The Arattai app has received government support and is set to challenge WhatsApp. Will this made-in-India chat app be able to replace WhatsApp?
Highlights
Arattai comes with features like Android TV support and Pocket
WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption for text messages
Zoho says Arattai's data will be hosted in India instead of on foreign clouds
WhatsApp has become the preferred choice for almost every mobile user in India, whether it's for family messages, workplace conversations, or group calls. But now, a new name is making the rounds: the Arattai app developed by Zoho. Recently, the Union Education Minister and several other senior ministers urged people to try Arattai, calling it "free, easy-to-use, secure, and safe." However, WhatsApp's strong presence in India is too strong to dislodge. However, Arattai has just launched and has introduced some features that set it apart from Meta's app. Let's examine the differences between the two apps, which features could give Arattai an edge, and where it still lags.
Arattai vs WhatsApp
1. Common messaging, calling, and media sharing
Both apps offer text messaging, voice and video calls, and media (photos, videos, documents) sharing. The only difference is that WhatsApp is more mature and has been in the ecosystem for a longer time.
2. Multi-device and platform support
A big advantage of Arattai is that it supports Android TV, which means you can chat even by installing the app on TV, this feature is not available in WhatsApp right now.
Moreover, Arattai supports up to 5 devices with a single account, including mobile, desktop, and tablet.
3. Some features that are missing from WhatsApp
Arattai Meeting: A meeting feature that users can create, record and view their meeting history.
Pocket: This is a personal storage space where you can keep files, notes, etc. and it will not be visible in the chat history.
Location sharing “Till I reach”: You can share your location by selecting your destination, and sharing stops once you arrive. Sharing has to be turned off manually in WhatsApp.
4. Features that Arattai doesn't have
Arattai doesn't currently support features like polls, payments, and events that are already built into WhatsApp, such as WhatsApp Payments and Polls.
Meta's integration with other services gives WhatsApp many options for status personalization and sharing, which Arattai doesn't have.
5. Privacy, encryption, and data hosting
WhatsApp enforces end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on all chats, calls, and media. This is a huge security benefit.
Arattai currently implements E2EE for calls, but doesn't yet have full E2EE for text messages. The company says it's in development and will be implemented soon.
Zoho has stated that Arattai will host data in India and will not be based on global cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has also stated that Arattai will never become a monopoly.
Will Arattai become a WhatsApp alternative?
Arattai has recently seen a rapid increase in downloads and users. According to Zoho, sign-ups for the app increased from around 3,000 to 350,000 in three days, a 100x increase. It ranked first in the social networking category in the App Store . But challenges remain;
Lack of E2EE on text messages, which is a big deal for privacy-conscious users.
Scaling the infrastructure, as the sudden increase in user base significantly increases the load on the servers.
WhatsApp has a large user base, so many users do not adopt the new platform because of others, this thinking will have to be influenced by Arattai.
Arattai has a "Made-in-India" reputation, offers some features WhatsApp doesn't currently offer, and emphasizes privacy and a new model. However, it's not yet in a position to completely replace WhatsApp. If Zoho quickly improves its text encryption, strengthens its infrastructure, and continues to provide customer support and feature updates, Arattai could well become a strong alternative.
