While Every App Bombards You With Ads, This Indian CEO Just Said “No” — Forever
In a digital world where every swipe, scroll, and tap is tracked for advertising dollars, Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu is going in the exact opposite direction.
His homegrown messaging app Arattai is quietly gaining users in India — and as the downloads rise, so does a common question:
“When will the ads start?”
The answer?
According to Vembu: Never.
Not now. Not later. Not ever.
And in an industry obsessed with monetisation at all costs, this bold move is raising eyebrows — and winning hearts.
Arattai Is Growing Fast — But It’s Not for Sale
Arattai, which means “chat” in Tamil, is Zoho’s answer to WhatsApp and Signal — a secure, privacy-focused messaging app made in India for Indians.
It’s been gaining serious momentum, especially among users who are tired of big tech snooping on their private conversations.
But as the app grows, so does the assumption: monetisation must be just around the corner.
After all, that’s how the internet works, right?
- First, build a user base
- Then, stuff it with ads
- Finally, track everything and call it “personalisation”
Not this time.
Vembu’s Promise: No Ads. No Catch. Ever.
Speaking to India Today Tech, Sridhar Vembu didn’t leave room for interpretation.
“There will never be advertisements in Arattai,” he said. “Never means never.”
That’s a rare promise in today’s data-hungry app ecosystem — where even so-called “free” apps are quietly mining your info behind the scenes.
But Vembu insists that Arattai is built on principles, not profit pressure. Zoho, a bootstrapped and proudly independent company, isn’t chasing venture capital or Wall Street expectations.
Which means:
No investors demanding ad revenue.
No board meetings pushing for monetisation.
Just a clean, private, ad-free app.
Why This Changes Everything
This isn’t just a product decision — it’s a philosophical stand. In a world where your attention is constantly for sale, Zoho is saying: “Not ours.”
And it begs the question:
If Arattai can thrive without ads, why can’t everyone else?
Here’s what this means for users:
- No creepy tracking
- No endless banner ads
- No data sold to third parties
- Just pure messaging — the way it should be
Vembu’s approach isn’t just refreshing — it’s revolutionary.
How Will Arattai Make Money Then?
Let’s be real: no ads doesn’t mean no expenses.
So what’s the plan?
Vembu admits that monetisation may come eventually, but not through the typical playbook.
“We might explore other options in the future,” he said, “but we’re not under pressure to do that right now.”
Translation?
- Maybe premium features.
- Maybe enterprise solutions.
- But definitely not tracking you for profit.
This model mirrors Zoho’s broader philosophy — the company has long shunned ads, investors, and IPO hype in favor of slow, sustainable, user-first growth.
Arattai vs The Rest: Why This App Is Worth Watching
Here’s what sets Arattai apart in a market flooded with flashy, ad-driven apps:
| Feature | Arattai | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ads | ❌ Never | ❓ Possibly soon | ✅ Sponsored content |
| Data monetisation | ❌ None | ✅ Meta ecosystem | ✅ Limited |
| Ownership | ✅ Indian-made | ❌ Meta-owned | ❌ Russia-origin |
| Tracking & targeting | ❌ Zero | ✅ Extensive | ✅ Moderate |
| Monetisation pressure | ❌ None | ✅ High | ✅ Medium |
In short, Arattai isn’t just another app — it’s a statement.
Is This the Future of Indian Tech?
Sridhar Vembu’s bold declaration may sound idealistic — but it could also be exactly what India’s digital landscape needs.
Instead of copying Silicon Valley’s surveillance capitalism, Zoho is proving there’s another way — a model where users aren’t the product, and trust is the currency.
This approach might not make headlines every day, but it’s quietly building something powerful: tech built on principles, not just profit.
Final Thought: Would You Use an App That Doesn’t Try to Sell You?
In a world where every app is engineered to squeeze out profit from your time, data, and privacy, Arattai stands alone.
No ads.
No pressure.
No shady business.
Just simple, secure, respectful communication.
And with a promise straight from the CEO that ads are never coming, Arattai might just be the app India didn’t know it needed — until now.
