# WhatsApp vs Messenger

WhatsApp and Messenger both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of Messenger's written reviews are positive against 50% of WhatsApp's. WhatsApp's advantage is device support (5 vs 3) and chart position (#3 vs #9). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhatsApp 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 against 4.7 for Messenger. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19M and 14M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of WhatsApp's written reviews are positive against 66% of Messenger's.

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, Messenger weekly. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp | Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp/id310633997/reviews)** | [4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 14M |
| Positive reviews | 50.4% of reviews | **66.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #9 |
| Size | 392 MB | 283 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

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #20 Top Free, #39 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Organize groups, share moments, and make plans with features like polls and live location sharing. Enjoy private conversations with end-to-end encryption across multiple devices.

**Highlights:** Group messaging and calling, End-to-end encryption, Live location sharing, Polls for decision making, HD photo and video sharing, Disappearing messages, Cross-device compatibility

**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:** #9 Top Free · Social Networking, #150 Top Free, #178 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through text, audio, and video calls. Share photos in high definition, create shared albums, and send large files directly in chat. Features an AI assistant for instant answers and creative image generation.

**Highlights:** Text, audio, and video calls, High-definition photo sharing, Shared photo albums, Large file sharing up to 100MB, AI assistant for questions and creative tasks, Disappearing messages, Customizable chat themes

**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 free?

WhatsApp 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 or Messenger?

WhatsApp is rated higher. WhatsApp averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Messenger averages 4.7 from 14M ratings.

### Do WhatsApp or Messenger have ads?

Both WhatsApp and Messenger show ads.

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

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, and Messenger weekly. Most recently, WhatsApp was updated on November 9, 2026 and Messenger on November 9, 2026.

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

WhatsApp currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Messenger at #9. 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.*