After WhatsApp and Google Maps, Zoho is now preparing to compete with PhonePe and GPay, with 'Zoho Pay' coming soon

Indian Tech Giant Gears Up to Challenge PhonePe and GPay with Its Own Payment App

In a move that could reshape India’s competitive digital payments market, homegrown software powerhouse Zoho Corporation is preparing to launch its own payment platform, Zoho Pay. The new app will position Zoho as a direct challenger to dominant players such as Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm, marking the company’s formal entry into the fast-evolving fintech space.

According to company executives, Zoho Pay will not only be a standalone digital payments app but will also be integrated into Arattai, Zoho’s in-house chat application. This integration will allow users to send and receive money seamlessly while chatting, eliminating the need to switch between apps for transactions.

A New Step in Zoho’s Expanding Ecosystem

Zoho, known globally for its suite of cloud-based business applications, already has a presence in the business payments and point-of-sale (POS) domains. However, Zoho Pay marks its first major push into consumer-facing fintech services.

Speaking about the launch, Sivaramakrishnan Iswaran, CEO of Zoho Payments Tech, said, “Zoho Pay is designed to offer users a smooth, secure, and unified payment experience. Whether it’s sending money to a friend or paying for services, users can do it directly within the Arattai chat window.”

This strategic integration mirrors the concept of super apps—platforms that combine communication, payments, and other digital services within a single interface.

Arattai: From Messaging App to Payment Hub

Launched in 2021, Arattai started as Zoho’s answer to messaging giants like WhatsApp and Telegram. Over the years, it has added several features, including group chats, voice and video calls, and file sharing.

With the upcoming integration of Zoho Pay, Arattai is set to transform into a payment-enabled communication hub, allowing users—especially small businesses and freelancers—to manage both conversations and transactions in one place.

“Arattai connects people and small businesses,” Iswaran noted. “With Zoho Pay, we’re making it possible to move from chat to transaction without leaving the conversation.”

This development could particularly benefit India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that rely heavily on mobile platforms for daily business communication and payments.

Beyond Payments: Zoho’s Broader Fintech Vision

While Zoho Pay represents the company’s immediate step into the digital payment landscape, the company’s ambitions extend far beyond that. Zoho has plans to build an integrated financial ecosystem, including services in lending, insurance, brokerage, and wealth management.

“We’re taking a gradual but steady approach in fintech,” said Iswaran. “Payments are the starting point, but our goal is to develop a sustainable, interconnected financial system for businesses and individuals alike.”

To complement Zoho Pay, the company is also enhancing its fintech product lineup with tools such as Zoho Billing—for invoicing and subscription management—and Zoho Payroll, which automates salary payments and integrates with banking systems.

These tools, when combined, form a unified financial stack capable of managing everything from payment collection to cash flow and automated disbursals.

When Will Zoho Pay Launch?

Zoho Pay is currently in its internal testing phase. According to company insiders, the platform will be rolled out in phases over the next few months. Initially, the app will be made available to a limited set of users, followed by a broader public release once stability and compliance testing are completed.

Given Zoho’s strong track record in building secure and scalable enterprise software, industry experts expect the new platform to focus heavily on data privacy, transaction security, and user trust—key concerns in India’s fintech market.

The Road Ahead

Zoho’s entry into the digital payments space comes at a time when the sector is witnessing rapid growth and stiff competition. Platforms like PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm dominate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem, handling billions of transactions each month.

However, Zoho’s strong brand credibility, ecosystem integration, and focus on the Indian user base could help it carve a niche in this crowded market. By linking payments directly with communication, Zoho Pay has the potential to redefine how users engage in digital transactions—making them faster, simpler, and more contextual.

As Zoho gears up for the official rollout, one thing is certain: India’s digital payment landscape is about to get even more competitive, and Zoho Pay could be the next big disruptor in the fintech revolution.