By WhatsApp and Arattai are both chatting applications, but they work totally differently. Both apps offer you messaging, video, and voice call features. But there are major differences between the two applications. Zoho created Arattai, which is an India-based messaging app. Moreover, it consists of advanced functionalities, such as Pocket, Mentions, and Meetings. On the other hand, Meta had developed WhatsApp. It also integrates with business and Meta AI tools.
For more information, read our detailed blog. Here, you will get to know about Arattai vs WhatsApp in an elaborated form. Stay focused, and by the end, you will get all your answers.
TL;DR
- Arattai—Made-in-India chatting app. On the contrary note, WhatsApp is a worldwide conversation app.
- Indian users prefer Arattai. Contrarily, WhatsApp has more than 3 billion users monthly.
- Arattai supports 5 different devices, while WhatsApp is compatible with four gadgets.
- Users use Arattai for regional language support, while WhatsApp allows users to use global languages.
- Only 1,000 participants are allowed in the Arattai Group, while WhatsApp can make the group up to 1,024 members.
- WhatsApp works on the latest models, but Arattai is the best for older and low-network areas.
What Are Arattai and WhatsApp?
Arattai is also named Arattai Messenger. In January 2021, Zoho Corporation developed the best and most comprehensive Indian-based messaging app, Arattai. And if we talk about the meaning of Arattai, it is easy to remember—a conversation or chat in the Tamil language.
Now, it’s time to understand WhatsApp. WhatsApp was developed by Meta Platforms. This chatting app was launched in February 2009 on an American-based social media platform. It allows users to do instant messaging and offers you Voice Over IP service. Apart from that, this platform is highly compatible with mobile application and desktops. You can easily chat, share docs, images, and do video calls with proper end-to-end encryption.
Feature Comparison: Arattai vs WhatsApp
By going through the following comparison table, you will know other features that are offered by them.
| Feature | Arattai | |
| Developer | Created by Zoho (India-based) | Developed by Meta (Worldwide) |
| Platform Availability | Android, iOS | Android, iOS, Web, Desktop |
| Privacy Focus | Emphasizes local data storage and privacy | End-to-end encryption shares metadata with Meta |
| Audio/Video Calls | Supports both; quality may vary | High-quality calls with global reliability |
| Chat Features | Basic messaging, stickers, media sharing | Advanced features like reactions, polls, broadcast lists |
| Group Chats | Supports group chats | Supports large groups with admin controls |
| File Sharing | Allows media and document sharing | Supports various file types with larger limits |
| 🇮🇳 Regional Relevance | Tailored for Indian users | Global user base with wide adoption |
| Notification Control | Basic controls | Granular notification and mute settings |
| Data Hosting | Claims India-based data servers | Data hosted globally across Meta’s infrastructure |
| Monetization | No ads or monetization model yet | Integrated with Meta’s business ecosystem |
| User Base | Growing, mostly regional | Billions of users worldwide |
Arattai vs WhatsApp: What Else Is New?
Here are some advanced and unique features that you should know about them.
1. Meetings:
On Arattai, Meetings work like Google Meet or Zoom. And its working is very easy; simply start it. After that, if you are willing to organize or join the meetings, you can effortlessly do it as per your requirement. On the contrary note, WhatsApp just has a feature to arrange a video call on WhatsApp. However, there is no scheduling feature.
What’s New: Meeting is a new feature that has the main focus on structured and professional calls.
2. Pocket:
Users can easily save their notes, videos, photos, and reminders by using the Pocket, a private storage space. It plays the role of a personal cloud, which saves and manages all necessary information. On the contrary note, WhatsApp offers you the Chat With Yourself feature. It works the same as the standard chat.
What’s New: Pocket is a robust and integrated personal storage tool.
3. User Mentions:
You can easily tag someone, even in a group chat, channel, or one-to-one, in Arattai, to make the conversation easier by going to the Mentions Tab. Meanwhile, WhatsApp allows you to mention only in a group. The tagged message will distinctly notify you even if you have muted the group chat.
What’s New: The mention feature of Arratai is the latest organizational tool that helps individuals to know that someone has mentioned them.
4. Advertisements:
Arattai is an ad-free messaging app. It is ad-free and commits to no user-data monetization, storing data on India-based servers. WhatsApp has introduced ads under the ‘Updates’ tab and integrates with Meta’s business ecosystem.
What’s New: Arattai has the commitment that users will experience ad-free content in comparison to WhatsApp.
5. AI Integration:
Arattai currently has no AI features, focusing on simplicity. WhatsApp integrates Meta AI’s chatbot directly into chats for on-demand assistance.
What’s New: Arattai has decided till now that they will not include AI, which helps users to offer them less personalized content.
6. Cross-Device Use:
You can easily use Arattai on Android TV, which makes users feel that whenever they want to access the app, they just turn on the TV. Additionally, Arattai supports multiple devices as well. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is not compatible with any smart TV. Users can only use it on desktop, Android, iPhone, Mac, Linux, and web.
What’s New: The introduction of cross-device use, especially Android TV, has made it a versatile option for users.
7. Accessibility:
Arattai is designed in a way that any older models can easily be worked on. It means if you are using any older networks, such as 2G or 3G, you can effortlessly use Arattai. In the contrast to it, WhatsApp requires a stable internet connection that can only work. Even so, it consumes a lot of data and system resources. There are high chance that the older devices may not work properly.
What’s New: The main focus of Arattai is to make the app for most Indian users.
