Both BBM and WhatsApp are instant messaging apps that allow you to primarily exchange text and files using data.

While BBM uses PIN for contact invitation, WhatsApp uses the phone book to automatically add contacts.

This post contains an item-by-item comparison of the two apps. It lists a feature and determines which of the two apps is better in the stated feature. I think whichever you consider better depends on your needs.

I developed this post based on my first-hand experience of WhatsApp and BBM Android on my Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

[size=16pt]Areas where WhatsApp is better[/size]

USER BASE

WhatsApp necessarily has a higher user base than BBM, because the former runs on a larger number of platforms than the latter. As at first quarter of 2014, WhatsApp had about 500 million users, those of BBM were 113 million.

TEXT LENGTH

BBM has a 2000-character text box, while WhatsApp has unlimited text box.

FONT SIZE

BBM does not allow the font size to be changed - increased or decreased, but with WhatsApp, the font size can be altered to suit your visual condition.

WALLPAPER

While chat environment cannot be wallpapered on BBM, the chat environment on WhatsApp can be adorned with a wallpaper.

PARAGRAPHING

WhatsApp allows paragraphing, BBM doesn't. Paragraphing comes in handy when you have a long article to send, as it makes the write-up uncluttered and neat.

VIDEO SHARING

The maximum video size shareable on BBM is 16MB. If a video file; [video or not] is higher than 16MB, it cannot be shared on BBM. Come to WhatsApp, video of any length or size can be shared someway. If the length and size of the video is too high, WhatsApp allows you to break the video into reasonable-size parts and send them in succession. You can determine even the segment of a video to be shared, leaving the other parts unsent!

MEDIA RECEIPT HANDLING

If someone sends you a video or image on BBM, and while downloading it, it happens that it fails, you cannot re-download the file; the sender must re-send the file to you. On WhatsApp, if the file download fails, you can re-download the file without requesting that the sender re-send the file.

NOTIFICATION PERSONALISATION

On BBM, the same alert is used for all incoming messages. On WhatsApp you define the particular alert for each person, so that a different tone is heard when a message come from persons you have personalised their tones. You can also set a different tone for personal chat and group chat.

CHAT HISTORY DISTRIBUTION

Both BBM and WhatsApp allow chat history to be distributed via email. However, WhatsApp's chat history has time stamp, BBM's has none.

CHAT HISTORY RECOVERY

BBM currently has no means of recovering global chat history. WhatsApp allows global chat history to be backed up and recovered any time, even after you have formatted your phone.

CELL BROADCAST LIST

While BBM supports cell broadcast, it does lack cell broadcast list creation. Each time you want to do cell broadcast, you have tick desired contacts, or mass-tick all contacts. WhatsApp supports the creation of cell broadcast list. You can create a list of categories of contacts based on your relationship with them. You can have a list for, say, classmates, towns persons, business colleagues, and so forth, so that the list will be handy when you want to do cell broadcast to any category.

CONVERSATION ITEM FORWARDING

BBM cannot forward a selected conversation item to contacts. With WhatsApp you can select specific items in a conversation and forward it to another user.

REVERSAL OF SENT ITEMS AND DELETION OF SPECIFIC CONVERSATION ITEMS

If you mistakenly send a text to your friend on BBM, you can stop the message from reaching the friend, provided WhatsApp has not appended a tick against the text. You can stop the text by long-pressing it and hitting the refuse bin icon, and confirming the deletion. BBM does not have this feature. You cannot delete an item, once it is sent.

CONVERSATION: INDIVIDUAL COPYING

If your intention is to copy specific items in a conversation, WhatsApp can do better in that regard, BBM cannot copy more than one specific items in a conversation to clipboard.

[size=16pt]Areas where BBM is better[/size]

UPDATES AND INTERACTIVITY

BBM is more interactive than WhatsApp, as users get updates about their friends' personal message and media activity. Friends can even comment on a given activity, personal message, or display picture, leading to more conversations. You can also see a user's current country and time, if they have turned the feature on. On WhatsApp, you don't get alerts on updates about your friends' personal message unless you actually visit their profile. And you cannot comment on their display picture.

DELIVERY REPORTS

Both BBM and WhatsApp have delivery report system, but BBM is more developed in that regard. While BBM informs you that your message has been sent, delivered and read/viewed, WhatsApp only informs you that your message has been sent and delivered.

MULTI-PERSON CHAT

BBM allows you to chat with 2 or more persons at a time under the same chat window. When a participant sends a message, all the other participants are alerted and shown the message. This feature is not available on WhatsApp.

VOICE CALL OVER CHAT

While BBM allows you to make calls using your data to other BBM users with compatible devices, WhatsApp has no such feature.

ANIMATION

You can use animated, moving images that provide more information on BBM, but images on WhatsApp are static.

CELL BROADCAST

Both BBM and WhatsApp support cell broadcast. For one-time cell broadcast, BBM is superior to WhatsApp as it allows for mass ticking of contacts for cell broadcast to be sent. On WhatsApp, you have to tick contacts one at a time, which could be time-consuming.

FILE TYPES

BBM supports the sharing of more file types than WhatsApp. For example, you can share .apk, .pdf, .exe, .doc, etc. files on BBM, but not on WhatsApp.

CHANNELS

Channels is somewhat similar to the concept of Facebook fan page. It allows a user to create a channel that people can join and get their updates, and comment on, or reply to. BBM has the channel functionality unlike WhatsApp.

GROUP

Just like channel, Group is similar to the idea of Facebook group. A user can create a group and let others become members. The group has a forum for chat, pictures, events, lists and a group picture. Both BBM and WhatsApp support the group functionality, but that of WhatsApp is not as advanced as that of BBM, and supports only the group chat and picture features.

PROFILE PICTURE VIEWING

It is easier to view a user's profile picture on BBM than on WhatsApp. When a BBM user uploads a picture, it appears on the "Updates," and when you click on it it appears fully even without Internet connection. You can also easily convert a friend's display picture to reflect on your own profile with just few clicks. On WhatsApp, you need Internet connection, for the first time, to download a friend's picture before you can clearly and fully view it. And you cannot convert a friend's profile picture to appear on your own profile unless you first download it, and then upload it the regular way.

DESCRIPTIVE PHOTO SENDING

When sending an image on BBM, you can input some descriptive text against the image before sending it. This feature is not available on WhatsApp.

PING!

This could be a way of calling your friends' attention. When you send your friend a PING!, their phone makes an alert and vibrates. BBM incorporates this feature, but not WhatsApp.

CONTACTS' VIEW

BBM contacts can appear in either grid or list format; that of WhatsApp can appear only in list format.

CONVERSATION: MASS COPYING

You can copy to clipboard the entire length of conversation you had with a user on BBM with just a few clicks. On WhatsApp, you have to individually select each item, as many as they are, before you can copy them to clipboard.

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Which of it wins the comparison? Whatsapp all the way. I av a BB phone, nd I dnt even knw my PIN, donno why I dislike it.