Comparison

WhatsApp vs Plato

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

WhatsApp

Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Organize groups, share moments, and make plans with features like polls and live location sharing. Enjoy private conversations with end-to-end encryption across multiple devices.

Highlights
  • Group messaging and calling
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Live location sharing
  • Polls for decision making
  • HD photo and video sharing
  • Disappearing messages
  • Cross-device compatibility
Features
Read full description

Bring your group together on WhatsApp. WhatsApp from Meta is a free messaging and calling app for the people and groups in your life. Bring your best friends, parent group, study group, or neighborhood together to chat, make plans, and share moments. Get everyone into the conversation Invite people with a link or QR code. Names and profile photos help you know who's who, and shared message history helps new members catch up. Make plans together Create events and track RSVPs. Use polls to choose a date or make a decision. Share your live location to find each other, and send documents up to 2GB. Keep your group organized Pin important messages. Admins can approve requests to join, and set group permissions. Have several related groups? Bring their chats and announcements together in a Community. Share more than messages Send HD photos and videos, voice messages, and short video notes. Make conversations your own with custom stickers, reactions, GIFs, and chat colors and backgrounds. Share everyday moments through Status-updates that disappear after 24 hours. Get together on a call Make unlimited voice and video calls with up to 32 people, with screen sharing, effects, and reactions. Speak freely Your personal messages and calls—including group chats and calls—stay private with end-to-end encryption. Not even WhatsApp can read or listen to them. Turn on disappearing messages to choose when your messages disappear. WhatsApp works on your phone, computer, tablet, and supported watch, including on slower connections. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any feedback or questions, please go to WhatsApp > Settings > Help > Contact Us Terms of Service: https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/terms-of-service Learn more about messaging privately: https://www.whatsapp.com/privacy Learn more about WhatsApp safety: https://www.whatsapp.com/security

About

Plato

Engage in over 50 multiplayer games and chat with friends, all within a single app. Enjoy a personalized experience with a focus on privacy and uninterrupted, ad-free fun. Compete in ranked matches or casual games to connect with a global community.

Highlights
  • Over 50 multiplayer games
  • Integrated chat and voice chat
  • Ad-free gaming experience
  • Profile and chat personalization
  • Competitive ranked games
  • Player-run tournaments
  • Privacy-focused data collection
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Plato, where gaming meets chatting in the most epic way possible. Immerse yourself in over 50 amazing multiplayer games that don't suck and are deeply integrated with chat, so you can play and connect with friends old and new. Why You'll Love Plato: ● Games Galore: With 50 top-tier multiplayer games like Ocho (Crazy Eights), Pool, and Bowling, there's always something fun to play. Whether you're into strategy, sports, or classic board games, we've got you covered. ● Ad-Free Fun: Say goodbye to annoying ads and pay-to-win schemes with free games. Plato is all about pure, uninterrupted fun. ● Privacy First: We don't collect unnecessary data, so you can game and chat with peace of mind. ● Personalization Paradise: Personalize your profile, group chat themes, and game experiences to make Plato truly yours. ● Play with Friends: Play group chat games with Plato—it's a fully fledged messenger. Engage in group chats, chat rooms, and even voice chat for the ultimate social experience. ● Get Competitive: From competitive ranked games to player-run tournaments, there's always a chance to prove you're the best. Climb the leaderboards and earn bragging rights among your friends. Games You Can't Miss: ● Classics: Checkers, Chess, Backgammon, Dice Party, Dominoes, Four in a Row ● Card Games: Baloot, Hold'em Poker, Spades, Gin Rummy, Hearts, Go Fish ● Board & Party Games: Ludo, Bingo, Dots & Boxes, Bankroll, Werewolf (Mafia) ● Sports & Action: Archery, Bounce, Basketball, Bowling, Cup Pong, Darts, Mini Golf, Table Soccer ● Puzzles & Strategy: Minesweepers, Wordbox, Go, Literati, Mancala, Dots & Boxes ● Plato Originals: Match Monsters, Brawlbots, Plox, Blitz League Join millions of players around the world who have made Plato their go-to app for gaming and chatting. Download Plato today and experience the ultimate fusion of fun and friendship in online games! Have a question? E-mail us at hello@platoapp.com, we’d love to hear from you.

Screenshots

WhatsApp4 screens
Plato4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Plato at none against WhatsApp's shown. Plato also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). WhatsApp's advantage is ratings volume (19M vs 289K) and chart position (#2 vs #53). On price, rating, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. WhatsApp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and Plato sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for WhatsApp against 4.7 for Plato. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp has 19M ratings behind it against 289K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of WhatsApp's written reviews are positive against 41% of Plato's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, Plato every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
WhatsApp versus Plato: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhatsAppPlato
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (19M ratings)4.7 (289K ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.4% of reviews — better41.4% of reviews
Number of ratings19M — better289K
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 8 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#2 — better#53
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size392 MB328 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperWhatsApp Inc.Plato Team Inc

Customer experience

WhatsApp

All ratings18,930,169 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews17,534 reviews
Positive50.4%
Neutral8.2%
Negative41.4%

Plato

All ratings288,369 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews1,448 reviews
Positive41.4%
Neutral12.6%
Negative45.9%

User reviews

WhatsApp

From 19M App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Plato

From 289K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great game selection
  • 🤝 Ability to play with friends
  • 💰 Free to play with no ads
  • 🕹️ Fun and engaging gameplay
  • 🌐 Connects players globally

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
  • 🕰️ Long wait times to join games
  • 🚫 Lack of moderation leads to toxic behavior
  • 🔍 Difficulty finding games with preferred language
  • 🔒 Inability to leave certain games or chat rooms

Bugs and requests

WhatsApp

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Plato

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Games disappearing from queue
  • Inaccurate scoring and game mechanics
  • Persistent connection issues and server problems
  • Profile picture restrictions and glitches
  • Inability to report or remove disruptive players

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more game modes and genres
  • Improve matchmaking and game lobbies
  • Implement better moderation tools
  • Add language filters and translation features
  • Allow users to create and manage their own chat rooms

In-app purchases

3 purchases

WhatsApp

Subscriptions3
  • No ads (1 account)$4.001 Month
  • No ads (4 accounts)5 variants$21.991 Month
  • No ads (5 accounts)4 variants$26.991 Month
10 purchases

Plato

One-time10
  • 1,000 Coins$0.99
  • 10 Pips$0.99
  • Welcome to Plato Pack$3.99
Show 7 more
  • One-Time Special Offer$4.99
  • 5,500 Coins$4.99
  • 50 Pips$4.99
  • 12,500 Coins$9.99
  • 100 Pips$9.99
  • 35,000 Coins$24.99
  • 200,000 Coins$99.99

Questions

Is WhatsApp free?
WhatsApp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Plato free?
Plato is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, WhatsApp or Plato?
Plato is rated higher. WhatsApp averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Plato averages 4.7 from 289K ratings.
Do WhatsApp or Plato have ads?
WhatsApp shows ads; Plato does not.
Which is updated more often, WhatsApp or Plato?
WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, and Plato every 8 days. Most recently, WhatsApp was updated on November 10, 2026 and Plato on November 10, 2026.
Which is more popular, WhatsApp or Plato?
WhatsApp currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and Plato at #53. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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