If you’re living in China, chances are you’ve already joined the WeChat movement. And for those who haven’t, you’re definitely missing out. This smartphone app was created by the Chinese Internet powerhouse, Tencent, and is sweeping the nation and beyond. It is making huge strides among internet firms who have traditionally faced difficulty expanding beyond the nation’s borders and has the potential to become the first Chinese social media app to go global. So just what is it about WeChat? And how does it compare to the widely-popular Whatsapp? Let’s take a look.

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WeChat Vs. Whatsapp: how do they differ?

Wechat is a mobile phone text and voice messaging application that features international language support with 15 available languages and can be accessed on Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, and 4G data networks. It began as a project at the Tencent research facility in Guangzhou and was launched three months later, in January 2011. As of January 2013, WeChat had 300 million users concentrated in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, as well as Chinese communities around the world and by July 2013 it had 70 million international users, and was the fifth most used smartphone app worldwide, according to a GlobalWebIndex survey.

WhatsApp Messenger is an instant messaging subscription service for smartphones that operates much like WeChat. According to an article by The Verge, WhatsApp had over 300 million active users with 325 million photos shared each day, as of August 2013. And unlike WeChat, the service is free only for the first year then costs 6 RMB per year from then on. Let’s take an in-depth look at the areas where these two messaging apps have noticeable differences.

Supported Operating Systems

Both WeChat and Whatsapp are available on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Nokia platforms. However, WeChat goes a step further with its WebChat feature, allowing you to chat with friends through a desktop browser by linking to your device using a QR code. Furthermore, WeChat can be used on tablet PCs, whereas Whatsapp is geared toward smartphone use.

Communication & Social Features

With use of an Internet connection, both WeChat and Whatsapp allow you to send text, photos, video clips, location data, audio clips, and name cards. Where WeChat differs from Whatsapp is in its support of video calls and live chat and a higher user limit for group chats (WeChat: 40, Whatsapp: 30). Additionally, WeChat offers a few social add-ons that let you randomly make friends with new people by using the ‘Look Around’, ‘Shake’, or ‘Drift Bottle’ functions. WeChat also allows you to share statuses and photos with your friends and the world through their unique ‘Moments’ feature.

Privacy & Security

Both WeChat and Whatsapp require a mobile phone number to register and both have the ability to scan your contact list to determine which of your friends are also using the service. WeChat offers a bit more security in that it requires you to add contacts and receive approval before two parties can begin chatting. It also keeps your phone number private through use of a unique username. With Whatsapp, anyone who has your number (and vice versa) will be able to send you a message and see when you are online or when you were ‘last seen’. Of course, both apps have privacy options that can be changed to ensure your information is kept safe.

Backup Options

As far as backup options, both apps offer possibilities to keep your precious messages safe. WeChat offers the best backup service that can be easily done without losing any of your chat history. The service allows you to save your conversation history to their server for seven days and then restore it on your new device. Whatsapp backup varies for each operating system, but one’s chat history is generally saved on a daily basis and backups can be manually performed with a bit more effort than required by WeChat.

Connection & Data Usage

For those times when you’re busy or don’t want to be interrupted, WeChat allows you to log out of the service and save messages for reading when you log in again. Unfortunately, the only way to disable Whatsapp is by disabling your Internet connection, as there is no log out function. As far as data usage, a former Whatsapp and current WeChat user found that WeChat used around 40 percent less data than Whatsapp, based on personal experience. Unfortunately, WeChat is not light on memory, with its size being twice that of Whatsapp. But this is definitely made up for by its cute, animated emoticons and plethora of other features.
Miscellaneous

Thirsty mobile-messengers in China can now find refreshments at the new WeChat vending machines that are popping up in subway stations across Beijing. They allow WeChat users to pay for bottled drinks entirely within the chat app, making use of the mobile payments integration from the recently-launched update. And there’s a special price for those who pay online – just 1 RMB for a bottled beverage that would otherwise sell for 3-5 RMB. As for Whatsapp, I’m not sure where they stand on the whole vending machine issue.

The future of WeChat

Judging by the latest WeChat update, the application is continuing to grow, evolve, and expand its usability. The new version lets users purchase animated stickers, save their favorite ‘Moments’, input by voice, link debit/credit cards, play games, and scan bar codes, books, street views, and words, along with many other features. However, even with all these features, WeChat will need to stay on its tippy-toes, developmentally-speaking, because it looks like there’s competition on the horizon. According to a China Daily report, Alibaba recently announced a new mobile chat app called ‘Laiwang’ as part of their restructuring and refocus on mobile Internet business. WeChat’s success has also prompted other competitors to enter the market with similar apps such as China Telecom’s ‘Yixin’ and a Hangzhou tech company’s messaging app named ‘WeMeet’. 

Unfortunately, there has been some concern about the censorship of WeChat content beyond China’s borders. As you might guess, WeChat already censors its communications within China, but in early 2013, allegations arose that WeChat was also performing keyword filtering and blocking for users outside of the country. As the situation currently stands, WeChat’s servers are all located in China and thus subject to local censorship rules. WeChat responded by saying that they plan to build two different platforms, one for mainland China and one for the rest of the world, to avoid such problems in the future.

In closing

WeChat is a great app that allows you to connect with friends and strangers with convenience and ease. One can certainly have more fun on WeChat compared to other messaging services as it comes with a wide variety of communication and social features built-in to help you expand your networking circles. Of course its popularity will depend on your group of friends and their messaging app of choice. But so long as you’re living in China, WeChat will likely be the way to go. If you’re like me, you’ve probably even sold your family and friends on the app as well. It’s a great way to connect with international counterparts while on-the-go. If you ask me, it blows the competition out of the water. Good work, China.  

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Keywords: WeChat vs. Whatsapp social media app in China