Allo looks way more interesting than WhatsApp, there many similarities between the two. Like WhatsApp, Allo too requires your phone number to activate the app. This means that you cannot use the same Allo account on two different phones. Both can be used to share images, videos, voice messages and stickers.
The biggest difference is the smart AI in Allo. While WhatsApp is a simple-looking app with basic features, Allo allows you to do lot more than just chat. The Google Assistant support in Allo lets you search hotels, flights, movie halls and lot of other things directly from the app.
Google Allo has different new features which makes it stand out different from WhatsApp:
- The Google Assistant
The reason why this app is like having your own personal assistant is because it is one, albeit virtual of course. Although WhatsApp has unique features of sending across a location, file, picture, audio recording and so on- these are all saved files that are being shared via the app, which makes communication so much closer. However, where Allo differs is that you could be wondering about the travel time to a certain place, or the best available flights to a certain destination or discounts on hotels and all you have to do is type in @google followed your question or order. Next thing you know, it will be providing you with all the details, accompanied by a series of pictures wherever available.
Same feature also available with In-message searches. That means while chatting with you buddy, you can search your favourite music or any other thing, by typing @google followed by your query.
- Automatic Responses
The app can provide automatic responses to messages on behalf of the user. It does this through a software that contains machine-learning technology, which gets better at picking up the user’s most frequently used responses with increased usage of the app. For instance if someone sends you a ‘How are you?’, the app will offer you the automatic response of ‘Good, how about you’ that you can send across. It may seem impersonal at first but it builds up with greater use and is definitely convenient for those who are on the run and are too busy to type out a response.
- Picture Recognition
Google has incorporated ‘photo recognition’ in this app, making it possible for it to recognize a received picture and suggest an automatic response. For example, if someone sends you a picture of a sunset, it will suggest ‘beautiful’ or ‘wow’ as a response, depending on your maximum usage of either, from which you can choose the more applicable one and send it across.
- Selective end to end encryption
While both Whatsapp and Allo offer end to end encryption for chats, the latter allows for ‘selective end to end encryption’, which means that you can select the contact you want to chat with in incognito mode, through its ‘Incognito Chat’ option. Along with this, the chat history will disappear after you have finished the talk, depending on the expiration period you have set. In case, you have switched off your expiration period, the chats won’t disappear.
- Text formatting and more advanced features
Google Allo allows you to format your text and send across larger and smaller font sizes of text messages, allowing you to increase or decrease the text size by sliding the send button up and down respectively, a feature that Whatsapp does not allow. It also has a wider array of sticker-collection and even allows the user to scribble on pictures before sending it across.
- It’s got the Google brand tagline
Of course, WhatsApp has been acquired by Facebook, but Google Allo is a pure Google creation. The intention behind not incorporating features like direct calling or video calls is to redirect users to other Google apps like Duo and Hangouts. It has the power of the sworn-by ‘google search’ both inside and outside a chat-box and also makes communication easier and much more secure for the user.
- Send text messages from internet by SMS to certain users.
You can send text messages to certain users, but the good point is you won’t be charged a penny for that. Similar to like way2sms like websites, you can send message to user which they will recieve as SMS.
- Incognito Chat
While both apps assure end-to- end encryption for the chats, Allo allows selective end-to-end encrypted chats, which means through its Incognito chat mode you can select the contact you wish to chat with in incognito mode. This chat will be encrypted as well as the chat history will disappear after you have finished the talk when you have set an expiration period. You can set your expiration period for the chats, ranging from 5 seconds to maximum one week. The chat will expire once the conversation is over. In case, you have switched off your expiration period, the chats won’t disappear.
What Allo Lacks when compared with Whatsapp?
- Calls
- Last Seen, Status and Read Receipts Control
- Share Files and Text Formatting
- GIF support
- Desktop Clients
- User Interface
What Whatsapp Lacks when compared with Allo:
- Smart Reply
- Google Assistant
- Incognito Chat
- Express yourself with photos, emojis and stickers
