# WhatsApp Messenger vs GroupMe

The clearest difference is ads: GroupMe at none against WhatsApp Messenger's shown. WhatsApp Messenger's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 30%) and ratings volume (19M vs 1.6M). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhatsApp Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and GroupMe 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 Messenger against 4.7 for GroupMe. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp Messenger has 19M ratings behind it against 1.6M, 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 30% of GroupMe's.

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, GroupMe weekly. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp Messenger | GroupMe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 1.6M |
| Positive reviews | **50.4% of reviews** | 29.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #14 |
| Size | 398 MB | 385 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Skype Communications S.a.r.l](https://appshunter.io/developer/304219585) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #28 Top Free, #56 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


### GroupMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupme/id392796698)

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

Connect with family, friends, and colleagues through group chats, direct messages, and shared media. Easily add members via phone number or email, control notifications, and express yourself with custom emojis and GIFs. Share photos and videos to relive memories later.

**Highlights:** Group chat creation, Direct messaging, Custom emoji and GIFs, Photo and video sharing, Notification control, Web access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Most Wanted Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Michigan Wolverines Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Wisconsin Badgers Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Florida Gators Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| March Madness Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Most Wanted 2 Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| University of Alabama Emoji Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| University of Texas Emoji Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Adventure Time | $1.99 | one-time |
| University of Notre Dame Emoji | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent group communication
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🚀 Reliable
- 👍 Versatile for various use cases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Syncing and loading issues
- 🐛 Notification problems
- 🐛 Bugs with media uploads
- 🐛 Laggy performance

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in or account issues
- Problems with adding/removing group members
- Disappearing messages and chat history
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete/edit messages
- Announcement mode for admins
- Pinned messages
- Improved group management features
- Better cross-device/platform sync


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp Messenger free?

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

### Is GroupMe free?

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

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

GroupMe is rated higher. WhatsApp Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while GroupMe averages 4.7 from 1.6M ratings.

### Do WhatsApp Messenger or GroupMe have ads?

WhatsApp Messenger shows ads; GroupMe does not.

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

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

### Which is more popular, WhatsApp Messenger or GroupMe?

WhatsApp Messenger currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and GroupMe at #14. 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.*