Whatool vs HBB
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Whatool
This utility app allows you to read and search exported chat histories from messaging apps directly on your device. It supports searching by word, sender, or date, and can merge multiple conversations into a single timeline. All processing is done locally, ensuring your data remains private.
- Search exported chat histories
- Filter by word, sender, or date
- Merge multiple conversations
- Local data processing on device
- Read old or cleared chats
- Supports LINE exports
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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
HBB
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HBB-K is an app designed for connecting to and locating items, making it easy for you to find lost belongings.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HBB at none against Whatool's 5. HBB also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Whatool sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. HBB asks for nothing beyond the download.
Whatool ships an update every 3 months, HBB weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Whatool | HBB |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (70 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 24.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 70 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Luca Rubin | 逸鸿 林 |
In-app purchases
Whatool
- Unlimited conversations$0.99
- Remove adverts$1.99
- Merge up to 5 conversations$1.99
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- Unlimited merging$3.99
- Unlock all features$5.99
HBB
No in-app purchases
