Comparison

WhatsApp vs Ello Messenger

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

WhatsApp

Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Organize groups, share media, and make plans easily. Enjoy private conversations with end-to-end encryption across multiple devices.

Highlights
  • Group messaging and calling
  • End-to-end encryption
  • HD photo and video sharing
  • Live location sharing
  • Event creation and polls
  • Status updates
  • Cross-device compatibility
Features
Read full description

Bring your group together on WhatsApp. WhatsApp from Meta is a free messaging and calling app for the people and groups in your life. Bring your best friends, parent group, study group, or neighborhood together to chat, make plans, and share moments. Get everyone into the conversation Invite people with a link or QR code. Names and profile photos help you know who's who, and shared message history helps new members catch up. Make plans together Create events and track RSVPs. Use polls to choose a date or make a decision. Share your live location to find each other, and send documents up to 2GB. Keep your group organized Pin important messages. Admins can approve requests to join, and set group permissions. Have several related groups? Bring their chats and announcements together in a Community. Share more than messages Send HD photos and videos, voice messages, and short video notes. Make conversations your own with custom stickers, reactions, GIFs, and chat colors and backgrounds. Share everyday moments through Status-updates that disappear after 24 hours. Get together on a call Make unlimited voice and video calls with up to 32 people, with screen sharing, effects, and reactions. Speak freely Your personal messages and calls—including group chats and calls—stay private with end-to-end encryption. Not even WhatsApp can read or listen to them. Turn on disappearing messages to choose when your messages disappear. WhatsApp works on your phone, computer, tablet, and supported watch, including on slower connections. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any feedback or questions, please go to WhatsApp > Settings > Help > Contact Us Terms of Service: https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/terms-of-service Learn more about messaging privately: https://www.whatsapp.com/privacy Learn more about WhatsApp safety: https://www.whatsapp.com/security

About

Ello Messenger

Experience fast, secure, and seamless communication across all your devices. This platform allows for unlimited media sharing and end-to-end encrypted conversations. It also empowers creators to build audiences, publish content, and monetize their work directly.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • Unlimited media and file sharing
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Creator channels and monetization
  • Public and private community building
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

PURE MESSAGING: Ello Messenger delivers fast, secure, and seamless communication across all your devices—built for both everyday users and modern creators. FAST: Experience lightning-fast messaging powered by a global infrastructure designed for speed, reliability, and real-time connection anywhere in the world. SYNCED: Access your messages, content, and channels from all your devices at once. Start on one device and continue on another—effortlessly. UNLIMITED: Send media, videos, and files of any type. Store your content securely in the cloud and access it anytime without worrying about device space. SECURE: Your privacy comes first. Messages and calls are protected with end-to-end encryption, ensuring your conversations remain completely private. CREATOR-FIRST: Ello is more than messaging—it’s a platform to build, grow, and monetize your audience. Create channels, publish content, and earn directly from your fans. MONETIZATION: Turn your creativity into revenue. Offer subscriptions, exclusive content, and premium experiences—all within your own ecosystem. POWERFUL: Create public or private channels, build communities, share large media files, and manage your audience with powerful, easy-to-use tools. RELIABLE: Built for performance, Ello works smoothly even in low-connectivity environments, ensuring your messages and content are always delivered. SIMPLE: A clean, intuitive interface makes Ello easy to use while delivering a powerful set of features underneath. PRIVATE: You are in control of your data. Ello does not sell your information and gives you full control over your content and communications. FLEXIBLE: Communicate one-on-one, in groups, or through channels. Share updates, build communities, and connect with your audience your way. EASY START: Sign up in seconds using just your email—no phone number required.

Screenshots

WhatsApp4 screens
Ello Messenger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: WhatsApp at 4.7 against Ello Messenger's 3.9. WhatsApp also leads on ratings volume (19M vs 41) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). Ello Messenger's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (65% vs 50%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. WhatsApp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and Ello Messenger sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WhatsApp holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp has 19M ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of WhatsApp's written reviews are positive against 65% of Ello Messenger's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, Ello Messenger every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
WhatsApp versus Ello Messenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhatsAppEllo Messenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (19M ratings) — better3.9 (41 ratings)
Positive reviews50.3% of reviews65.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings19M — better41
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#1 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size392 MB368 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperWhatsApp Inc.Fast, private and encrypted

Customer experience

WhatsApp

All ratings18,941,744 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews17,732 reviews
Positive50.3%
Neutral8.1%
Negative41.5%

Ello Messenger

All ratings41 ratings
Positive70.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative26.8%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.0%

Bugs and requests

WhatsApp

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App freezing and crashing issues
  • Notification problems (missing, delayed)
  • Backup and restore failures
  • Arbitrary account bans with poor support

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Ello Messenger

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

WhatsApp

Subscriptions3
  • No ads (1 account)$4.001 Month
  • No ads (4 accounts)5 variants$21.991 Month
  • No ads (5 accounts)4 variants$26.991 Month
10 purchases

Ello Messenger

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Month Membership$10.001 Month
One-time9
  • Support with $1$1.00
  • AI Image Experience Prompts$4.99
  • $5 Wallet Credit$5.00
Show 6 more
  • $10 Wallet Credit$10.00
  • Mini$10.00
  • Small$25.00
  • $75 Wallet Credit$75.00
  • $100 Wallet Credit$100.00
  • Large$100.00

Questions

Is WhatsApp free?
WhatsApp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ello Messenger free?
Ello Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, WhatsApp or Ello Messenger?
WhatsApp is rated higher. WhatsApp averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Ello Messenger averages 3.9 from 41 ratings.
Do WhatsApp or Ello Messenger have ads?
WhatsApp shows ads; Ello Messenger does not.
Which is updated more often, WhatsApp or Ello Messenger?
WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, and Ello Messenger every 2 weeks. Most recently, WhatsApp was updated on November 13, 2026 and Ello Messenger on November 12, 2026.

Other comparisons