Originally Posted by
DYKWIA
What are the advantages of iMessage over WhatsApp?
Of my friends, relatives and colleagues, I'd estimate to to be around 60% Android, 40% iOS. However, I don't know of anyone who uses iMessage. Or maybe they do, in addition to WhatsApp.
User base is the #1 advantage for Whatsapp. If most of your contacts use it, then everything else is moot. That said, I have contacts on both systems and prefer some aspects of iMessage:
iMessage Advantages:
#1 . Full-resolution Photos/Videos. If I go to an event, I can share the photos and videos with everyone from the event (or in a group) seamlessly and in full quality. With Whatsapp this isn't possible and requires use of something like a google Photos. Not a fan of the compression.
#2 . Auto-play of GIFS - If I send a reaction GIF, it actually plays as intended on iMessage. Whatsapp requires the recipient to press "play"
#3 . Apple Pay: convenient alternative to venmo baked right into imessage.
#4 . Integrated Apps/mini-apps (not sure of the name): for example, in iMessage, I can press the United Airlines app button... it then shows all my flights and allows me to share interactive flight details. Recipients get a nice little card with United airlines showing a plane and my current arrival/delay status. Clicking on the card shows up-to-date flight details right in iMessage (no downloads required for recipient).
#5 . All apple devices get and can send imessages without being tied to the phone. This is super convenient. WhatsApp web or Desktop app ain't the same
#6 . SMS fallback: At times when there is no data connection, iMessage can fall back to SMS
#7 . WhatsApp calls (incoming video calls) are a mess on iPhone. They aren't properly implemented to use callkit. Google Duo on the other hand works flawlessly.
Other than those I think both platforms are about equal. I will say, I prefer the Checkmark status on WhatsApp more. I also LOVE the fact that Whatsapp is cross platform. But overall, the installed userbase is the ONLY advantage WhatsApp currently has. In nearly every other aspect, it has been outpaced by other messenger apps, it feels stagnant. I'm surprised Facebook has let it languish, because other platforms like Telegram are nipping at its heels.
Of course none of that matters if you can't get folks to download an app, or if people are using 12,000 different apps.