Setting the stage
India has long relied on WhatsApp as its messaging backbone. With over two billion users globally and deep penetration in India, WhatsApp offers an ecosystem that is hard to ignore. However, concerns over data privacy, targeted advertising, and foreign control have created a demand for home‑grown alternatives. Arattai, developed by Zoho Corporation, positions itself as one such alternative. But is it a realistic replacement for WhatsApp, or simply a niche companion? This deep comparison unpacks every major factor—features, privacy, performance, business tools, and network effects—to help you decide.
Feature comparison at a glance
| Aspect | Arattai | What it means | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messaging | Text, voice notes, photos, documents; 1 000‑member groups; channels; built‑in personal storage Pocket | Text, voice notes, photos, documents; 1 024‑member groups; communities; no personal storage | Both handle core chat well. Arattai offers a Pocket cloud to store notes and files; WhatsApp relies on “You” chat. |
| Calls | Voice & video calls for up to 50 people; optimized for low‑bandwidth networks | Voice & video calls up to 8people; high quality | Arattai handles large group calls with less bandwidth; WhatsApp’s calls have full encryption. |
| File sharing | Up to 1 GB per file; secret chats with self‑destruct timers | Up to 2 GB per file; no self‑destruct | WhatsApp supports larger files; Arattai focuses on privacy with secret chats. |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android TV; link up to five devices simultaneously | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, web; link up to four devices | Arattai’s Android TV app and wider OS support appeal to multi‑device households. |
| Unique features | Meetings for scheduled conferencing; Mentions tab; “Till I reach” live location sharing; ad‑free | Built‑in payment system; voice‑message transcription; Communities; Meta AI | Each offers extras beyond messaging. Arattai adds productivity tools; WhatsApp doubles down on ecosystem integration. |
| Business tools | Channels for broadcasting; no ads or AI; no payment gateways yet | WhatsApp Business API, catalogs, in‑chat payments, auto‑reply bots | Businesses wanting e‑commerce may lean toward WhatsApp; creators or community managers may prefer Arattai’s ad‑free channels. |
| Privacy & ads | Data stored in India; end‑to‑end encryption for calls; secret chats; no data monetization, no AI | Full end‑to‑end encryption; Meta uses metadata for targeted ads and AI suggestions | Arattai pledges not to mine your data. WhatsApp encrypts more but feeds data into Meta’s advertising machine. |
| Performance | Lightweight app, runs on low‑end phones and 2G/3G networks; optimised for regional languages | Reliable on modern devices; data heavy; supports over 40 languages | Arattai shines in rural or low‑resource environments; WhatsApp requires more storage and bandwidth but offers broader global language coverage. |
| User base | Tens of millions (growing) with strong Indian focus | Over two billion globally | Network effect strongly favours WhatsApp. |
Core features: Messages, calls and groups
Messaging
Both apps allow you to exchange texts, voice notes, photos and documents. WhatsApp supports larger files (up to 2 GB), while Arattai limits transfers to 1 GB but adds a secret chat option with self‑destruct timers for sensitive messages. Arattai groups cap at 1 000 members and include channels for broadcasting to an unlimited audience. WhatsApp’s groups can host 1 024 participants and are supplemented by communities, which bundle related groups under one umbrella.
Voice and video calls
Arattai’s calling model is built for India’s varied network conditions. Calls support up to 50 participants and automatically adapt to low bandwidth. WhatsApp offers crystal‑clear calls but limits group calls to 8 people. One key distinction is security: WhatsApp encrypts all calls end to end by default, whereas Arattai currently provides full end‑to‑end encryption only for voice and video calls, with text chat encryption still rolling out.
Multi‑device experience
Both platforms support multiple linked devices. Arattai allows up to five devices simultaneously and includes an Android TV app for big‑screen messaging. WhatsApp permits four linked devices but restricts simultaneous phone sessions; its desktop app mirrors the mobile experience. If you want to move conversations between phone, desktop and television seamlessly, Arattai provides more flexibility.
Unique differentiators
Pocket: your personal cloud
Arattai’s Pocket feature acts as a built‑in personal storage vault. You can save links, notes, images and files directly within the app, keeping your ideas organized without cluttering chats. This eliminates the need to constantly message yourself or rely on third‑party cloud services. WhatsApp’s workaround is a “You” chat for notes, but it lacks dedicated storage management.
Meetings: built‑in video conferencing
Unlike WhatsApp, Arattai integrates Meetings—a scheduling and conferencing tool comparable to Zoom or Teams. You can create meeting links, invite participants, share screens and even record sessions, all without leaving the app. For remote teams or community classes, this single‑app workflow reduces friction. WhatsApp has video calls but no scheduling, no screen sharing and no recording.
Mentions and “Till I reach”
Arattai organizes group chatter by providing a Mentions tab that consolidates every message where you were tagged. This helps you catch up quickly without scrolling through hundreds of messages. It also introduces “Till I reach”, a live location sharing mode that automatically stops when you arrive at your destination, offering safety without draining your battery or broadcasting your location indefinitely. WhatsApp has location sharing but not the auto‑cutoff convenience.
