In 2025, the world of messaging apps is very active. People use apps not only to chat but also to share photos, work in groups, and even run small businesses. In India, two names are often compared – WhatsApp, the global giant, and Arattai, the home-grown alternative made by Zoho.
While WhatsApp is very popular and widely used, Arattai is gaining attention because it focuses on privacy and Indian users’ needs. Let us see how both apps are different and which one can be better for you.
Why Arattai is Different
Arattai means “chat” in Tamil, and the app was created specially for Indian users. The main idea behind Arattai is privacy and control. Many people worry about how WhatsApp shares data with other companies. Arattai promises that your chats and calls stay safe inside India and are not given to outsiders.
Some key points about Arattai privacy:
- End-to-end encryption for messages and calls.
- Data stored inside India, not abroad.
- No ads or forced promotions.
- Clear focus on user control and no third-party sharing.
This gives confidence to people who care more about privacy than just popularity.
Features and Customization
WhatsApp is known for features like communities, video calls, stickers, and group chats. Arattai also offers these, but it tries to add more local flavour for Indian people.
- Multiple Indian languages: You can chat in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and more.
- Pocket feature: Save notes, reminders, and media privately inside the app.
- Meeting option: Works similar to Zoom, useful for online classes or office calls.
- Business-friendly tools: Forward broadcast messages, manage chats, and keep work separate from personal use.
Arattai is not only for chatting but can also act as a small work tool for professionals, students, and families.
Performance and Speed
Another big advantage of Arattai is that it runs smoothly on low-cost phones and with slow internet. In many parts of India, especially rural areas, this is very helpful.
WhatsApp also works on most devices, but Arattai tries to use less storage and less data. This means you can save space on your phone and still send large files easily.
Performance highlights:
- Works well on basic Android phones.
- Less battery use compared to WhatsApp.
- File sharing up to 1GB, useful for documents and videos.
Group Chats and Communication
Both apps allow large group chats, but Arattai gives more control to the admin. For example, group admins can manage messages better and set more options. WhatsApp allows up to thousands of members, but Arattai makes it easy to control and organize big groups without confusion.
This makes Arattai a good option for schools, small businesses, and communities where structured group chatting is important.
WhatsApp Strengths
Even though Arattai is unique, WhatsApp is still the most popular messaging app in India and the world. The main reason is its huge user base – almost everyone already uses it. This makes it hard for people to shift completely to a new app.
WhatsApp also has extra features like:
- Payments and UPI integration.
- WhatsApp Business tools for marketing.
- Large community groups.
- Status feature to share daily updates.
So, if your friends, family, or colleagues are all on WhatsApp, you may still need to use it.
Which One Should You Choose?
- If you want privacy, local data storage, and simple but strong performance, Arattai is a very good choice.
- If you need popularity, easy connection with everyone, and extra features like payments, WhatsApp is still the leader.
Some people may even use both apps together – WhatsApp for general chats and Arattai for personal, private, or work-related communication.
Final Thoughts
The fight between Arattai and WhatsApp is not only about features. It is about privacy vs popularity. WhatsApp wins in numbers and global reach, but Arattai stands strong for Indian users who care about safety, control, and local support.
In the end, the choice depends on what matters more to you – chatting with everyone easily, or keeping your data safe inside India.
