Zoho UPI app launch: What you need to know about Zoho Pay
Zoho UPI app launch: India’s digital payments sector is witnessing a new entrant with the introduction of Zoho Pay, a new unified payments interface (UPI) app fromChennai-based software company Zoho. This development matters because Zoho, a major SaaS provider and behind thehomegrown messaging app Arattai, is moving directly into the mobile consumer fintech space, a domain long dominated by PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay.
The information comes from multiple reports indicating Zoho is “finalising” its UPI-based consumer payments platform.
What is Zoho Pay, and how does it relate to Zoho’s UPI app?
Zoho Pay sets itself apart with integration into Zoho’s proprietary chat app, Arattai, providing users a unique combination of communication and payments. The company has confirmed that it will also launch a standalone Zoho Pay app.
The company already has a payment-aggregator licence and offers business payments through Zoho Business. However, the introduction of UPI with Zoho Pay could allow the company to expand to a mass user base.
The Indian digital payments ecosystem is one of the world’s most active, with UPI transactions being a key driver. Zoho’s entry comes at a time when the sector is expected to consolidate further, and leaders are being pushed to enhance their product offerings. By embedding payments within Arattai,Zoho is leveraging its existing user baseand business credibility to target both business and consumer markets.
When is Zoho Pay expected to launch in India?
The launch timeline for Zoho Pay remains unclear for now. The app is currently in “closed testing,” and while a public launch date remains unannounced. Though it is likely that the Chennai-based firm is already planning for a wider release soon.
What features can users expect from Zoho Pay’s UPI app?
Zoho Pay would not only work as a standard UPI app, but bring some handy features, particularly its focus on integration with Arattai. Through this, the app users can send/receive money, settle bills, and perform transactions within a chat itself on the messaging platfrom. This feature positions Arattai as a potential “super-app,” matching a trend where communication and financial services combine to deliver greater utility for users. Such an approach could entice those looking for seamless transitions between chatting and financial transactions.
In a way, this could allow Zoho to target not only payments but expand its userbase on Arattai too.
Zoho’s move into UPI payments reflects a broader trend of tech platforms bundling financial services within their core applications. The integration of messaging, payments, and other SaaS tools signals a shift toward multifunctional apps aimed at diverse user needs.
However, Zoho faces significant hurdles. As noted in an Inc42+ Analytics report, “user-acquisition costs, competitive incentives on scale, and regulatory compliance” all play a critical role in determining the long-term success of any payments app in India. Building trust and loyalty in a market with entrenched competitors like Paytm and Google Pay will not be easy for Zoho.
