WhatsApp is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.7. WhatsApp wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Beeper on 1.
Anyone who wants one free app to reach family, friends and local businesses
People juggling WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and work chats every day
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Beeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Messaging & Calls | Messaging & Calls |
| Category rank | #3 of 10 | #4 of 10 |
| Developer | Meta | Automattic |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is WhatsApp better than Beeper?
WhatsApp is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.7. WhatsApp wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Beeper on 1.
Which is cheaper, WhatsApp or Beeper?
WhatsApp: Free to use; the App Store also lists an optional no-ads plan from $4. Beeper: Free; Beeper Plus listed at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year in the App Store. On value for money, WhatsApp scores higher.
Do WhatsApp and Beeper work on the same devices?
Only WhatsApp runs on Web. Only Beeper runs on Linux.
Which is more private, WhatsApp or Beeper?
Beeper scores higher on privacy (8.4/10). Beeper says most chat apps connect on-device, so messages go straight from your device to each network. App Store label: identifiers and diagnostics may be linked to you. No tracking.
Strengths and weaknesses
WhatsApp
- Almost everyone you know is already on it
- Messages and calls are encrypted by default
- Works on phone, desktop, web and Apple Watch
- Meta collects metadata like who you talk to and when
- Ads and promoted channels now appear in the Updates tab
WhatsApp is the messenger most of your contacts already use, and that alone makes it hard to beat. Chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted, the apps are fast, and this year brought calling from the browser and usernames that hide your number. The catch is Meta: it collects plenty of metadata, and ads now fill the Updates tab. Use it for everyday chats and keep Signal for anything sensitive.
Full WhatsApp review
Beeper
- Ends hopping between chat apps
- Free on every platform
- Most connections run on your device
- No iMessage support
- Android app has mixed reviews
Beeper puts WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Instagram, Messenger, Discord, Slack, LinkedIn, Google Messages and more into one inbox, with one search and one set of notifications. Most networks connect directly from your device rather than through Beeper's servers. Recent updates added Viber, message bookmarks and Blasts for sending one message to several chats. It's free on every platform, though there's no iMessage and the Android app gets mixed reviews.
Full Beeper review
