# WeChat vs Messages

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Messages at none against WeChat's 11. Messages also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (45% vs 32%). WeChat's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and chart position (#18 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WeChat sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Messages asks for nothing beyond the download.

Messages holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 81K and 38K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of WeChat's written reviews are positive against 45% of Messages's.

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, Messages every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WeChat | Messages |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (81K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wechat/id414478124/reviews) | **[4.1 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messages/id1146560473/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **81K** | 38K |
| Positive reviews | 31.6% of reviews | **45.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | — |
| Size | 922 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WeChat](https://appshunter.io/developer/614694882) | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### WeChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wechat/id414478124)

**Currently charting:** #18 Top Free · Social Networking, #33 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Discover news, local services, and games within the app. Features mobile payment and health tracking capabilities.

**Highlights:** Text, photo, voice, and video messaging, Group chats up to 500 members, High-quality voice and video calls, Real-time location sharing, Moments for sharing photos and videos, Official Accounts for news and content, Mini Programs for third-party services, Mobile payment with Weixin Pay

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $0.99 | one-time |
| 42 WeBeans | $0.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $1.99 | one-time |
| 126 WeBeans | $2.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $3.99 | one-time |
| 350 WeBeans | $6.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $9.99 | one-time |
| WeChat Out Top-Up Card | $14.99 | one-time |
| 896 WeBeans | $19.99 | one-time |
| 9086 WeBeans | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great all-in-one app
- 👍 Convenient features like payments and mini-programs
- 💡 Useful translation and sharing functions
- 🔒 Secure and private

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Accounts getting blocked for no reason
- 🔒 Strict security measures and verification requirements
- 👎 Poor customer support and unresponsive to user issues
- 🔋 High storage and battery consumption
- 🤔 Censorship and monitoring concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and connectivity issues
- Syncing problems between devices
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable voice/video call quality

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve chat organization with folders and pinning
- Allow editing of posted content
- Provide better translation and language support
- Simplify account recovery and unblocking process


### Messages

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messages/id1146560473)

Communicate with contacts through unlimited texts, photos, videos, and documents. Supports iMessage for Apple devices and RCS, SMS, and MMS for others. Features include message editing, unsending, and scheduling.

**Highlights:** Send unlimited texts, photos, videos, and documents, iMessage, RCS, SMS, and MMS support, Edit and unsend messages, Schedule messages, Message effects and stickers, Group chat features, Messages in iCloud

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable messaging
- 🔒 End-to-end encryption
- 👍 Seamless integration with Apple devices
- 💡 Fun features like Memoji and stickers
- 🤝 Easy group chat management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 📤 Inability to delete messages for others
- 🔔 Lack of typing indicators in group chats
- 📱 Incompatibility with non-Apple devices

**Reported bugs**

- Messages not delivering consistently
- App crashing or freezing on launch
- Issues with iCloud sync and message history
- Problems with location sharing and privacy

**Requested features**

- Ability to schedule messages
- Option to lock specific conversations
- More customization options for Memoji
- Improved voice message functionality
- Expanded reaction/emoji options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WeChat free?

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

### Is Messages free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WeChat or Messages?

Messages is rated higher. WeChat averages 3.9 out of 5 from 81K ratings, while Messages averages 4.1 from 38K ratings.

### Do WeChat or Messages have ads?

WeChat shows ads; Messages does not.

### Which is updated more often, WeChat or Messages?

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, and Messages every 9 months. Most recently, WeChat was updated on October 16, 2026 and Messages on October 16, 2026.

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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.*