# WhatsApp Messenger vs True

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: True at none against WhatsApp Messenger's 11. True also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (85% vs 50%). WhatsApp Messenger's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (19M vs 9). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhatsApp Messenger sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month. True asks for nothing beyond the download.

WhatsApp Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp Messenger has 19M ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of WhatsApp Messenger's written reviews are positive against 85% of True's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, True every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp Messenger | True |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997/reviews)** | [4.2 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-private-group-sharing/id834451429/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 50.4% of reviews | **85.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 398 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Hello Mobile Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/834451432) |

## 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


### True

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-private-group-sharing/id834451429)

This app offers a private social networking experience focused on genuine connections with trusted individuals. It prioritizes user privacy by avoiding targeted advertising and data selling, creating a safe and positive space for sharing.

**Highlights:** Private by default sharing, No ads or tracking, User data ownership, Focus on real friends, Safe and positive environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ No ads
- 🔒 Private sharing
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👥 Great community
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Connects family

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- ❓ Hard to understand
- 📧 Email verification issues
- 🤔 Unclear monetization
- ✉️ Spam notifications

**Reported bugs**

- Posts revert to older dates
- Cannot read email for verification
- Cannot view or open notifications (likes, comments, friend requests)
- Cannot get verification code by email
- App crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Allow editing of posted text
- Allow pictures and videos as comments
- Provide a way to download photos
- Dark mode
- Evernote integration or export options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp Messenger free?

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

### Is True free?

True is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

WhatsApp Messenger is rated higher. WhatsApp Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while True averages 4.2 from 9 ratings.

### Do WhatsApp Messenger or True have ads?

WhatsApp Messenger shows ads; True does not.

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

WhatsApp Messenger ships an update every 4 days, and True every 3 weeks. Most recently, WhatsApp Messenger was updated on November 1, 2026 and True on October 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*