# WhatsApp vs Plato

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp | Plato |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp/id310633997/reviews) | **[4.7 (289K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plato-fun-multiplayer-games/id1054747306/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 289K |
| Positive reviews | **50.4% of reviews** | 41.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | #53 |
| Size | 392 MB | 328 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Plato Team Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054747305) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp

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

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Social Networking, #14 Top Free, #40 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

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:** 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


### Plato

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plato-fun-multiplayer-games/id1054747306)

**Currently charting:** #53 Top Free · Social Networking, #143 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1,000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Pips | $0.99 | one-time |
| Welcome to Plato Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| One-Time Special Offer | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5,500 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 50 Pips | $4.99 | one-time |
| 12,500 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 100 Pips | $9.99 | one-time |
| 35,000 Coins | $24.99 | one-time |
| 200,000 Coins | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


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