# WhatsApp Messenger vs FaceTime

The clearest difference is rating: WhatsApp Messenger at 4.7 against FaceTime's 4.2. WhatsApp Messenger also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (19M vs 27K). FaceTime's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). On price there is nothing between them.

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

WhatsApp Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp Messenger has 19M ratings behind it against 27K, so its average is the more settled of the two.

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, FaceTime every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp Messenger | FaceTime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997/reviews)** | [4.2 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/facetime/id1110145091/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 27K |
| Positive reviews | — | 40.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | — |
| Size | 384 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Apple Distribution International](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Social Networking, #18 Top Free, #25 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


### FaceTime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/facetime/id1110145091)

Connect with loved ones through high-quality audio and video calls. Share experiences like watching videos or listening to music together, collaborate on projects, and enhance your calls with fun effects and improved audio quality. Easily invite anyone to join, regardless of their device.

**Highlights:** Video and audio messaging, SharePlay for synced media, Screen sharing with remote control, Real-time document collaboration, Web link invitations for non-Apple users, Advanced mic modes and video effects, Seamless call handoff between devices

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Seamless and reliable video calling
- 🔍 Excellent audio and video quality
- 🤝 Great for staying connected with friends and family
- 🎨 Fun features like Animoji and Memoji
- 🌐 Compatibility with non-Apple devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent call drops and connection issues
- 🔇 Audio cutting out or not working
- 🔍 Blurry or low-quality video
- 🤯 Confusing UI changes and button placements
- 🔋 Phone overheating during calls

**Reported bugs**

- Calls not connecting or dropping unexpectedly
- Inability to mute or unmute during calls
- Duplicate participants in group calls
- Screen sharing not working as expected
- Automatic call receiving with speaker on

**Requested features**

- Add filters and fun effects
- Improve screen sharing functionality
- Implement a video voicemail feature
- Allow mirroring of asymmetric faces
- Provide an option to permanently display the camera button


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp Messenger free?

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

### Is FaceTime free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WhatsApp Messenger or FaceTime?

WhatsApp Messenger is rated higher. WhatsApp Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while FaceTime averages 4.2 from 27K ratings.

### Do WhatsApp Messenger or FaceTime have ads?

WhatsApp Messenger shows ads; FaceTime does not.

### Which is updated more often, WhatsApp Messenger or FaceTime?

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, and FaceTime every 6 months. Most recently, WhatsApp Messenger was updated on October 19, 2026 and FaceTime on October 18, 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.*