Comparison

Whatool vs KARMA Search

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

Head to head
About

Whatool

Search your WhatsApp, Line, and Viber chats with advanced filters for date, sender, and message content. Keep your messages safe with on-device processing and create backup copies. Merge multiple conversations for a unified search experience.

Highlights
  • Advanced chat search
  • Filter by date, sender, content
  • On-device data processing
  • Merge multiple conversations
  • Create message backups
  • Compatible with WhatsApp, Line, Viber
Features
Read full description

Whatool turns an exported chat into something you can read and search, on your own device. In WhatsApp choose Export chat, then pick Whatool from the share sheet — it sits among the actions, in the bottom row. The .txt file and the .zip WhatsApp produces today are both read, and a chat file already on your device opens just as well. The whole history then becomes searchable: by word, by sender, by date. Jump to the day you are looking for instead of thumbing through years of messages. MERGE puts several conversations into one timeline, so a story told across three chats reads as one. Everything happens on your iPhone or iPad. Your messages are read and stored on the device, nothing is sent to a server, and Whatool works with no connection at all. Whatool also keeps what a messaging app does not. A phone you no longer own, a chat you cleared, someone you have lost: an export opened in Whatool stays readable years later. LINE exports are read too. Free, with optional purchases to remove the ads and lift the free limits. ----------------------------------- Disclaimer: app created by Luca Rubin. WhatsApp Messenger, LINE, their names, registered trademarks and all other aspects of these applications are registered trademarks of their respective owners. If you believe your rights have been infringed, please email us with all the relevant details at whatool@lucarubin.com

About

KARMA Search

This search engine uses its revenue from sponsored links to fund environmental and animal welfare non-profits. It also provides access to news, petitions, and resources for taking action, all while protecting user privacy.

Highlights
  • Fund environmental non-profits with searches
  • Support animal welfare organizations
  • Sign petitions and join challenges
  • Access news, podcasts, and videos
  • Secure and private browsing
  • Dozens of specialized search engines
Features
Read full description

Everytime you use KARMA as your search engine, you help protect our planet. KARMA uses revenue from sponsored links to fund non-profit organizations working to restore our connection to nature and promote animal welfare. KARMA also gives you access to a selection of news, petitions and resources to take action. With KARMA, you can: - Search the web as usual for fast and reliable results - Support Re:wild and the Humane Society International, two leading organizations protecting nature and improving the lives of animals - Sign petitions, join challenges and get involved in the causes you care about - Discover podcasts, videos and reports to stay informed and get inspired - Protect your privacy and data with a secure and ethical search engine - Get access to dozens of specialized search engines just one click away The KARMA app is a mobile browser (based on Firefox) which is fast, secure and privacy friendly. Using the KARMA app is the best way to make KARMA your default search engine and to access our Learn & Act newsfeed. KARMA is more than a search engine. It's a way to make a positive impact on the world with every click. Download KARMA today and join the movement for a healthier planet.

Screenshots

Whatool4 screens
KARMA Search4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: KARMA Search at 96% against Whatool's 24%. KARMA Search also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Whatool sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. KARMA Search asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KARMA Search holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 34 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Whatool's written reviews are positive against 96% of KARMA Search's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Whatool ships an update every 3 months, KARMA Search every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Whatool versus KARMA Search: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhatoolKARMA Search
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (70 ratings)4.9 (34 ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.5% of reviews96.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings70 — better34
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB111 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperLuca RubinKarma Search

Customer experience

Whatool

All ratings70 ratings
Positive82.9%
Neutral2.9%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive24.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.5%

KARMA Search

All ratings30 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive96.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.8%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Whatool

One-time5
  • Unlimited conversations$0.99
  • Remove adverts$1.99
  • Merge up to 5 conversations$1.99
Show 2 more
  • Unlimited merging$3.99
  • Unlock all features$5.99
None

KARMA Search

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Whatool free?
Whatool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is KARMA Search free?
KARMA Search is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Whatool or KARMA Search?
KARMA Search is rated higher. Whatool averages 4.3 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while KARMA Search averages 4.9 from 34 ratings.
Do Whatool or KARMA Search have ads?
Whatool shows ads; KARMA Search does not.
Which is updated more often, Whatool or KARMA Search?
Whatool ships an update every 3 months, and KARMA Search every 2 months. Most recently, Whatool was updated on November 1, 2026 and KARMA Search on November 3, 2026.

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