1. Overview

Arattai:
Developed by Zoho Corporation, Arattai is a made-in-India chat app designed with privacy and simplicity in mind. It offers fast, secure messaging and is gaining popularity for being an Indian alternative to WhatsApp.

WhatsApp:
Owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), WhatsApp is the world’s most-used messaging platform. It combines messaging, voice, and video calls with a large global user base.

2. User Interface & Experience

• Arattai: Clean, simple, and light. It loads quickly even on low-end phones and uses minimal storage.
• WhatsApp: Familiar and user-friendly, but slightly heavier due to added features like Channels and Communities.

Verdict:
For smooth and fast performance, Arattai takes the lead. For feature-rich interaction, WhatsApp wins.

3. Privacy & Security

• Arattai: Emphasizes data privacy; user data is stored within India. It uses end-to-end encryption for chats and doesn’t show ads.
• WhatsApp: Also uses end-to-end encryption but shares certain metadata with Meta companies for service improvement.

Verdict:
If privacy is your top priority, Arattai is the better choice
Features: 

Verdict:
WhatsApp offers more advanced features like Channels and international connectivity, while Arattai keeps things simple and secure.

5. Data Storage & Backup

• Arattai: Stores data on Zoho’s Indian servers, respecting data localization laws.
• WhatsApp: Stores backups on external drives (Google Drive or iCloud), which may not always be encrypted.

Verdict:
For data sovereignty and local storage, Arattai stands out.

6. Business Use

• Arattai: Currently focused on personal and small group communication.
• WhatsApp: Widely used by businesses through WhatsApp Business, offering catalogs, quick replies, and verified accounts.

Verdict:
For businesses, WhatsApp remains more versatile.

7. Overall Performance

Final Verdict

If you value privacy, simplicity, and made-in-India innovation, Arattai is a great choice.
If you need global connectivity, advanced features, and business tools, WhatsApp still leads.