for “Atmanirbhar Bharat” in software.

With the government exploring local alternatives for critical infrastructure, Zoho could soon find itself powering public-sector software ecosystems at scale.

🚀 Beyond Office Apps: Zoho’s Expanding Horizon

Zoho isn’t just building apps; it’s steadily crafting a full-fledged ecosystem:

• AI upgrades in Zoho Creator to automate workflows.
• Cloud-first SaaS tools competing with Google Workspace & Microsoft 365.
• Past explorations into chip-making show Zoho’s vision of going deep into the tech stack.

In short, it’s no longer just “Zoho Docs” — it’s Zoho Everything.

🧩 Zoho vs The Giants

Zoho isn’t building in a vacuum — it’s going head-to-head with global tech heavyweights:

• Against Google & Microsoft: Competing with Workspace and 365 in productivity apps.
• Against Slack & Teams: With its own messaging and collaboration tools.
• Against Chrome & Edge: With Ulaa, aiming to make the browser itself a security gateway.

What makes Zoho stand out? Unlike its rivals, Zoho has grown profitably and independently, without external funding or aggressive acquisitions. Its strategy is slow, deliberate, and deeply engineering-first — a rare trait in today’s growth-at-all-costs tech landscape.

This underdog positioning gives Zoho a unique identity: a quiet disruptor challenging giants on its own terms.

💡 Why Should You Care?

• If you’re a developer → keep an eye out for possible APIs from Arattai and integrations in Ulaa.
• If you’re a business → Zoho’s secure browser and SaaS suite could be the vendor lock-in escape plan you’ve been waiting for.
• If you’re a tech enthusiast → you’re witnessing the rise of a global Indian tech player.

🌏 The Road Ahead

From a humble SaaS company to a contender in messaging, browsers, AI, and even government adoption, Zoho is shaping up as India’s quiet giant.

The real question is not whether you’ll use Zoho in 2025, but when.

⚡ What do you think — can Zoho challenge the dominance of global giants, or will it remain India’s best-kept secret?