WhatsApp Messenger

WhatsApp Messenger is an Internet-based messenger with voice and video calls, group chats, photo and video sharing, and other features constantly growing. Owned by Facebook, it’s one of the world’s most popular messaging services.

Design and Usability 4.5/5

WhatsApp resembles most phone and messaging apps by phone vendors. It features a dedicated chat tab, one for calls, a built-in camera module, a special tab for statuses, and a personal settings tab. Statuses are a social network element, letting you tell some news to all your contacts at once. WhatsApp is supported by all active platforms, including mobile and desktop ones, feature phones, wearables, and web version.

What the app truly lacks is a contact list tab present in most rivals. To access your contact list, you need to create a new message or make a new call. This approach puts conversation ahead of the person, and this may seem illogical. But it’s a matter of habit, and, given WhatsApp’s popularity, it’s easy to get used to it.

Key Functions 5/5

Unlimited texting, voice and video calls, private or group, are the primary feature of WhatsApp. It’s meant to replace both SMS and phone talks, and it does the work perfectly. It feels well even when the connection is low, under poor coverage.

It supports group communication, document exchange and editing. In some select countries, WhatsApp also provides financial services, like shopping or money transfers. It also has a lot of built-in utilities like camera or QR code scanner. This makes WhatsApp a great platform for business communications as well as for daily chitchatting.

Security 4.5/5

WhatsApp needs a phone number for installation confirmation, so you can use it to restore your account. As for your chat logs, they can be uploaded to Google Drive or iCloud and restore if necessary. End-to-end encryption protects your chats and calls from leaks. Some exotic breaches are constantly found, but in 2020 so far, there’s none.