WhatsApp ![Pachca](https://pachca.com/pachka-logo.svg) # Pachca: a WhatsApp\* alternative for business. > Looking to replace WhatsApp for work? Pachca is a Russian team chat app with scheduled messages, calls and threads, and no risk of being blocked. Источник: https://pachca.com/en/comparisons/whatsapp [Start for free](https://app.pachca.com/signup) WhatsApp is a personal messaging app that many companies use for work. But WhatsApp calls are increasingly blocked in Russia, and companies are looking for a replacement. Pachca is a Russian alternative to WhatsApp, built for teamwork. 1 ## One shared workspace for your team ![One shared workspace, a WhatsApp alternative for business in Russia](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a10f1e1abff2d8193b198_1 1.avif) Unlike WhatsApp, Pachca keeps all communication in one workspace that your team joins with an invite link. No outsiders get into your work chats. And you can message colleagues directly without saving them to your contacts. 2 ## A company directory with everyone's details ![Member directory in a team chat app](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a110350fd6fe251c9f903_2 1.avif) Pachca has a dedicated section with full details on every member: names, phone numbers, emails and any custom fields, including birthdays. That makes finding colleagues easy, so there's no more asking around for contact info for someone in another department. It also lets you quickly remove someone who's left or add a new hire to every chat they need at once with group [tags](https://pachca.com/en/help-center/administration/tags-team-members). In WhatsApp, you have to do all of this by hand. 3 ## Stronger security ![Data security in Pachca, a Russian WhatsApp alternative](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a111d2c8c7aa386b8e729_3 1.avif) Pachca puts you in control of security: active session and file management, user activity logs, 2FA, integrations with SIEM and DLP systems and much more. All of this greatly reduces the risk of data leaks and lost access. WhatsApp, by contrast, is a frequent target for leaks and scams. 4 ## Cross-chat threads ![Cross-chat threads in Pachca instead of WhatsApp for discussing tasks](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a119e632d64bd2b235f37_4 1.avif) [Threads](https://pachca.com/en/blog/chto-takoe-skvoznye-tredy-i-kak-ih-ispolzovat) are separate comment chains under each message. What makes cross-chat threads special: you can @mention any colleague in the company to give them access to the conversation. That keeps the discussion in one place, instead of forwarding messages back and forth like in WhatsApp. 5 ## Bots and a free API ![API and bots](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a122e2d29258bbeb548ea_5 1 (1).avif) Pachca has a flexible open API for automating all kinds of processes, from adding people to chats in bulk to building bots that connect to other services. For example, you can set up a bot that pings you whenever a task's status changes in your task tracker. WhatsApp has something similar, but you have to pay for it. 6 ## More you can do in chats ![Chat features](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a11ae7ea5406bb1602ea3_6 (1) 1.avif) Pachca has several features you won't find in WhatsApp: – Drafts that save every message you haven't finished – Scheduled messages – Custom statuses to show what you're up to, like “at work,” “on vacation” or anything else – Custom reactions: add your own GIFs or images 7 ## Fast support in Russian ![Support in Russian at Pachca](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a12c30a8a8d93f1cc269b_7 (3) 1.avif) Pachca offers free [support](https://telegram.me/pachca_team) in Russian. Our team usually replies within 10–15 minutes and works every day. In the support chat, you can do more than ask questions: you can help shape the product, since we add user suggestions to our roadmap. 8 ## Zero risk of being blocked ![Pachca won't be blocked: a risk-free WhatsApp replacement in Russia](https://pachca.com/assets/comparisons/687a13438c1c8626dc21d2ab_8 1.avif) Pachca is a fully Russian team chat app. We're listed in the Russian Software Registry and are an accredited IT company, so sanctions-related blocks won't affect us :) ## Replacing WhatsApp with Pachca: FAQ ### How does member management work in Pachca? Pachca has a dedicated [Members section](https://pachca.com/en/help-center/administration/user-management) with full details on everyone: phone numbers, emails, birthdays and custom fields. With [tags](https://pachca.com/en/help-center/administration/tags-team-members), you can group people by department, project or office. A new hire just needs the right tags to be added automatically to every relevant chat. WhatsApp has nothing like this: you have to add each person to each group by hand. ### Why are Pachca's cross-chat threads better than regular WhatsApp replies? In Pachca, [cross-chat threads](https://pachca.com/en/blog/chto-takoe-skvoznye-tredy-i-kak-ih-ispolzovat) are separate discussions under each message. The key difference from WhatsApp: you can @mention any colleague in a thread, and they get access to the conversation even if they're not in the chat. That keeps the discussion in one place, without forwarding messages back and forth. ### How is Pachca more secure than WhatsApp? Pachca offers active session management, user activity logs, two-factor authentication (2FA) and integrations with SIEM and DLP systems. All communication happens in a separate workspace that people join with an invite link. That keeps outsiders out and reduces the risk of leaks. Fraud and leaks are far more common in WhatsApp, since it's a personal messaging app without business-grade security tools. WhatsApp's servers also aren't located in Russia, which can cause availability and security issues. ### Does Pachca have an API for automation? Yes. Pachca's open API is available on every plan, including the free one. You can automate adding members, build bots and set up notifications from other systems (CRMs, task trackers and so on). WhatsApp has the WhatsApp Business API, but it's paid and takes extra setup. [Read the Pachca API docs](https://dev.pachca.com/). ### Could Pachca be blocked because of sanctions? No. Pachca is a fully Russian team chat app listed in the Russian Software Registry. We're an accredited IT company and aren't exposed to sanctions risk. WhatsApp is owned by Meta (designated an extremist organization in Russia), which creates certain risks for businesses that rely on it. ### What can replace WhatsApp calls for my team? Pachca supports voice and video calls in direct and group chats, with screen sharing. Group calls support up to 1,000 participants. It's a full replacement for WhatsApp calls for work meetings. ### How is Pachca different from WhatsApp? Pachca is a team chat app built for business. The key differences: one shared workspace just for your team, team management with tags, cross-chat threads and an open API. If you're looking for a WhatsApp alternative, Pachca covers everything your business needs in one product. ### Read our customer stories ![Lindaily](https://pachca.com/assets/cases/lindaily-cover.avif) #### [Lindaily](https://pachca.com/en/blog/customers/lindaily) How one of the largest textile companies moved from MS Teams to Pachca ![Lamoda](https://pachca.com/assets/cases/lamoda-cover.avif) #### [Lamoda](https://pachca.com/en/blog/customers/lamoda) How a top online marketplace moved 5,000+ employees to Pachca ![Team chat app comparison table](https://pachca.com/65ddbf0dc5c0b345894020e8_Frame 4.avif) ### Compare team chat apps Get a detailed, feature-by-feature comparison of popular team chat apps ### Put Pachca to work. Invite your team and start chatting. It's free. [Start for free](https://app.pachca.com/signup) \* Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook, Instagram) declared extremist and banned in Russia.