A while back, I wrote that I preferred Ping over Whatsapp. I was wrong. In fact, I changed my mind so drastically that I ended up going back into the App Store and changing my reviews. I gave Ping 1/5 stars and Whatsapp 4/5 stars. Why not 5/5? I’ll come to that in a bit.
Here were my reasons for not liking Whatsapp:
– Automatic inclusion of other Whatsapp users in my contact list only works IF the number that I stored as their mobile number, is the same as the number they registered in the Whatsapp application. That number includes country codes. I didn’t want to go through my entire address book editing people’s mobile numbers to include the country code. (update: this has been rectified since version 2.1 — woohoo!)
– Not applicable to all countries. As of the writing of this post, Whatsapp still states that its “currently not avaliable in Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India.
I can’t do a thing about its geographical availability but it wouldn’t be fair to write off an application just because of my laziness. So one afternoon, I made the time to go through my contacts and input the country code. And that, as they say, was the tipping point.
So here’s a very basic break down of Ping vs Whatsapp. First, the similarities:
1. Both are iPhone to iPhone messaging apps that use your wifi/3G/EDGE to send and receive messages.
2. Both come with instant push notifications.
3. Both do no require log in/out. Just select the application and you can start messaging. Exactly like the iPhone’s native SMS app.
4. Both require your iPhone’s notification settings to be “ON”.
5. Both (currently) cost USD0.99. Although, Ping has a Lite version that is free.
Now here’s the differences:
A. Whatsapp’s push notification sound is your default SMS sound. Ping has a loud, jarring PING PING. When you open the application to read your message, Whatsapp gently gives a low buzz. Ping? Redundantly, it PING PINGs you all over again!
B. With Ping, you will need to create an ID, then tell your iPhone buddies about the ID. As mentioned previously, Whatsapp recognises the mobile numbers and adds other Whatsapp users on your address book into your Whatsapp contact list.
C. There is a limit to the number of characters you can send per message. (140? 150?) There isn’t a limit with Whatsapp. This would matter less if Ping lets users see the number of characters they have left. It doesn’t, and so I have often received broken messages. Too often that I stopped using Ping and almost exclusively use Whatsapp.
D. Whatsapp can send group SMS. Ping cannot.
E. There have been consistent complaints about Ping…
- losing messages,
- inaccurate time stamping,
- no means of storing IDs or contact list in-app. Good luck if you clear a conversation and can’t remember your friend’s ID.
- Its too easy to accidentally clear a conversation. I’ve hit the ‘clear’ button often just trying to scroll through the conversation. There’s no warning, it just clears.
F. The UI on Whatsapp is just prettier. You can change the wallpaper if you wanted, which is good because I like pastels but Jimmy prefers dark shades. Everybody can get the theme they prefer.
G. Ping has a slightly faster load time than Whatsapp. Messages get sent a tinge faster too.
H. Ping alerts you (albeit with its shocking PING PING sound) for every single message. Whatsapp doesn’t. I supposed this is to prevent spamming you with alert sounds if you’re finger deep in a conversation with someone.
I’m sure there’s a lot more differences but for now, these are the ones that stand out for me.
Ping’s developer, Gary Fung, has hinted that there will be an option to send pictures in future upgrades. However, that edge over Whatsapp will be lost if the picture messages get lost anyway. Which brings me to what will get Whatsapp 5 stars from me: picture sending capabilities. Yup.
(update: I have been told that picture sending for Whatsapp is in beta testing — Yippee!)
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Posted by whatsapp developer on November 9, 2009 at 2:27 pm
“Automatic inclusion of other Whatsapp users in my contact list only works IF the number that I stored as their mobile number”
this was fixed since version 2.1 btw:)
Posted by Faith T. on November 9, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Whoops! I updated the post to reflect this. Sorry about that.
Posted by Andrew Wodvine on November 9, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Good review. I installed Ping first, then found out about WhatsApp. I agree, WhatsApp is a more slicker, more refined messaging app. WhatsApp also has a few other little extras such as being able to set your status and you can connect with Facebook (although two features I don’t use).
For the price these applications are a bargain. I really think the developers have under-priced their apps, when you consider apps with similar functionality (I’m thinking Beejive IM)) are charging 10 times as much and still offer excellent value for money.
Posted by Rey on November 9, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Whatsapp will have picture messages in the next update to my understanding. They also are in beta testing with Blackberry to iPhone messaging.
Posted by Faith T. on November 9, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Woohoo… I can’t wait!
Posted by Chris on November 9, 2009 at 8:23 pm
FYI, Ping gives you the option to turn off sounds when you enter the app or are in the the app. And personally I like the distinctive sound. Let’s me know it’s from Ping and not SMS, though Whatsapp is suppOsed to get selectable sounds in 2.2. I agree that Whatsapp looks better, but the new time stamps in bubbles are awful, cluttering the UI so much that I prefer the cleaner look of Ping even with the uglier colors and look.
Posted by Damien on November 9, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Good review, you should not forget things like typing feedback, online status, last time in app notification these little things also make a difference. Ping! is just free SMS, WhatsApp is mobile chat thanks to those thing mentioned above. Also statuses, status change notifications. Those are the differences not seen in ping! Also 2.3 will bring a message delivery notification or status. S for delivered to server, D for delivered to device. When it’s a D you know the user has launched the app since you sent the message. Don’t forget the future integration with black berries. You should consider including some of these items as it could make a difference. Ping! = free SMS, whatsapp= black berry messangerish.