Arattai vs Signal vs Telegram: The Future of Secure Communication

Last updated on October 15th, 2025 at 01:38 pm

The last few years have seen an explosion of secure messaging apps. People have begun to ask hard questions about who controls their conversations, where their data lives and how to balance privacy with convenience. Three major players stand out in the current landscape: Arattai, Signal and Telegram. Each app takes a different path to protect your messages while building useful features. This guide compares them and looks ahead at what the future of secure communication might hold.

The Rise of Private Chat

Public trust in big tech has eroded. Privacy scandals and intrusive advertising have pushed users to explore alternatives. Governments are also taking data sovereignty seriously. As a result, new apps have emerged with local roots and a focus on security. Arattai comes from India’s Zoho Corporation. Signal is backed by a nonprofit foundation. Telegram was created by Russian brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov. Their different origins shape their philosophies.

Core Features and Approach

Arattai

Arattai began as an internal tool for Zoho employees and quickly grew into a public product. It is designed to be light on data use and easy on low‑cost phones. The app includes:

• Messaging and calling: Arattai offers one‑on‑one and group chats, voice notes and audio or video calls. Calls are end‑to‑end encrypted. Text encryption for messages is rolling out but not yet the default everywhere.
• Meetings: A built‑in video meeting tool lets you schedule, join or record calls. This feature makes Arattai feel like Zoom or Google Meet but inside your chat app.
• Pocket: A personal cloud space where you can save messages, links and files. Think of it as a private folder synced across your devices.
• Mentions: A Slack‑style panel that shows every message where someone tagged you, making it easy to catch up.
• Multi‑device support: You can use Arattai on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux and even Android TV. Your chats sync across devices.
• Local flavour: The app supports many Indian languages and offers region‑specific stickers and themes. All data stays in India, aligning with local laws.
• No ads or forced AI: Zoho promises not to sell user data or add intrusive artificial intelligence features without consent.

Signal

Signal is the gold standard for privacy. It is run by the nonprofit Signal Technology Foundation and funded by donations. Key aspects include:

• Full end‑to‑end encryption: Every message, call and file you send is encrypted by default. Only you and your recipient hold the keys. The underlying Signal Protocol is open source and widely audited.
• Minimal data collection: Signal stores almost nothing. It retains the date of account creation and the last connection time, but not message content or contacts.
• Disappearing messages and editing: You can set chats to auto‑delete after a set time. Messages can also be edited or removed after sending.
• No cloud backups: All data stays on your device. This is great for privacy but makes migrating between phones harder.
• Optional usernames: In 2024 Signal introduced usernames so you can chat without revealing your phone number. You still need a phone number to register, though.
• Limited extras: There are no channels or bots, and file sizes are capped. Signal focuses on secure conversation rather than additional features.

Telegram

Telegram balances features and privacy. It is popular with large communities, businesses and social groups. Its highlights include:

• Flexible chats: Standard chats are encrypted on the server but not end‑to‑end. To get full encryption you must start a Secret Chat. Voice and video calls are always end‑to‑end encrypted.
• Cloud storage: Messages, media and files up to 2 GB or more are stored in Telegram’s cloud, letting you access them on any device. This convenience means Telegram has access to your data unless you use Secret Chats.
• Massive groups and channels: You can create groups with hundreds of thousands of members and broadcast to unlimited subscribers via channels. Bots can automate tasks or provide services inside the app.
• Customization: Telegram offers themes, animated stickers, and editing tools. You can change your phone number or username while keeping your chats.
• Multi‑device: The app works seamlessly across phones, tablets, desktops and browsers. Accounts are synced instantly.
• Proprietary protocol: Telegram uses its own MTProto encryption. The code is partly open source (client side) but the server and protocol are not fully transparent.

Comparing Security and Privacy

Encryption Strength

• Signal encrypts everything by default with open‑source protocols. It keeps no cloud backups and stores minimal metadata. This is the most private approach but requires you to manage your own backups.
• Telegram uses server‑side encryption for normal chats. You get end‑to‑end encryption only in Secret Chats. Cloud storage means data is accessible to Telegram’s servers. Voice and video calls are encrypted end‑to‑end.
• Arattai encrypts voice and video calls end‑to‑end and is working on full encryption for text chats. Until that is complete, its messages remain more exposed than those on Signal.

