# LINE vs QQ

The clearest difference is rating: LINE at 3.2 against QQ's 2.7. QQ's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LINE sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and QQ sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

LINE holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18K and 9K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of LINE's written reviews are positive against 18% of QQ's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

LINE ships an update every 9 days, QQ every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LINE | QQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.2 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line/id443904275/reviews)** | [2.7 (9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qq/id444934666/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 9K |
| Positive reviews | 14.2% of reviews | **18.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#36** | #91 |
| Size | 401 MB | 834 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [LINE Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/359067226) | [Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/292374531) |

## What reviewers say

### LINE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line/id443904275)

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Free · Social Networking, #110 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through free voice and video calls, messages, and a wide array of stickers and themes. This communication platform offers a seamless experience across mobile, desktop, and smartwatches, with enhanced privacy features and content discovery options.

**Highlights:** Free voice and video calls, Messaging, Stickers and emojis, Customizable themes, Cross-platform compatibility, Encrypted messages, Keep Memo for storage

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| スタンダード | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| 50 LINE Coin | $0.99 | one-time |
| 70 LINE Coin | $1.39 | one-time |
| LINE Characters: All the Love | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brown & Cony's Secret Date! | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brown & Cony's Lovey Dovey Date | $1.99 | one-time |
| 100 LINE Coin | $1.99 | one-time |
| 150 LINE Coin | $2.99 | one-time |
| 200 LINE Coin | $3.99 | one-time |
| 500 LINE Coin | $7.99 | one-time |
| 800 LINE Coin | $11.99 | one-time |
| 1600 LINE Coin | $22.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great messaging app
- 🎨 Customizable with cute stickers
- 🌐 Useful for international communication
- 🔒 Secure and private

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🔑 Difficult account recovery and transfer
- 🚫 Accounts suspended without explanation
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🔍 Difficulty adding and searching for contacts

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in or sign up
- Messages not sending or receiving
- Notifications not working properly
- App crashing after updates
- Incompatibility with new devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- See who is online and typing
- Ability to translate messages
- Automatic chat history backup and sync
- Easier sticker management and organization
- More ways to earn free stickers and points


### QQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qq/id444934666)

**Currently charting:** #91 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through instant messaging, voice, and video calls. Share files, stay updated on social feeds, and manage payments. Enjoy games and customize your profile with various themes and decorations.

**Highlights:** Instant messaging, Voice and video calls, File transfer, Social feed updates, Mobile payments, Gaming center, Profile customization

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1个月黄钻（自动续费） | $1.49 | per month |
| 超级会员 | $2.99 | per month |
| 6元金豆套餐 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月黄钻 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1个月超级会员 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3个月超级会员 | $8.99 | one-time |
| 6个月超级会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 12个月QQ会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 会员158元宝石 | $22.99 | one-time |
| 1980秀币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 12个月超级会员 | $34.99 | one-time |
| 会员288元宝石 | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Good for communicating with friends in China
- 🤝 Useful for business connections
- 🔒 Robust privacy features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Difficult to register with non-Chinese phone numbers
- 🤖 Excessive AI-driven features and notifications
- 💸 Intrusive advertising
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to send/receive images and files
- Inconsistent UI and UX across platforms
- Connectivity issues for overseas users

**Requested features**

- Add English language support
- Improve account recovery process
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LINE free?

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

### Is QQ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LINE or QQ?

LINE is rated higher. LINE averages 3.2 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while QQ averages 2.7 from 9K ratings.

### Do LINE or QQ have ads?

Both LINE and QQ show ads.

### Which is updated more often, LINE or QQ?

LINE ships an update every 9 days, and QQ every 2 weeks. Most recently, LINE was updated on October 16, 2026 and QQ on October 15, 2026.

### Which is more popular, LINE or QQ?

LINE currently peaks at #36 in the App Store charts, and QQ at #91. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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