Zoho Gears Up to Launch ‘Zoho Pay’: A New Player in India’s Consumer Payments Arena

In a move that could reshape India’s already bustling digital payments landscape, homegrown tech giant Zoho is preparing to launch ‘Zoho Pay’, a consumer payments app that promises to blend convenience, security, and integration like never before. The app, which will soon make its debut, marks Zoho’s official entry into the consumer fintech space — a sector currently dominated by the likes of Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.

For a company best known for its suite of business software solutions, Zoho’s expansion into personal payments signals an important shift — one that could redefine how users manage money in their everyday digital lives.

Zoho Pay

Zoho has long been a powerhouse in business software, serving millions of small and large enterprises globally with products spanning CRM, HR, and finance. But with Zoho Pay, the company is taking a significant leap beyond business transactions into the hands of everyday consumers.

Sivaramakrishnan Iswaran, CEO of Zoho Payments Tech, shared insights into the company’s new product, describing Zoho Pay as a “smooth, secure, and integrated payment experience” that will allow users to send and receive money, make payments, and conduct seamless transactions.

The app will be available as a standalone platform and will also be integrated into Zoho’s messaging app, Arattai, allowing users to make payments directly within their chat interface — much like how WhatsApp Pay operates.

“Zoho Pay is designed to offer a smooth, secure, and integrated payment experience. It will be available both as a standalone app and within Arattai, enabling users to make transactions without leaving their chat interface,” Iswaran told to media. 

Building India’s Next Fintech Powerhouse

For Zoho, this isn’t just about launching another UPI app. It’s part of a larger, long-term vision — to create a comprehensive financial services ecosystem that serves both consumers and businesses.

The company already has a presence in financial technology with business payments and point-of-sale (POS) solutions. But this time, it’s thinking bigger. Zoho Pay is only the first piece of what will eventually expand into lending, broking, insurance, and wealthtech.

“Our approach to fintech is incremental; we’re starting with payments and gradually expanding into other financial services, while staying true to Zoho’s focus on organic, profitable growth,” Iswaran explained.

That philosophy — to grow patiently, profitably, and without burning investor money — has been Zoho’s hallmark for over two decades. While other startups chase scale at any cost, Zoho quietly builds enduring, self-sustaining businesses — all with a homegrown spirit.

Arattai: A Homegrown Chat Platform with a New Edge

Launched in early 2021, Arattai (which means “chat” in Tamil) began as Zoho’s answer to global messaging apps, developed amidst growing privacy concerns over foreign platforms. Initially offering basic chat, file sharing, and video calls, Arattai quickly gained traction among users who valued data privacy and a “Made in India” experience.

Now, the upcoming integration of Zoho Pay is set to take Arattai to the next level — transforming it from a messaging tool into a social-financial platform where users can chat, collaborate, and transact all in one place.

“Arattai is our consumer-facing platform that connects people and small businesses. Integrating Zoho Pay into it would be a natural progression to enable meaningful transactions within those conversations,” Iswaran said.

An Expanding Financial Stack

Zoho’s fintech roadmap doesn’t stop with Zoho Pay. The company is also gearing up to launch Zoho Billing, a new invoicing and subscription management solution designed for businesses, and to strengthen Zoho Payroll through deeper integrations with banking systems.

The goal? To create a fully connected financial stack — from payment collection and cash flow management to automated payouts — empowering both consumers and small enterprises to operate seamlessly.

“Our intent is to build an interconnected financial stack, from collecting payments to managing cash flow and automating payouts,” Iswaran added.

What Makes Zoho’s Approach Different

While the fintech space in India is crowded with players chasing user growth, Zoho is taking a distinct route. Its strategy is slow, deliberate, and deeply integrated — a hallmark of its philosophy of sustainable innovation.

Zoho doesn’t believe in chasing valuations or spending millions on user acquisition. Instead, it relies on a trusted ecosystem of products and a loyal customer base built over years. The integration of Zoho Pay into Arattai is not a marketing move — it’s a functional, value-driven addition meant to simplify how people and small businesses interact and transact.

Rolling Out Soon

Currently, Zoho Pay is in internal testing and will be rolled out in phases over the coming months. Once live, the app could potentially challenge existing UPI players by offering something unique — a privacy-first, India-built payments ecosystem tightly woven into Zoho’s software universe.

With the launch of Zoho Pay, the Chennai-based company isn’t just entering another market — it’s extending its philosophy of independence and innovation into the financial lives of everyday Indians.

“Zoho has always built products that serve both individuals and enterprises seamlessly. With Zoho Pay, we’re extending that philosophy to financial services,” Iswaran summed up.