Ad‑free and AI‑free commitment
Arattai is explicit about what it won’t do: display ads, harvest your data for marketing, or inject AI chat‑bots into conversations. By contrast, Meta’s roadmap for WhatsApp includes targeted ads within the Updates tab and integration with Meta AI for chat assistance. If you prefer a messaging app that prioritises privacy over monetization, Arattai’s stance is a refreshing divergence.
Privacy and security
- Encryption: WhatsApp uses the open‑source Signal protocol to encrypt all messages, calls, photos and files end to end. Arattai currently encrypts voice and video calls and offers secret chats with self‑destructing messages; full end‑to‑end encryption for standard text messages is promised but not yet universal. For now, WhatsApp provides more comprehensive encryption.
- Data storage: Arattai stores user data in Zoho’s Indian data centers and complies with local privacy laws. WhatsApp’s data travels through servers worldwide and is subject to Meta’s data policies, which include metadata analysis for targeted advertising and algorithmic recommendations.
- Ads and tracking: Arattai has pledged to remain free of ads and data harvesting. WhatsApp currently has no in‑chat ads but shares limited metadata within the Meta ecosystem and is testing ways to monetise user data through business messaging and AI. Users who prioritise minimal tracking may find Arattai more trustworthy.
Performance and accessibility
Lightweight design for low‑resource settings
Arattai is designed for India’s patchy connectivity. Its app size is smaller than WhatsApp’s, and it works smoothly on older phones with limited RAM and storage. The interface supports multiple Indian languages and is optimized for 2G/3G networks, making it accessible in rural areas. WhatsApp, while efficient on modern devices, consumes more bandwidth and storage and is less forgiving on low‑end hardware. It does support over 40 languages, though coverage of Indian regional languages is narrower compared to Arattai.
Cross‑platform flexibility
Both apps run on major mobile and desktop platforms. Arattai’s Android TV app and Linux client give it an edge for users who prefer non‑conventional devices. WhatsApp’s web and desktop versions mirror the mobile app, providing a familiar experience but less diversity in platform support.
Business ecosystem and community features
Business and commerce tools
WhatsApp Business is a mature platform with features such as catalogs, quick replies, labels, in‑chat payments via UPI and credit cards, and integration with customer relationship systems. It also supports large scale notifications via the WhatsApp Business API. Businesses can run marketing campaigns, answer queries and accept payments all within the app.
Arattai currently offers channels—broadcast spaces for creators, educators and businesses to push content to large audiences. Channels are ad‑free and can host multimedia posts, polls and community discussions. However, Arattai lacks native payment integration and advanced business automations. For now, enterprises seeking e‑commerce or customer support flows may stick to WhatsApp.
Network effect and adoption
The biggest hurdle for any messaging alternative is user base. WhatsApp boasts over two billion monthly active users worldwide, making it the default choice for social and professional communication. Arattai’s user base is growing, with tens of millions of downloads after endorsements by Indian politicians and a surge in nationalistic sentiment. However, achieving parity with WhatsApp’s ubiquitous presence will take time. Users often stick to the platform where the majority of their contacts already are. Unless a significant portion of one’s social circle migrates, Arattai may become a secondary app rather than a complete replacement.
Competitors in the wider market
While Arattai’s closest competitor in India is WhatsApp, the messaging space also includes privacy‑centric apps like Signal and feature‑rich apps like Telegram. Signal offers full end‑to‑end encryption and minimal metadata collection but lacks features like channels or video meetings. Telegram supports massive group chats, bots and public channels, but only its secret chats are end‑to‑end encrypted by default. Arattai’s position, therefore, is a hybrid: more privacy‑conscious than WhatsApp, more business‑oriented than Signal, and more regionally tailored than Telegram.
Is Arattai a true alternative?
Arattai can replace WhatsApp for certain users and scenarios:
- Privacy‑first individuals who want an ad‑free, Indian‑hosted platform with no data monetisation.
- Rural and low‑bandwidth users who rely on older devices and slower networks and need an app that performs reliably without consuming much data.
- Community managers and educators who can leverage built‑in meetings, channels and mentions to organise large groups without external tools.
However, for many users WhatsApp remains indispensable because of:
- Global reach and network effect—most contacts are already there.
- Complete end‑to‑end encryption across all communications.
- Integrated payments and business tools that streamline commerce.
- Consistent cross‑platform experience and larger file sharing limit.
Bottom line
Arattai is more than just a patriotic side project—it offers genuine innovations like Pocket, Meetings and low‑bandwidth optimisation that address specific Indian needs. Yet calling it a true alternative to WhatsApp depends on your priorities. If you value privacy, data sovereignty and built‑in productivity tools more than ubiquitous reach, Arattai deserves a place as your primary messenger. If your messaging needs depend on reaching anyone anywhere, rely on robust encryption, and require integrated business features, WhatsApp still rules. Ultimately, both can coexist: Arattai as a private, feature‑rich space for local communities and WhatsApp as the default conduit to the world.
