# WhatsApp Messenger vs Messenger

WhatsApp Messenger and Messenger both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of Messenger's written reviews are positive against 51% of WhatsApp Messenger's. WhatsApp Messenger's advantage is device support (5 vs 3) and chart position (#2 vs #8). On price, rating, ratings volume 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 and Messenger 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 Messenger. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19M and 14M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of WhatsApp Messenger's written reviews are positive against 66% of Messenger's.

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 3 days, Messenger weekly. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp Messenger | Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997/reviews) | [4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 14M |
| Positive reviews | 50.5% of reviews | **66.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | #8 |
| Size | 361 MB | 255 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Meta Platforms, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284882218) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Social Networking, #22 Top Free, #42 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


### Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Free · Social Networking, #153 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through text, audio, and video calls. Share photos, videos, and large files, and express yourself with custom themes and animated content. Features an AI assistant for help and support.

**Highlights:** Text, audio, and video calls, High-definition photo sharing, Shared photo albums, QR code connections, Large file sharing (up to 100MB), Edit and unsend messages, Disappearing messages, AI assistant

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Avatar Item | $0.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $1.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $2.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $3.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $4.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $6.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $7.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $8.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $9.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Useful for staying connected with friends and family
- 🗣️ Enables easy communication through text, voice, and video
- 💬 Convenient group chat features
- 🌐 Works across multiple devices and platforms

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 🔄 Unnecessary updates that remove useful features
- 📤 Issues with message delivery and notifications
- 🗂️ Cluttered interface and poor organization of chats

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in or access account
- Messages failing to send or receive
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to delete or unsend messages
- Improve search functionality for chat history
- Introduce customizable notification settings
- Bring back old features like emoji reactions and location sharing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp Messenger free?

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

### Is Messenger free?

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

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

WhatsApp Messenger and Messenger are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 19M and 14M ratings respectively.

### Do WhatsApp Messenger or Messenger have ads?

Both WhatsApp Messenger and Messenger show ads.

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

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 3 days, and Messenger weekly. Most recently, WhatsApp Messenger was updated on September 26, 2026 and Messenger on September 26, 2026.

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

WhatsApp Messenger currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and Messenger at #8. 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.*