WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. Many WhatsApp users take advantage of WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp desktop to access their chats on their computers. But which desktop WhatsApp client is better – WhatsApp Web or the standalone WhatsApp desktop app?
Key Differences
Here are some of the key differences between WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp desktop:
| Feature | WhatsApp Web | WhatsApp Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Requires phone connection | Yes | No |
| Notifications | Through phone | Native desktop notifications |
| App vs browser | Runs in browser | Standalone desktop app |
| Dark mode | Follows browser | Has native dark mode |
| Multi-device support | No | Yes |
As you can see, WhatsApp desktop has some key advantages over WhatsApp Web, mainly that it works independently of your phone and has native desktop notifications and dark mode.
Ease of Use
In terms of ease of use, WhatsApp desktop has a slight edge. Because it is a dedicated desktop app, it is designed specifically for desktop use. WhatsApp Web runs in your browser, so it inherits some limitations of browsers, like smaller text and buttons.
The WhatsApp desktop app loads up quickly and is simple to navigate. You can access all the same features as on your phone. With WhatsApp Web, there can be a slight lag when first loading up the app in your browser, and browser tabs can sometimes get crowded with WhatsApp Web open.
Overall, most users will likely find WhatsApp desktop a bit simpler to use on a daily basis compared to WhatsApp Web.
Multi-Device Support
One of the most significant advantages of WhatsApp desktop over WhatsApp Web is multi-device support. WhatsApp desktop allows you to link up to 4 devices to your WhatsApp account and use them independently – even with your phone turned off.
With WhatsApp Web, your phone still needs to be connected in order to send and receive messages. So if your phone is off, you can’t use WhatsApp Web. This makes WhatsApp desktop much better for accessing your WhatsApp chats seamlessly across multiple devices.
Notifications
Notifications are another area where WhatsApp desktop has a major advantage. Because it’s a native app, WhatsApp desktop can send you native OS notifications for new messages and other activity. So even when WhatsApp desktop is running in the background, you’ll get a notification banner or popup when you receive a new message.
With WhatsApp Web, you only get notifications through your phone. So if your phone is on silent or busy, you may miss message notifications on WhatsApp Web. The native notification support on WhatsApp desktop makes it much easier to stay on top of your conversations.
Privacy
In terms of privacy, WhatsApp desktop may have a slight edge. Because it doesn’t rely on your browser, your WhatsApp chats are sandboxed in the app and aren’t exposed to other browser tabs and activity. With WhatsApp Web, your chats are open within your browser, which some could see as less private.
However, WhatsApp employs end-to-end encryption on both desktop and web. So the contents of your chats are still fully secured and inaccessible to third parties on both platforms.
Dark Mode
WhatsApp desktop has built-in support for dark mode. So you can enable a darker theme that is easier on the eyes, especially when using WhatsApp at night. On WhatsApp Web, dark mode is not built-in, so you need to rely on your browser’s dark mode settings.
Having a native dark theme makes for a better experience on WhatsApp desktop. Though on WhatsApp Web, you can enable browser dark mode to get a similar effect.
Performance
In general, WhatsApp desktop offers better performance than WhatsApp Web. As a standalone desktop app, WhatsApp is optimized specifically for the desktop environment. It opens quickly and runs smoothly for the most part.
WhatsApp Web relies on browser performance, so if you have many other tabs open, it may impact the performance of WhatsApp Web. Browsers also tend to use more memory and CPU than standalone apps. So those with older or low-spec machines may find WhatsApp desktop runs a bit faster.
Calling and Voice Messages
Voice and video calling is supported on both WhatsApp desktop and WhatsApp Web. On desktop, calling works independently of your phone, while on web your phone must be connected.
You can also record and send voice messages on both platforms. The voice message experience is pretty similar on WhatsApp desktop and web.
Stickers
WhatsApp has introduced support for sending stickers in chats. The sticker experience is nearly identical on WhatsApp desktop versus web. You can browse through the sticker packs you’ve added and send stickers to individual or group chats.
Group Chats
Group chats are fully functional and synchronized across WhatsApp desktop and web. You can participate in group chats from either platform. Other users in the group won’t know any difference between you using desktop versus web.
Media Sharing
Sharing photos, videos and other media works seamlessly on both WhatsApp desktop and WhatsApp Web. Images and videos appear crisper on the desktop app versus web, but the experience of sending and viewing media is generally the same.
Conclusion
Overall, most WhatsApp users will likely find the WhatsApp desktop app to be a better experience compared to WhatsApp Web. The main advantages of desktop are:
- Works independently of your phone
- Native desktop notifications
- Faster performance
- Dedicated dark mode
- Easier privacy
However, WhatsApp Web can still be a convenient option for quick access to chats when you don’t have the desktop app installed. But for a true standalone desktop messaging experience, WhatsApp for desktop is hard to beat.
Here is a summary of the key points comparing WhatsApp Web vs WhatsApp Desktop:
| Feature | WhatsApp Web | WhatsApp Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Requires phone connection | Yes | No |
| Notifications | Through phone | Native desktop |
| App vs browser | Browser | Desktop app |
| Dark mode | Via browser | Native |
| Multi-device | No | Yes |
| Privacy | Browser-based | Sandboxed app |
| Performance | Relies on browser | Faster |
| Ease of use | Smaller interface | Designed for desktop |
In summary, while WhatsApp Web provides convenient browser-based access to chats, the dedicated desktop app offers the best overall experience with important advantages like multi-device support, notifications, speed and design. So for power WhatsApp users who want a true desktop messaging client, WhatsApp Desktop is generally the better choice.