WhatsApp and iMessage are both messaging Apps. Meta owns WhatsApp while iMessage is an Apple exclusive. Both messaging apps offer almost comparative features alongside certain advantages and disadvantages over one another.
iMessage and WhatsApp are two of the most popular messaging apps available today. Both apps allow users to communicate with others through text, audio, and video messages, but there are some key differences between the two.
iMessage vs WhatsApp
First, let’s talk about iMessage. iMessage is a built-in messaging app for iOS and macOS devices, which means that it is available on iPhones, iPads, and Macs by default. It allows users to send text, audio, and video messages, as well as make phone and video calls and share their location, contacts, and also GIFs. iMessage also uses end-to-end encryption, which means that your messages are protected and can only be read by the people involved in the conversation.
On the other hand, WhatsApp is a third-party messaging app that is available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Like iMessage, it allows users to send text, audio, and video messages, and make phone and video calls. WhatsApp also uses end-to-end encryption, which means that your messages are protected and can only be read by the people involved in the conversation.
One of the biggest differences between iMessage and WhatsApp is that iMessage is only available on Apple devices, while WhatsApp is available on multiple platforms, including Android, Windows, and Mac. This means that if you have friends or family members who use non-Apple devices, you can still communicate with them using WhatsApp, but you would have to use another app like SMS to communicate with them through iMessage.
Another difference is that iMessage supports “Memoji” and “Animoji” which are animations of your face or characters, and this feature is not available in WhatsApp yet. Additionally, iMessage allows for the use of rich links which means that the link preview is visible and you don’t have to leave the conversation to see the link’s content, but WhatsApp doesn’t support this feature.
WhatsApp has some features that iMessage doesn’t have, such as WhatsApp Web, which allows users to access their WhatsApp account on a computer, and WhatsApp Business, which allows businesses to communicate with their customers through WhatsApp.
Comparison of iMessage vs WhatsApp
| Feature | iMessage | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform availability | iOS, macOS | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Web |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional | Yes |
| Group chat support | Yes | Yes |
| Stickers and GIF support | Yes | Yes |
| Voice and video calling | Yes | Yes |
| Screen and message effects | Yes | No |
| Sending and receiving money | No | Yes (with WhatsApp Pay) |
| Backup and syncing across devices | iCloud | Google Drive or iCloud |
| Third-party app integration | No | Yes |
| Location sharing | Yes | Yes |
It is important to note while comparing iMessage vs WhatsApp is that iMessage is exclusive to Apple devices, while WhatsApp can be used on a variety of platforms including Android, Windows, and Mac via its Web version. WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption enabled by default, while iMessage has this feature off by default but can be enabled by the user. Both apps are popular and have a large user base, and both have their own set of features that may be more important to some users than others.
Pros And Cons of iMessage vs WhatsApp
iMessage
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in to iOS and macOS, so no need to download an additional app | Only available on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.) |
| Integration with other Apple services, such as iCloud and Apple Pay | Group messages can be difficult to manage |
| Advanced encryption | some features like memoji, animated messages, digital touch, etc only supported on devices newer than iPhone 6 or iPad Air 2 |
| Has a range of features like sending animated GIFs, digital touch, memoji, etc |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cross-platform support (available on iOS, Android, and web browsers) | Not built-in to the operating system and requires a separate app to be downloaded |
| Popular around the world, so it’s likely that most of your contacts already use it | Integration with other services is more limited |
| Group messaging is robust and easy to use | WhatsApp web experience is not as polished as the app |
| End-to-end encryption for messages |
Summary of iMessage vs WhatsApp
iMessage is more integrated with the Apple ecosystem and has more fancy features like effects and built-in apps, while WhatsApp is more widely available across multiple platforms, has more focus on security and privacy, and has some functionality for sending and receiving money.
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