WhatsApp Messenger

Messages and calls in one place

WhatsApp Messenger is a communication app for people who want to message contacts, make voice or video calls, and share updates from a phone. It suits everyday conversations with friends and family, as well as group chats for staying in touch with several people at once. You connect using a phone number and can find contacts who use the app.

Chat, call and share

Conversations can include text, photos, videos, voice messages and documents. Voice and video calls work over an internet connection, and group calls can include up to 32 people. Data charges may apply, depending on your provider and connection.

WhatsApp says personal messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, meaning they are intended to be readable or audible only to the people in the conversation. Group chats are also encrypted. You can share your location in an individual or group chat and stop sharing when you choose.

Updates and connected devices

Status lets you post text, photos, videos or GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. You can choose to share a status with all your contacts or a selected group. The app also supports use on desktop, and Wear OS users can continue conversations, reply to messages and take calls from a compatible watch.

These features make WhatsApp useful for people whose contacts already use it, especially when they want chat, calls and temporary updates in the same app. Its reliance on an internet connection means call and message use may involve mobile data or Wi-Fi.

The verdict line

WhatsApp Messenger is made by WhatsApp LLC. Its Google Play rating is 4.66 out of 5, based on more than 222 million ratings, and the listing reports 10 billion or more installs. That scale and rating offer a quick sense of how widely it is used; whether its features suit you is your call.