WhatsApp vs. FaceTime Video Calls: Which Is Better?

Whatsapp和FaceTimeare two of the most popular online communication apps out there.While they are all free and easy to use, they all have their own advantages and disadvantages.

FaceTimeMight be the obvious choice since it's well integrated into Apple devices, butWhatsappIt also has its own less obvious advantages.

We've delved into their strengths here so you can make a more informed choice when deciding which video phone to use.

conversation quality

While both WhatsApp and FaceTime have good call quality, WhatsApp cannot compete with the optimization of FaceTime on Apple devices, especially since WhatsApp is designed to function optimally on almost all devices.As a result, FaceTime has a sharper picture and better-sounding audio.

host a group call

In terms of the number of people you can have on one call, FaceTime and WhatsApp are neck and neck for 32 participants.However, Apple says this 32-person support "is not available in some countries and regions."This could put FaceTime one step behind if your Apple ID is tied to a region with this restriction.

Previously, you couldn't FaceTime someone with a non-Apple device.But that changes in 2021 with iOS 15; you can now generate a FaceTime link and share it with Android and Windows users.While non-Apple users can't generate a link, they can still join the call.So that makes it still a good choice for group calls.

However, FaceTime is superior in presentation, style, and accessibility. FaceTime has some useful features like auto-prominence, where the speaker's tile becomes prominent during a FaceTime call as they speak (and it also supports sign language). FaceTime also has a better user interface and offers advanced features like Live Caption, which generates subtitles as you speak.

WhatsApp, on the other hand, just puts all the speakers in rectangular tiles on the screen.It also lacks many of the fun features FaceTime has, like Memojis and Animojis.

Share files and other media

Picture this scenario: You're on the phone with your mom and she asks you to share a picture of your new puppy.If you use FaceTime, sending a photo instantly will require switching to iMessage, but if you use WhatsApp, this is less of an issue as it is primarily an instant messaging app.

If you anticipate such a scenario when you're going to make a phone call, it might be a good idea to use WhatsApp instead of FaceTime. WhatsApp is quite good for sharing all types of files and media quickly because it compresses them before sending.

screen sharing options

WhatsApp doesn't support screen sharing, so in situations where showing your screen is important, it's out of the question.

FaceTime, on the other hand, has a massive screen-sharing feature that Apple calls SharePlay.You can share the screen of your Mac, iPad or iPhone, watch movies and videos, and listen to music together on supported apps.

When you're on a FaceTime call on your iPad or iPhone, open a supporting app and you'll find the option to use SharePlay.On a Mac, when you tap the SharePlay button during a FaceTime video call, you can share a window or your entire screen.

Performance on Slow Internet Speeds

One of WhatsApp's greatest weaknesses is also its greatest strength. When WhatsApp detects a slow or unstable internet connection, it lowers call quality to maintain the connection.While this may result in more graphics and poor-quality audio, you'll still be able to stay connected through poor network service.

As far as we know, FaceTime calls are disconnected once the internet speed no longer meets the threshold.Or it does something that tries to make a connection in the background - if it doesn't complete within a short time, the call fails.It doesn't have effective call quality optimization like WhatsApp.

WhatsApp also gives you audio alerts to let you know that the person you're talking to can no longer hear you due to poor service.You'll hear beeps in the background as WhatsApp tries to connect you with your contacts.That way, you can wait for the app to establish a connection before continuing the conversation.

Since FaceTime has no audio cues, it can be difficult to tell if the person on the other end can hear you.There may be situations where FaceTime is trying to re-establish the connection without you knowing it, but it seems like your contacts can still hear you when you're talking.

platform availability

WhatsApp is a clear winner here, as it's available on most platforms, including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.Even though FaceTime allows users to join with a link, the person generating the link must be using an Apple device. The flexibility of WhatsApp makes it a popular choice for many people, especially those with a network of contacts across different types of devices.

However, if you and your contacts primarily use Apple devices, FaceTime offers a seamless and integrated experience, with a user-friendly interface designed specifically for Apple devices.In this case, FaceTime could be a convenient option for communication within the Apple ecosystem.

While cross-platform support is WhatsApp's biggest strength, note that it doesn't have an iPad app, while FaceTime is built into iPadOS and works just as well as on the iPhone.

Choose between WhatsApp and FaceTime as you like

One thing is clear: you can and should use FaceTime and WhatsApp at the same time. FaceTime is a sleek and fun video calling app that you can also use to share your screen.

However, WhatsApp is far more functional and can hold up when you use it on a poor network connection.But that comparison is only for calls; things change when you compare iMessage and WhatsApp as messaging apps.