# WeChat vs the815

The clearest difference is rating: WeChat at 3.9 against the815's 3.0. WeChat also leads on ratings volume (82K vs 2) and chart position (#21 vs unranked). the815's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WeChat sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. the815 asks for nothing beyond the download.

WeChat holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WeChat has 82K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 31% of WeChat's written reviews are positive against 50% of the815's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, the815 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WeChat | the815 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (82K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wechat/id414478124/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the815/id6788510203/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **82K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 31.4% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 922 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [WeChat](https://appshunter.io/developer/614694882) | [Realms.tv](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788510205) |

## What reviewers say

### WeChat

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

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Social Networking, #23 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


### the815

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the815/id6788510203)

Connect with your Rockford neighbors, discover local events, and support local businesses. This app provides a dedicated space for community discussions, club creation, and exploring local dining options. It's designed to foster a stronger sense of belonging and engagement within the city.

**Highlights:** Community discussions, Local event discovery, Create and join clubs, Explore local restaurants, Local business promotion, Ticket selling and scanning

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WeChat free?

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

### Is the815 free?

the815 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, WeChat or the815?

WeChat is rated higher. WeChat averages 3.9 out of 5 from 82K ratings, while the815 averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do WeChat or the815 have ads?

WeChat shows ads; the815 does not.

### Which is updated more often, WeChat or the815?

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, and the815 every 2 weeks. Most recently, WeChat was updated on November 9, 2026 and the815 on November 5, 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.*