The thing I expected the National Testing Agency (NTA) to do amidst the NEET Paper Leaks and re-examination controversies was to temporarily ban the messaging platform used in the said leaks. It doesn’t really do anything to prevent further leaks from happening because the perpetrators can move to other platforms but that’s not what I am here to discuss. If you are a Telegram user, you are losing the access and freedom to chat with your friends and family so here are 5 alternative messaging platforms you can explore to not miss out on your conversations.
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Signal has been the gold standard for private messaging for a really long time. Built by a non-profit, it uses end-to-end encryption for all messages, calls, and file transfers by default. There are no ads, no trackers, and no data collection beyond your phone number. It supports disappearing messages, group chats, voice and video calls, and even doubles as your default SMS app on Android. Signal’s open-source protocol is so trusted that it powers the encryption inside WhatsApp and Google Messages. If privacy is your top concern, Signal is where you start.
Session takes Signal’s privacy ethos and goes further by removing the phone number requirement entirely. Sign up anonymously, no email, no number, no identity. It runs on a decentralised network of nodes instead of central servers, making it far harder to monitor or shut down. Messages are end-to-end encrypted, and the app supports group chats, voice messages, and file sharing. Session is the app for users who want to communicate with as little of a digital footprint as possible, without compromising on a clean, functional interface.
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Arratai is the Indian native alternative that is built by Zoho, one of India’s most established software companies, Arattai is a homegrown messaging app designed for exactly this moment. It covers all the essentials: text and voice messages, audio and video calls, stories, channels, and group chats, with end-to-end encryption on direct messages and calls. You can even import your WhatsApp group chats directly into the app. Arattai supports up to five devices simultaneously and is free to use. It is the most culturally relevant Telegram alternative on this list for Indian users who want to keep things local.
X’s direct messaging feature is already built into an app most of us use daily. You can message individuals or create group DMs, send photos, videos, voice notes, and GIFs. With a Premium subscription, you get expanded group sizes and additional features. It is not a dedicated messaging app and lacks end-to-end encryption by default, so it is best for informal chats rather than sensitive conversations. Think of it as a stopgap rather than a Telegram replacement.
Bitchat is unlike anything else on this list. It is a decentralised, peer-to-peer messaging app that runs entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks, with no internet connection, no servers, and no phone number required. Each device on the network acts as both client and relay, extending reach across multiple hops. This makes it uniquely resistant to censorship, surveillance, and infrastructure outages. Its code is fully open-source and in the public domain. For situations where the internet itself goes down, Bitchat keeps the conversation alive.
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