# WeChat vs rednote

The clearest difference is rating: rednote at 4.9 against WeChat's 3.9. rednote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WeChat sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and rednote sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

rednote holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 81K and 269K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of WeChat's written reviews are positive against 38% of rednote's.

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, rednote every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WeChat | rednote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (81K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wechat/id414478124/reviews) | **[4.9 (269K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rednote/id741292507/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 81K | **269K** |
| Positive reviews | 23.9% of reviews | **37.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #18 | **#14** |
| Size | 887 MB | 454 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [WeChat](https://appshunter.io/developer/614694882) | [Xingin](https://appshunter.io/developer/708264912) |

## What reviewers say

### WeChat

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

**Currently charting:** #18 Top Free · Social Networking, #25 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


### rednote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rednote/id741292507)

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #36 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with a global community to share your daily life, from hobbies and interests to personal experiences. Discover inspiration and build connections through authentic and helpful interactions.

**Highlights:** Share daily life moments, Connect with global users, Discover diverse content, Authentic self-expression, Helpful life tips, Inclusive community

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

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 42 薯币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 70薯币 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 105薯币 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 210薯币 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 350薯币 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 476 薯币 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 476薯币 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 672薯币 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 679薯币 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 693薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 686薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 700薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 686 薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 756薯币 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1386 薯币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 3626 薯币 | $74.90 | one-time |
| 10486 薯币 | $219.00 | one-time |
| 13986 薯币 | $299.99 | one-time |
| 18193薯币 | $399.99 | one-time |
| 52493薯币 | $1000.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Amazing app with great features
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💕 Welcoming and supportive community
- 🌍 Opportunity to connect with diverse cultures
- 🎨 Excellent platform for creative expression

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Lack of translation options for non-Chinese users
- 🚫 Strict content moderation and censorship
- 🤖 Aggressive recommendation algorithm
- 🔒 Privacy concerns and data collection
- 🔥 High data and storage consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inability to load images and videos consistently
- Unexpected account bans or restrictions
- Inconsistent behavior across different devices
- Sync issues between mobile and desktop versions

**Requested features**

- Add comprehensive translation capabilities
- Improve transparency around content moderation
- Provide more control over recommendation settings
- Enhance privacy protections for user data
- Optimize app performance and reduce resource usage


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WeChat free?

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

### Is rednote free?

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

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

rednote is rated higher. WeChat averages 3.9 out of 5 from 81K ratings, while rednote averages 4.9 from 269K ratings.

### Do WeChat or rednote have ads?

WeChat shows ads; rednote does not.

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

WeChat ships an update every 3 weeks, and rednote every 4 days. Most recently, WeChat was updated on September 28, 2026 and rednote on September 28, 2026.

### Which is more popular, WeChat or rednote?

WeChat currently peaks at #18 in the App Store charts, and rednote at #14. 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.*