8. End-to-end Encryption:
Right now, Arattai only offers an additional protection layer for voice and video calls. However, it doesn’t have encrypted text messages. On the other hand, WhatsApp allows users to do messages, calls, and media whenever they want because all of its data are protected.
What’s New: Currently, Arattai is lacking the end-to-end encryption feature in its text messages.
How to Choose: Key Factors for Picking Arattai or WhatsApp
Having confusion about which one is better? Check out the below-mentioned factors. It will help you to pick the best.
Remember these factors if you are willing to choose Arattai.
- Accessibility: If you are in rural areas and using low-end devices, use Arattai.
- Regional Focus: You must be in India and prefer local and regional languages.
- Ad-Free Experience: Looking for ad-free apps? Arattai is the best choice for you.
- Local Data Storage: If you are more concerned about your data, which should be stored in India, opt for Arattai.
- Unique Features: Users want to explore advanced features, such as being accessible on Android TV, Pocket as a personal storage, or meetings scheduling.
If you are willing to pick WhatsApp, you need to know these factors.
- Comprehensive Security: Users want all their data, like calls, messages, and pictures, to be safe and protected.
- Global Network: Want to connect with international users? Use WhatsApp.
- Robust Business Tools: If you want the advanced features, such as communications and payments, which would be beneficial for your business, opt for WhatsApp.
- Larger Group Chats: You can easily add 1024 members to your group by using WhatsApp.
Head-to-Head: Arattai vs WhatsApp—Which One Suits You?
It is a little bit challenging to know which one is better. However, both applications excel in their own field. Let’s dive in to understand which one is better in which form.
On the Privacy and Security Basis:
- WhatsApp offers you a fully encrypted mode, which protects all your data.
- Arattai saves all your data within the servers of India. In addition, voice and video calls are also fully protected.
On the Features and Performance Basis:
- If you are living in rural areas and have a poor or slower internet connection, use Arattai.
- Arattai provides you with additional and unique features that WhatsApp doesn’t have.
- WhatsApp integrates with Meta AI to offer you more personalized content according to the user’s demand.
- Arattai works on Android TV, which WhatsApp doesn’t.
On the User Base and Network Effect Basis:
- Over 3 billion users are using WhatsApp on a monthly basis.
So, the choice is yours. We’ve provided you with which application is better on a particular basis.
Future Roadmap: Upcoming Updates for Arattai and WhatsApp
Here are the future developments that you should see for both the Arattai and WhatsApp applications.
Future Updates and Development of Arattai:
Being a new, India-based challenger, Zoho-based Arattai is keen on developing a complete feature-based platform, scaling its service, and establishing itself as a more privacy-centric option.
- Use complete end-to-end message encryption. One of the first things to be considered is the need to implement a strong end-to-end encryption of text messages to make it comparable to WhatsApp. It is only its voice and video calls that have this feature at present.
- Infrastructure to accommodate a huge expansion. The company is desperately adding servers in response to demand and to address early lag and OTP delivery problems after a recent 100x user surge in India.
- Expand features beyond chat. In order to survive in the competitive market, Arattai will incorporate other services such as UPI payments and the Open Network to Digital Commerce (ONDC).
- Retain its Made-in-India status. As the government ministers recently endorsed it, Arattai is likely to keep centering its appeal on domestic roots. In addition, it is targeting users who are worried about data sovereignty.
Future Updates and Development of WhatsApp:
WhatsApp is prioritizing further integration with the AI capabilities of Meta and cross-platform functionality to make their massive user base remain active.
- Expand Meta AI integration. The additional features of AI could be offered to users, including a sophisticated chat theme, AI-generated profile pictures, an autosampler, and video backgrounds. An easier-to-reach Meta AI chatbot icon was also added in the primary chat tab.
- Enhance calling features. The latest beta releases and features include a centralized call hub to make it easier to access all features related to calls and better technology to make video calls more comfortable and better.
- Integrate real-time message translations. WhatsApp is using the advanced technology where users can easily translate the text into their own language.
- Refine the user interface. A current redesign initiative consists of various developments, such as:
- Adding tabs at the bottom of the screen on Android,
- Allows users to use the dark mode darker,
- And adding more differentiated branding colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here, we would like to cover some extra queries that will be beneficial for you when you are diving into the details of the difference between Arattai and WhatsApp.
Q1. Is Arattai better than WhatsApp?
Ans. NO! Arattai is not better than WhatsApp. However, Arattai is best for low-network areas and is lightweight, but WhatsApp is mostly used globally and is reliable.
Q2. Is the Arattai app end-to-end encrypted?
Ans. Right now, Arattai is not completely end-to-end encrypted. In short, its videos and voice calls are encrypted only.
Q3. What’s the most secure chatting app?
Ans. WhatsApp is considered as the most secure chatting application. However, this social media app is fully encrypted from its text messages to its video calls.
Q4. Which Zoho app is like WhatsApp?
Ans. Nowadays, Arattai has become one of the competitors of WhatsApp. As a result, this chatting app offers you various features, such as a Pocket, a Meeting, as well as Mentions.
Conclusion
So, if you have any confusion regarding which chatting platform is the best for you, we are here to listen and understand your queries. Arratai offers you various production tools. On the other hand, WhatsApp integrates with Meta AI. Beyond that, Arratai is one of the most comprehensive apps for those users who are still using 2G or 3G. On the contrary note, WhatsApp needs a stable and up-to-date network to work properly.
In the end, it totally depends upon you which platform you are going to pick, but make sure to choose the appropriate one according to your needs.
