Zoho Pay: Zoho’s Big Entry Into India’s UPI Landscape
A New Player Joins India’s Crowded Fintech Market
India’s booming digital payments ecosystem is getting a new entrant — Zoho Pay, the upcoming UPI-based payment app from Chennai-headquartered software company Zoho Corporation.
Best known globally for its SaaS products and business software, Zoho is now preparing to challenge major fintech names like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.
According to multiple reports, Zoho Pay is currently undergoing closed testing, with a controlled rollout to selected users. What makes this move significant is not just Zoho’s entry into the UPI space, but how it plans to leverage its Arattai chat platform and vast SaaS ecosystem to connect payments, messaging, and productivity into one experience.
What Is Zoho Pay and How Does It Work?
A Smart UPI App With Chat Integration
Zoho Pay is a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) app designed for both consumers and businesses. Unlike traditional standalone payment apps, Zoho Pay is being developed as part of Arattai, Zoho’s homegrown messaging app.
This integration will allow users to:
-
Send and receive money directly within chats.
-
Split bills, make quick payments, and settle dues effortlessly.
-
Access Zoho’s business tools like invoicing and subscriptions within the app.
By blending chat and finance, Zoho is attempting to turn Arattai into India’s first business-friendly “super app.” Users can switch from talking about a transaction to completing it instantly — all without leaving the conversation window.
Why Zoho Pay’s Entry Matters
From SaaS to Consumers — A Strategic Leap
This step marks Zoho’s transition from business software to consumer fintech, an area traditionally dominated by startups and global tech giants.
The Indian digital payment space is seeing unprecedented growth — with UPI crossing 13 billion transactions per month as of 2025. Zoho’s foray aligns perfectly with India’s push for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the growing adoption of contactless payments.
By embedding payments within its existing ecosystem, Zoho can leverage its 100M+ business users across platforms like Zoho Books, Zoho Invoice, and Zoho CRM — giving it a unique edge that few rivals possess.
Zoho’s Fintech Credentials: Not A Newcomer
Many users may not know that Zoho already operates in financial services on the enterprise side.
The company holds a Payment Aggregator (PA) license, and its Zoho Business Payments platform supports merchants and enterprises across India.
Zoho Pay, therefore, is not starting from scratch — it’s an expansion of a well-established financial foundation to reach end consumers directly.
Zoho Pay Features: What to Expect
Based on early reports, Zoho Pay is likely to combine standard UPI capabilities with AI-driven financial intelligence and advanced messaging support.
Key Features Expected in Zoho Pay
-
UPI Payments: Send and receive money instantly across bank accounts.
-
In-Chat Transactions: Perform payments directly in Arattai conversations.
-
QR Code & Contact Payments: Scan codes or use phone numbers for quick transfers.
-
Bill Splitting & Reminders: Organize group expenses easily, perfect for friends or teams.
-
Business Integration: Tie payments with invoices and Zoho apps for small business users.
-
Smart Notifications: AI suggestions for payment reminders and spending insights.
If executed well, these features could redefine how users interact with both finance and communication simultaneously.
When Will Zoho Pay Launch in India?
Still in Testing Phase, Public Release Expected Soon
Currently, Zoho Pay is in a closed beta program among select users. While there’s no official public launch date, industry insiders predict a gradual rollout starting in late 2025, given the fast-paced fintech landscape.
The app’s tie-up with Arattai — Zoho’s privacy-focused messaging platform — may also provide the company with a ready-made user base and a smoother launch strategy compared to competitors starting from scratch.
Arattai + Zoho Pay: A Potential Super-App in the Making
Combining Chat, Banking, and Business Tools
By merging chat and UPI functionality, Zoho Pay positions Arattai as a local alternative to WeChat’s super-app model, where users can chat, pay, and shop from the same interface.
This approach not only adds convenience for consumers but also extends Zoho’s ability to integrate their existing tools for SME and corporate clients. Imagine getting an invoice on Zoho Books and paying it instantly through Zoho Pay within the same workflow — that’s the seamless experience Zoho is aiming for.
The Competitive Landscape
Can Zoho Compete With Paytm and Google Pay?
The Indian UPI sector is fiercely competitive, dominated by PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay, which together account for over 90% of transaction volume.
For Zoho, the challenge will be:
-
User acquisition at scale without aggressive cashback models.
-
Regulatory compliance, especially under NPCI’s updated guidelines.
-
Building consumer trust, since it has long been known as a business software brand.
However, Zoho’s brand reputation, privacy-first approach, and zero-advertising ethos could appeal to users who prefer secure, independent, and Indian-made alternatives.
Expert Take: Why Zoho’s UPI Entry Is Strategic
According to an analytics report by Inc42+, UPI may soon integrate deeper into government and B2B platforms. Zoho’s inclusion of UPI through Zoho Pay could give it a front-row seat in India’s next digital payments wave, combining enterprise financial operations with consumer payment convenience.
By owning both messaging (Arattai) and payments (Zoho Pay), Zoho could bridge communication, transactions, and productivity like no other ecosystem currently does.
Zoho’s venture into the UPI trenches with Zoho Pay marks a bold yet strategic move — blending communication, payments, and SaaS services into one unified platform.
It’s a statement of intent: while competitors like Google Pay and PhonePe focus on scale, Zoho is focusing on experience and integration. If executed seamlessly, this could make the company not just a competitor, but a genuine innovator in India’s digital payments race.
FAQs
Q1. What is Zoho Pay?
Zoho Pay is an upcoming UPI-based digital payments app developed by Zoho, integrated with its messaging platform Arattai.
Q2. Is Zoho Pay linked with Arattai?
Yes, Zoho Pay will work both as a standalone UPI app and within Arattai, allowing payments directly through chats.
Q3. When will Zoho Pay launch in India?
The app is currently in closed testing. A public launch is expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
Q4. What are Zoho Pay’s main features?
It will support standard UPI transfers, bill payments, QR scanning, and in-chat money transfers integrated with Zoho products.
Q5. Does Zoho already have a payment license?
Yes, Zoho holds a Payment Aggregator license and already operates Zoho Business Payments for enterprises.
