WhatsApp is one of the three most popular messengers in Russia, along with Telegram and Viber. Thanks to its simple and convenient interface, WhatsApp is used by people of different ages. In addition to personal chats, the messenger allows you to make calls and communicate in group chats. Some companies use it as a business tool, for example, to correspond and receive orders from customers.
However, in 2025, many began to look for an analogue of WhatsApp. Why and what alternatives there are today, we will tell you in our article.
Why You Should Look for an Alternative to WhatsApp
Many people started looking for a replacement for their usual messenger for several reasons, including insufficient functionality and spam calls/spam messages. But the main problem with WhatsApp, despite the presence of end-to-end encryption, is data security and its illegal use. One can recall the infamous Pegasus spyware attack or the leak of a database with numbers of 500 million WhatsApp users, which hackers put up for sale. In addition, the messenger was often accused of spreading fake news and disinformation.
WhatsApp belongs to the American company Meta* (recognized as an extremist organization in the Russian Federation and banned) and is included by Roskomnadzor in the "black list" of messengers through which it is forbidden to transfer payment documents, personal data of Russian citizens, as well as information about their accounts and deposits, data on money transfers and other information necessary for payments. Along with WhatsApp, the Roskomnadzor registry includes messengers such as Viber, Skype, and Telegram, which store user data abroad and are controlled by foreign companies.
A bill is currently under consideration, according to which there will be a fine for sending legally significant data through foreign messengers. For officials, the fine will be from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles, for legal entities - from 100,000 to 700,000 rubles. However, it is worth emphasizing here that the fines will only apply to financial organizations and government agencies. Ordinary citizens who use the messenger for personal purposes will not be fined for now.
Naturally, such changes in the legislation prompted many to look for a Russian analogue of WhatsApp, which would have similar functionality, but at the same time comply with the norms of Russian legislation and be safer in terms of personal data.
What to Replace WhatsApp with in Russia: List of Solutions
Let's consider 4 WhatsApp analogues that can replace the familiar but unsafe messenger. They are as follows:
- eXpress
- Yandex.Messenger
- TamTam
- VK Messenger
eXpress
The eXpress messenger, developed by the Russian company Unlimited Production, is a communication platform that offers users a wide range of features (instant messaging and file exchange, audio and video calls, chats, channels, address book, tags, threads, etc.). eXpress can be used for both personal and corporate communication (see differences between the capabilities of users of the public and corporate versions). The platform offers multi-layer data encryption, which ensures that all conversations remain secure and confidential, three-factor authentication, and "secret" chats. For corporate users, there is the option of deployment on the company's servers (on-premise).
The messenger is a domestic analogue of WhatsApp and will be an excellent option for those who need a convenient tool for corporate communication and work in one application.
Yandex.Messenger
Yandex.Messenger is a popular instant messaging app developed by the Russian tech giant Yandex. It allows you to send text messages, make voice and video calls, share photos and files, create and subscribe to channels. The app has a convenient and simple interface that is easy to navigate. There is functionality for companies - workspaces for employee communication, an address book, chat bots. Correspondence is stored in encrypted form on Yandex servers.
TamTam
TamTam is a messaging app developed by the Russian Internet company Mail.Ru Group based on the OK Messages app. TamTam offers personal and group chats, channels, voice and video calls, file and sticker sharing. The app features stable operation with a weak Internet connection, the ability to send messages offline (in this case, messages will be sent automatically when connected to the Internet). You can log in to TamTam using your Odnoklassniki and VKontakte accounts.
VK Messenger
The VK Messenger app was first launched in 2016 as the official messenger of the VKontakte social network. With its simple interface, VK Messenger is a popular app for messaging, voice and video calls, and sharing media content. In addition, companies can use the platform to communicate with customers.
VK Messenger, which is considered the most popular among Russian schoolchildren, has an educational profile called "Sferum" for students, teachers, and parents. Now homework and messages about parent-teacher meetings can be received in the Russian messenger. Also, users of the educational profile "Sferum" in VK Messenger have the ability to transfer contacts from WhatsApp chats.
Choose the best messenger as an alternative to WhatsApp and communicate safely!
