# WhatsApp Messenger vs Ant Messenger

The clearest difference is rating: WhatsApp Messenger at 4.7 against Ant Messenger's 3.4. WhatsApp Messenger also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (19M vs 39). Ant Messenger's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) 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. Ant Messenger asks for nothing beyond the download.

WhatsApp Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp Messenger has 19M ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of WhatsApp Messenger's written reviews are positive against 39% of Ant Messenger's.

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, Ant Messenger every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp Messenger | Ant Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997/reviews)** | [3.4 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ant-messenger/id1443543254/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 39 |
| Positive reviews | **50.4% of reviews** | 38.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 397 MB | 276 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Ant Messenger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1443543253) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #22 Top Free, #46 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends, family, and groups through messaging, voice, and video calls. Share moments, make plans with events and polls, and keep organized with pinned messages. Enjoy end-to-end encrypted conversations and share files up to 2GB.

**Highlights:** Group messaging and calling, End-to-end encryption, Live location sharing, Event creation and polls, HD photo and video sharing, Disappearing messages, Status updates

**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


### Ant Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ant-messenger/id1443543254)

This secure messaging app offers end-to-end encrypted chats and calls, prioritizing user privacy. It features self-destructing messages and robust security measures to protect your conversations from unauthorized access.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Encrypted voice and video calls, Burn after reading messages, Periodic document destruction, Bidirectional chat destruction, Anti-eavesdropping technology

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp Messenger free?

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

### Is Ant Messenger free?

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

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

WhatsApp Messenger is rated higher. WhatsApp Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Ant Messenger averages 3.4 from 39 ratings.

### Do WhatsApp Messenger or Ant Messenger have ads?

WhatsApp Messenger shows ads; Ant Messenger does not.

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

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, and Ant Messenger every 3 weeks. Most recently, WhatsApp Messenger was updated on November 8, 2026 and Ant Messenger on November 2, 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.*