There was a time when the SMS service available on the mobile phone was an absolute necessity for many people. Now, however, SMSes have given way to free messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat. These apps are available for free download on your smartphone and the main reason for their popularity is that sending messages through these apps is so much cheaper. All that is needed is for the receiver to have the same app installed on his phone and an internet connection for both the sender and receiver.
In terms of number of services provided and cost effectiveness, WeChat certainly has an edge over WhatsApp. While WhatsApp can only be used for sending text messages along with multimedia files like images and videos, WeChat provides an additional service of making free voice and video calls. WeChat users also have the option to live stream content as well as chat with international friends through a location based plug-in. Moreover, WhatsApp, though freely available initially, requires a $o.99 annual subscription for continued use. In fact, iOS users have to pay this subscription immediately after installing WhatsApp while android users can pay it after using WhatsApp for one year. WeChat, on the other hand, does not charge its users a single penny for its services.
WeChat also has an advantage over WhatsApp because of its social networking options. WhatsApp users can send messages to only those persons whose names have been saved in their phone’s contact list or to other people only if they are part of a common group created on WhatsApp. On the contrary, WeChat gives its users access to people who may not be known to them through some amazing features like Drift Bottle, Shake and Look Around. These features have been lauded by WeChat users as they have helped many users make new friends and expand their social circle. Combined with the additional services of free voice and video calling and live streaming content, WeChat definitely seems to be on the fast track to becoming the most popular messaging app.
As far as security is concerned, WeChat operates on a more conventional method of sending and accepting WeChat friend requests before one can send message to another WeChat user. This ensures that the user is accessible to another WeChat user only if he or she wishes to be so. WhatsApp does not ensure this level of security since it auto syncs the contact list of the phone with the WhatsApp account. This practically means that any person who has your phone number saved on his device can send you a message through WhatsApp. However, WhatsApp does have the option of ‘blocking’ certain contacts which serves the purpose of filtering out unwanted people.
All in all, it can be said that both these apps have been doing really well in the market. Although WeChat has some additional features, WhatsApp still remains the more popular of the two. It is up to the user to try out both the apps and then choose the one which best suits his needs.