Data Handling

• Signal stores nothing in the cloud, so there is almost nothing to hand over if asked. It does not sell data or serve ads.
• Telegram keeps message history on its servers. It collects metadata and offers an advertising platform for large channels. Telegram states that Secret Chat data is never stored on servers.
• Arattai keeps all data in data centres located in India. Zoho promises no ads and no data selling. The Pocket feature stores your personal files on Zoho’s servers but syncs across your devices.

Identity and Contact Discovery

• Signal requires a phone number for registration, though you can hide it in conversations by using a username. Secure contact discovery happens in the background.
• Telegram lets you hide your phone number and pick a public username. People can find you via your username or phone number.
• Arattai uses your phone number as your identity. You cannot yet hide your number or use a username, though Zoho hints that this may change.

Feature Set and Usability

If privacy is your sole concern, Signal is the clear winner. But messaging apps need to be useful to attract people. Here’s how they stack up:

Adoption and Community

• Signal appeals to journalists, activists and privacy advocates. Its small user base can be a hurdle because your contacts may not be there. Adoption often spikes when other platforms face privacy controversies.
• Telegram has become a hub for crypto groups, news channels, marketing campaigns and public communities. Its network effect is strong, but the privacy model is less rigorous than Signal’s.
• Arattai is riding a wave of digital nationalism in India. Government endorsements and concerns about foreign apps have helped it grow rapidly. Still, it has a long way to go to challenge WhatsApp or Telegram’s reach. Its success will depend on scaling infrastructure and delivering promised encryption upgrades.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Secure Communication

The secure messaging space is dynamic. Regulation, technology and user expectations will shape the next wave. Here are some trends to watch:

• Interoperability and standards: Messaging services may be forced to work together under new regulations like the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Arattai’s founder has publicly said he supports interoperability. Signal has not committed, citing security concerns. Telegram may embrace interoperability if it helps grow its user base.
• Usernames and number privacy: Users increasingly want to chat without revealing phone numbers. Signal’s username feature and Telegram’s existing username system address this. Arattai will need similar options to compete globally.
• Decentralized and federated models: New projects like Matrix or Nostr promote decentralized communication. Signal remains centralized but open source. Telegram is centralized. Arattai is centralized but could explore federation if it aims to avoid monopoly concerns.
• AI and moderation: Bots and AI will play a role in filtering spam and moderating large communities. Telegram already uses bots extensively. Signal is cautious about adding AI due to privacy risks. Arattai has no AI yet, but may integrate it carefully for features like translation or message summarization.
• Quantum‑resistant cryptography: As quantum computing advances, messaging apps will need to update encryption schemes. Signal is likely to adopt post‑quantum cryptography early because of its security focus. Telegram and Arattai will also need to plan for this shift.

Choosing the Right App Today

When deciding between Arattai, Signal and Telegram, ask yourself what matters most:

• Privacy and security: Choose Signal if end‑to‑end encryption and minimal data retention are non‑negotiable.
• Features and community: Choose Telegram if you need large groups, broadcast channels, bots or cross‑device convenience, and are comfortable with cloud storage.
• Local trust and integrated tools: Choose Arattai if you want a homegrown app with meetings and personal cloud features, or if you’re in India and prefer data to remain onshore. Keep in mind that full encryption for text is still evolving.

Conclusion

Secure communication is no longer a niche concern. People and businesses are demanding private, reliable messaging tools.  Signal, Telegram and Arattai offer distinct paths towards that goal. Signal puts privacy above all else, even at the expense of convenience. Telegram offers a feature‑rich environment that appeals to communities and businesses but sacrifices some security for flexibility. Arattai positions itself as a balanced, local alternative with innovative features like meetings and Pocket, though it still needs to deliver on full end‑to‑end encryption. As new technologies emerge and regulations evolve, the future of secure communication will be defined by how these platforms adapt and whether they can earn user trust while staying innovative. Your choice today depends on what you value most—privacy, features or local sovereignty.