In a notable shift within the Indian messaging landscape, the Arattai app, developed by the Indian multinational technology company Zoho, is emerging as a formidable contender against the widely popular WhatsApp. Launched in 2021, Arattai has recently experienced a remarkable surge in user engagement, attributed to endorsements from the Indian government, a vibrant social media presence, and its identity as a homegrown application.
A New Competitor For WhatsApp
The app’s ascent is underscored by an astonishing 100-fold increase in user sign-ups, as well as heightened traffic on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. While WhatsApp and Arattai share the common objective of facilitating connections among friends and professionals, they diverge in several key areas, particularly regarding features and privacy policies.
Examining the distinctions between Arattai and WhatsApp reveals how the former is carving out its niche in a crowded marketplace.
Difference Between Arattai And WhatsApp
Both applications encompass the essential messaging functionalities, such as text messaging, media sharing, voice notes, and voice and video calls. However, Arattai distinguishes itself with several innovative features:
- Multi-Device Access: Arattai allows users to connect across multiple devices, including Android TVs, which is not currently supported by WhatsApp. Users can maintain their accounts on up to five devices simultaneously.
- Channels and Stories: The app integrates social media elements by offering stories and broadcast-style channels, akin to WhatsApp’s Status and Channels features.
- Pocket Feature: Arattai introduces a dedicated self-chat space for users to organize photos, videos, notes, and reminders. Additionally, it features a “Meetings” tab for scheduling video calls, a functionality that WhatsApp lacks, although it does provide a ‘You’ chat window for personal media storage.
- Accessibility: Designed to be lightweight, Arattai operates efficiently on low-memory smartphones and older 2G/3G networks, making it more accessible to rural users and those with budget-friendly devices. In contrast, WhatsApp tends to consume more data and system resources.
Moreover, Arattai is entirely free to use, as Zoho has positioned it as a freeware, cross-platform application, with a commitment to keeping it ad-free. The company has also pledged not to utilize personal data for targeted advertising, setting it apart from Meta’s approach of integrating ads into its ecosystem.
