# WhatsApp Messenger vs Send Safe Message

The clearest difference is rating: WhatsApp Messenger at 4.7 against Send Safe Message's 4.0. WhatsApp Messenger also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (19M vs 97). Send Safe Message's advantage is review sentiment (64% vs 51%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhatsApp Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and Send Safe Message sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WhatsApp Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp Messenger has 19M ratings behind it against 97, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of WhatsApp Messenger's written reviews are positive against 64% of Send Safe Message's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, Send Safe Message every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp Messenger | Send Safe Message |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997/reviews)** | [4.0 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/send-safe-message/id1028884741/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 97 |
| Positive reviews | 50.5% of reviews | **64.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 392 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [qaqee Tecnologia da informacao](https://appshunter.io/developer/863410441) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Social Networking, #16 Top Free, #38 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family globally through private messaging and high-quality calls. Share moments, documents, and stay in touch across devices, even on slow connections. Your conversations are secured with end-to-end encryption.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messaging, High-quality voice and video calls, Group chats and calls, Cross-device connectivity, Status updates, Location sharing

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No ads (1 account) | $4.00 | per month |
| No ads (4 accounts) | $21.99 | per month |
| No ads (5 accounts) | $26.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great communication tool
- 🌍 Connects people globally
- 🔒 Secure and private messaging
- 📱 Versatile features (calls, video, groups)
- 🆓 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (freezing, crashing, notification issues)
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data sharing
- 🙈 Lack of customization and control (status, groups)
- 📤 Backup and restore issues
- 🚫 Arbitrary account bans

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing and crashing issues
- Notification problems (missing, delayed)
- Backup and restore failures
- Arbitrary account bans with poor support

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve group management features
- Allow more customization of status and notifications
- Enhance backup and restore functionality
- Provide better customer support and appeal process


### Send Safe Message

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/send-safe-message/id1028884741)

Send private text and picture messages that automatically disappear after being viewed once. This encrypted messaging tool works across various platforms without requiring recipients to install anything.

**Highlights:** Self-destructing messages after one view, Send text and pictures, No recipient installation needed, Industry-standard encryption, Messages erased after weeks if not seen, Optional local message erasure

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Custom intro and no ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp Messenger free?

WhatsApp Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Send Safe Message free?

Send Safe Message is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, WhatsApp Messenger or Send Safe Message?

WhatsApp Messenger is rated higher. WhatsApp Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Send Safe Message averages 4.0 from 97 ratings.

### Do WhatsApp Messenger or Send Safe Message have ads?

Both WhatsApp Messenger and Send Safe Message show ads.

### Which is updated more often, WhatsApp Messenger or Send Safe Message?

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, and Send Safe Message every 8 months. Most recently, WhatsApp Messenger was updated on October 24, 2026 and Send Safe Message on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*