Zoho has taken Arattai beyond personal chats. On October 2, 2026, the company launched Arattai for Business, giving companies a dedicated way to talk with customers while also opening an API-based Business Platform for automated messaging. The two options are now detailed on the official Arattai Business website.
The timing is notable. The launch arrived a day after changes to WhatsApp Business pricing took effect on October 1. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu said the platform would be free for government and public services, while healthcare and educational institutions would receive a monthly free messaging allowance.
Key Highlights
- Arattai for Business is now live for business-to-customer conversations.
- A separate Business Platform connects messaging with software and automation.
- Government and public services can use the platform free.
- Healthcare and educational institutions get 1 million messages per month free.
- The platform supports promotional, transactional, authentication and conversational messages.
What Is Arattai for Business and Why Has Zoho Launched It Now?
Arattai for Business is not simply the regular messenger with a company name added. Zoho has split the offering into two routes: a no-code Business App and a developer-focused Business Platform.
The Business App targets small and medium businesses that want familiar chat tools without building an integration. Zoho’s Arattai Business developer documentation describes it as a free mobile app with chat labels, quick replies and away messages.
The Business Platform goes further. Its REST APIs can connect Arattai with sales, support, booking or other systems. It supports promotional messages, transaction updates and authentication messages such as OTPs. Customer-started conversations can also be handled by agents, bots or both.
India Today reported that the launch came one day after WhatsApp began charging for some utility messages that had previously been free within its service window.
Arattai Business App vs Business Platform: What Can Each One Do?
A neighbourhood store and a railway system do not need the same messaging setup. Zoho’s two-product approach reflects that gap.
| Option | Best Suited For | What It Offers |
| Business App | Small and medium businesses | Direct chats, quick replies, labels and away messages without API work |
| Business Platform | Larger organisations | REST APIs, automated messages, integrations, team access and multiple numbers |
The platform also supports interactive layouts. A clinic could send appointment choices inside a conversation. A retailer could send an order update, while an online service could deliver a login code. Zoho’s API documentation already shows appointment-selection and service-list examples.
Businesses can also use Mini Apps, which open inside Arattai. The official Arattai Business FAQ says these web-based experiences can handle booking, shopping, payments, forms or order tracking without sending users elsewhere.
Who Can Use Arattai for Business and What Is Free?
The Business App is for companies that want direct customer messaging, while organisations needing automation can apply for Business Platform access. Zoho’s official FAQ says platform requests are reviewed before next steps are shared.
| User Group | Current Offer |
| Regular businesses | Business App and Business Platform options; platform pricing varies by message category |
| Government and public services | Business Platform offered free; Railway integrations are being developed |
| Healthcare and education | Free allowance of 1 million messages each month |
There is an important privacy distinction. Arattai’s current privacy policy says private end-to-end encrypted chats are protected when the app shows the relevant indicator. Chats with Business Platform customers, however, are listed as non-E2EE surfaces, with message content made available to the recipient business through the platform. Users should check the chat indicator before sharing sensitive information.
Zoho also says Arattai data is stored on Indian servers and is not sold for advertising.
What Could Arattai for Business Change and What Should Users Watch Next?
The launch gives Zoho a way to connect its consumer messenger with business software rather than competing only on personal chat. The Business Platform uses REST APIs, so its role can extend beyond companies already using Zoho applications.
Two details remain open. Full commercial pricing for ordinary businesses was not detailed in the launch announcement, and the government integrations mentioned by Vembu are still being developed. Adoption will also depend on whether enough customers use Arattai for businesses to treat it as a regular service channel.
For now, companies can compare the Business App with the API platform and decide whether support, alerts, OTPs or booking flows fit their needs. Follow the official Arattai Business pages for rollout and pricing updates.
FAQs
Is Arattai for Business available now?
Yes. Zoho says the Arattai for Business app is live, while organisations interested in the API-based Business Platform can submit a request for access.
Who is Arattai for Business meant for?
It is built for small businesses needing simple customer chats and larger organisations wanting automated messaging connected to existing software, support or operational systems.
Is Arattai for Business free?
The no-code Business App is described as free. Government and public services get the Business Platform free, while other platform messaging uses category-based pricing.
What do healthcare and educational institutions get?
Sridhar Vembu said healthcare and educational institutions will receive a free allowance of 1 million messages per month on the new business messaging offering.
Does Arattai Business support automated customer messages?
Yes. The platform supports promotional, transactional and authentication messaging, plus customer-initiated conversations that can be handled by human agents, bots or hybrid workflows.
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