# WhatsApp Messenger vs Google Meet

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Meet at none against WhatsApp Messenger's 11. Google Meet also leads on ads (none vs shown). WhatsApp Messenger's advantage is ratings volume (19M vs 2.3M) and chart position (#2 vs #12). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhatsApp Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month. Google Meet asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for WhatsApp Messenger against 4.8 for Google Meet. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp Messenger has 19M ratings behind it against 2.3M, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of WhatsApp Messenger's written reviews are positive against 45% of Google Meet's.

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, Google Meet weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp Messenger | Google Meet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-meet/id1096918571/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 2.3M |
| Positive reviews | **50.4% of reviews** | 45.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | #12 |
| Size | 398 MB | 612 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Google LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Social Networking, #28 Top Free, #48 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

This app offers free private messaging and high-quality voice/video calls for groups of up to 32 people. It ensures your conversations are secure with end-to-end encryption and works across multiple devices, even on slow connections.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted messaging, High-quality voice and video calls, Group chats and calls, Cross-device compatibility, 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


### Google Meet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-meet/id1096918571)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Free · Social Networking, #171 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with friends, family, and colleagues through high-quality video calls and meetings. Schedule calls, send video messages, or join spontaneous conversations with features like real-time translated captions and in-call chat.

**Highlights:** High-quality video and audio, Real-time translated captions, In-call chat and emojis, Screen sharing, Stackable effects for fun calls, On-the-go audio-only mode

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 High-quality video and audio
- 💡 Cross-platform compatibility
- 🤝 Allows communication with non-iPhone users
- 😊 Overall positive experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent freezing and disconnections
- 🔋 High battery drain
- 🔇 Audio issues like echoes and delays
- 📵 Inability to use without a phone number
- 🤔 Confusing UI and limited features compared to competitors

**Reported bugs**

- Video freezes when moving away from WiFi
- Inability to answer calls or end them properly
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

**Requested features**

- Add screen sharing capability
- Implement group chat and texting features
- Allow customization of user profiles and group chats
- Improve compatibility with older devices and operating systems


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp Messenger free?

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

### Is Google Meet free?

Google Meet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, WhatsApp Messenger or Google Meet?

Google Meet is rated higher. WhatsApp Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Google Meet averages 4.8 from 2.3M ratings.

### Do WhatsApp Messenger or Google Meet have ads?

WhatsApp Messenger shows ads; Google Meet does not.

### Which is updated more often, WhatsApp Messenger or Google Meet?

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, and Google Meet weekly. Most recently, WhatsApp Messenger was updated on October 31, 2026 and Google Meet on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, WhatsApp Messenger or Google Meet?

WhatsApp Messenger currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and Google Meet at #12. 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.*