Comparison

ChatViewer vs WA Backup Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ChatViewer

Features
Read full description

ChatViewer lets you open and explore your WhatsApp chat backups directly on your device. View messages and media offline with a clean, fast, and secure experience. Designed as a simple utility, ChatViewer helps you browse your exported WhatsApp chats and media files without uploading your data anywhere. Features: โ€ข View WhatsApp chat backups locally โ€ข Browse messages and media offline โ€ข Clean and fast chat navigation โ€ข No accounts, no servers, no tracking โ€ข Privacy-first, on-device processing ChatViewer does not collect or store your data. All files stay on your device. This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsApp.

About

WA Backup Reader

Features
Read full description

You exported your chat history and want to actually read it again? WA Backup Reader has you covered โ€“ cleanly, searchably, and entirely offline. ------------------------------ A FAMILIAR CHAT VIEW ------------------------------ Your exported chat files are displayed exactly the way you expect: your messages on the right, incoming on the left, timestamps, system notices, and media references โ€“ everything in the right place. No more digging through raw text files. ------------------------------ FULL-TEXT SEARCH ACROSS ALL CHATS ------------------------------ Remember a message but not which chat it was in? The built-in search scans every conversation at once and jumps straight to the result โ€“ in a fraction of a second. ------------------------------ MEDIA GALLERY ------------------------------ Photos, videos, and voice messages from your chats are gathered in a clean, browsable gallery. Stop scrolling through lines of text to find that one photo โ€“ it's right there, sorted and easy to browse. ------------------------------ ONE-ON-ONE & GROUP CHATS ------------------------------ Whether it's a private conversation or a busy group chat with many participants โ€“ WA Backup Reader renders everything correctly. Sender names, system notices, and shared content are fully preserved. ------------------------------ FULLY OFFLINE & PRIVACY-FIRST ------------------------------ Your data never leaves your device. The app works 100 % offline โ€“ no sign-up, no account, no connection to any external server. No tracking, no analytics, no sharing. Your chat history stays yours. ------------------------------ EASY IMPORT ------------------------------ Import chat exports directly as ZIP or TXT files โ€“ via the Files app, AirDrop, or the Share sheet. No computer needed, no complicated setup. ------------------------------ GERMAN & ENGLISH ------------------------------ WA Backup Reader is fully available in both German and English. ------------------------------ WA Backup Reader is an independent third-party app with no affiliation to WhatsApp LLC or Meta Platforms, Inc. The app reads the standardised chat export format provided by common messaging apps.

Screenshots

ChatViewer3 screens
WA Backup Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ChatViewer at none against WA Backup Reader's shown. WA Backup Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. ChatViewer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and WA Backup Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
ChatViewer versus WA Backup Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChatViewerWA Backup Reader
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyโ€”Every 4 days
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS16.013.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size12 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBugra AcemogluInnervate

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ChatViewer

One-time1
  • Full Access โ€“ Unlimited Chats$4.99
1 purchases

WA Backup Reader

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99

Questions

Is ChatViewer free?
ChatViewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WA Backup Reader free?
WA Backup Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ChatViewer or WA Backup Reader have ads?
WA Backup Reader shows ads; ChatViewer does not.

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