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WhatsApp Messenger

Name: WhatsApp Messenger
Rating: 4.3 (190000000 reviews)
Author: WhatsApp LLC

4.3

CategoryCommunication

Download10B+

PriceFree

RatedEveryone

RequiresAndroid 5.0+

DeveloperWhatsApp LLC

Screenshots

About this app

WhatsApp is the closest thing the world has to a universal messenger. Owned by Meta since 2014, it handles text, voice notes, photo sharing, and free voice and video calls over the internet, and in many countries it has effectively replaced SMS. If the people you need to reach are in Europe, Latin America, India, or most of Africa, they are almost certainly on it.

Every personal chat and call is protected by end-to-end encryption based on the Signal protocol, which means neither Meta nor anyone intercepting your traffic can read message content. That is a genuinely strong guarantee, and it is on by default. The caveats sit around the edges: metadata, backups, and the data WhatsApp shares with other Meta companies. We cover each of these below.

Staying in touch across borders

International texting and calling cost nothing beyond your data plan. For families spread across countries, WhatsApp remains the lowest-friction option because the other person almost certainly has it installed already.

Group coordination

Groups support up to 1,024 members, with polls, event-style announcements, and admin controls. School classes, sports clubs, and neighbourhood groups tend to live here, for better or worse.

Small-business contact

Many small businesses take orders and answer questions through WhatsApp. The separate WhatsApp Business app adds catalogues and quick replies, while regular users can message any business without extra setup.

End-to-end encrypted chats and calls

Message content, calls, and shared media in personal chats are encrypted with the Signal protocol. Not even WhatsApp's servers can read them. You can additionally verify a contact's security code in person for high-stakes conversations.

Voice and video calls

One-to-one and group calls (up to 32 participants for audio) work reliably even on weak connections, which is a large part of why the app dominates in regions with expensive mobile data.

Communities and channels

Communities bundle related groups under one umbrella; Channels provide one-way broadcast feeds from organisations and public figures. Both are optional and stay out of the way if you only want private chats.

Multi-device support

You can link up to four companion devices, including the desktop apps and WhatsApp Web, without keeping your phone online. Linked devices get their own encryption keys, and each one is listed and revocable in settings.

Privacy & Data Safety

Message content is end-to-end encrypted by default, which puts WhatsApp ahead of most mainstream messengers. The trade-off is metadata: WhatsApp collects who you talk to, when, how often, and from which device and IP address, and its privacy policy allows sharing this with other Meta companies for purposes including advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

Chat backups to Google Drive are NOT encrypted unless you switch on end-to-end encrypted backups manually (Settings > Chats > Chat backup). This is the single most common gap in otherwise secure setups.
The app requests contacts access to build your chat list. It uploads your address book, including numbers of people who never agreed to use WhatsApp.
Disappearing messages (24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days) and view-once media are available per chat.
A phone number is mandatory and visible to your contacts; usernames are not yet generally available.

Advantages

End-to-end encryption on by default for all personal chats and calls
Near-universal adoption means you rarely need a second messenger
Reliable calls on poor connections
No ads inside chats

Updates

WhatsApp ships updates every one to two weeks on Android, usually a mix of incremental features and security fixes. Because the app handles encrypted communication, staying current matters more than with most apps: several past vulnerabilities (including remotely exploitable ones) were fixed in routine updates long before most users heard of them.

Ongoing rollout of Channels and third-party chat interoperability required by the EU's Digital Markets Act
Gradual expansion of multi-device features, including using one account on multiple phones
Quality improvements to video calling, screen sharing, and HD media sending

Editor's Assessment

Our verdict

WhatsApp earns its place as a default messenger: the encryption is real, the calls are dependable, and network effects are unbeatable. Turn on encrypted backups, review the privacy settings once, and it is a reasonable choice even for cautious users. If metadata sharing with Meta is a dealbreaker for you, Signal offers a similar experience with a stricter data policy, at the cost of a smaller contact base.

What works

End-to-end encryption on by default for all personal chats and calls
Near-universal adoption means you rarely need a second messenger
Reliable calls on poor connections
No ads inside chats

What to know

Extensive metadata collection, shared within the Meta group
Backups are unencrypted unless you opt in manually
Requires a phone number and address-book upload for full functionality
No true multi-account support on a single device

FAQ

Is WhatsApp free to use?

Yes. WhatsApp has no subscription and shows no ads in chats. It uses your internet connection, so the only cost is mobile data if you are not on Wi-Fi. The company monetises through WhatsApp Business services, not through end users.

Can Meta read my WhatsApp messages?

No. Message content is end-to-end encrypted, so Meta cannot read it. However, Meta does collect metadata such as who you message, when, and your device information, and unencrypted Google Drive backups can expose chat content outside WhatsApp's encryption.

Is it safe to download WhatsApp from outside Google Play?

We recommend installing only from Google Play or from whatsapp.com. Modified versions such as 'GB WhatsApp' are unofficial, frequently carry malware, and can get your number banned.