# WhatsApp vs Swiftgram

The clearest difference is ads: Swiftgram at none against WhatsApp's shown. Swiftgram also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 50%). WhatsApp's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhatsApp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and Swiftgram sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WhatsApp holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp has 19M ratings behind it against 657, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of WhatsApp's written reviews are positive against 70% of Swiftgram's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, Swiftgram monthly. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp | Swiftgram |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp/id310633997/reviews)** | [4.2 (657 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftgram-telegram-mod-client/id6471879502/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 657 |
| Positive reviews | 50.4% of reviews | **69.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #129 |
| Size | 392 MB | 240 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Akentech Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1716113804) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #18 Top Free, #48 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


### Swiftgram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftgram-telegram-mod-client/id6471879502)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This enhanced messaging client offers robust privacy features, unlimited accounts, and advanced chat management. Enjoy real-time translation, voice-to-text transcription, and extensive customization options for a personalized communication experience.

**Highlights:** Unlimited account support, Message filtering for spam, Real-time chat translation, Voice-to-text transcription, Extensive customization options, Apple Watch companion app, Instant passcode lock

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Swiftgram Pro | $3.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and accurate translation
- 🔒 Robust security features
- 👍 Extensive customization options
- 🚀 Lightweight and efficient
- 👍 Feature-rich alternative to official Telegram

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Accounts sometimes get locked or banned
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🐛 Unreliable voice message transcription

**Reported bugs**

- Search bar crashes the app
- Forwarded messages disappear
- Notification issues and unknown caller spam
- Slow message loading and account switching
- Crashes when accessing storage usage section

**Requested features**

- Add Thai language support
- Integrate with iOS call features
- Implement 'show restricted content' for entire chats
- Add 'add to cloud' option for direct message saving
- Allow custom app icon selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp free?

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

### Is Swiftgram free?

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

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

WhatsApp is rated higher. WhatsApp averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Swiftgram averages 4.2 from 657 ratings.

### Do WhatsApp or Swiftgram have ads?

WhatsApp shows ads; Swiftgram does not.

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

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, and Swiftgram monthly. Most recently, WhatsApp was updated on November 10, 2026 and Swiftgram on November 10, 2026.

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

WhatsApp currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Swiftgram at #129. 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.*