Choosing a Messaging App: A Critical Guide for Indian Users

Sep 30, 2025

In a digital age where communication happens in seconds, the choice of a messaging app is more than convenience - it's about privacy, control, and security. For Indian users, this choice requires clear-eyed examination beyond catchy slogans and glossy marketing. The question is simple yet complex: Which app truly respects your private conversations?

Understanding what privacy means here is essential. Encryption is often touted as the gold standard. But what does it mean in practice? Encryption should ensure that only the sender and receiver can read your messages, with no backdoors for corporations or governments. An app like Signal does this by encrypting every message and call, and storing minimal data about you. This contrasts with apps that may protect message content but collect metadata - the who, when, and where of your communication - that can be equally revealing.

Data collection is not uniform across platforms. WhatsApp, for example, encrypts your chats end-to-end, but collects and shares significant metadata with its parent company Meta for advertising and other purposes. Arattai, the Indian homegrown contender, is transparent about its data use and shares minimal data, but only encrypts voice calls -not text messages yet. Each difference is meaningful.

Transparency around data is critical. Not just what is collected, but how it is used, shared, and protected. Can you access and control your information? Can you delete it? Are you informed proactively of changes to privacy policies? These are questions sometimes overlooked in the rush to switch apps.

Ownership and motivation matter. A non-profit app driven by privacy ideals will likely not turn around to commodify your data. Contrast that with for-profit giants whose business models may rely on leveraging your information. Understanding this helps you assess long-term trust.

Here are practical questions Indian users should ask before choosing,

Is every form of communication end-to-end encrypted by default?
What metadata is collected and retained, and for how long?
Can I access, correct, or delete my data easily?
How transparent is the company about data sharing, especially with governments?
What motivates the app's business model?
Has the app undergone independent security audits or made its code open-source?

Choosing wisely means resisting the herd mentality - the tendency to adopt an app simply because friends, family, or the majority are using it. While social influence is powerful and often drives app adoption, following the crowd without critical evaluation risks surrendering privacy and security to convenience. Instead, users should cultivate curiosity and skepticism, digging beneath surface-level popularity to question how well the app protects their conversations and metadata.

Privacy & Security Comparison Table

Feature/Aspect	Signal	WhatsApp	Arattai
End-to-end encryption	Yes, messages & calls by default	Yes, messages & calls by default (using Signal protocol)	Only calls encrypted currently
Metadata collection	Minimal; only phone number	Extensive metadata collection shared with Meta	Limited metadata; collects usage data, device info, contact list
Data sharing with government	Refuses backdoors; resists data requests	Complies with government data requests; shares metadata	Shares data with authorities as per legal requirements
Transparency & user control	Open-source code; user can control data	Closed-source; provides some user controls; policy complex	Privacy policy disclosed; user can access/modify personal data
Business model	Non-profit, privacy-first	For-profit, ad-driven by Meta ecosystem	Indian-owned, data not sold or traded

This isn't just about software - it's about digital rights, bodily autonomy manifest in code, and the kind of digital democracy India wants to build. Users hold power. By demanding strong privacy guarantees and transparent practices, you shape an ecosystem that respects privacy rather than erodes it. Choose your app not just as a tool, but as a statement of the kind of privacy you expect and deserve. The future of private communication in India depends on it.