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Add to SafariWhen comparing WhatsApp vs Pushbullet, the Slant community recommends Pushbullet for most people. In the question“What are the best Material Design apps?” Pushbullet is ranked 2nd while WhatsApp is ranked 34th. The most important reason people chose Pushbullet is:
Pushbullet also allows its users to push messages, links, files, locations, and more to any of their devices or to other Pushbullet users.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Straightforward interface
The interface is very simple, fast and easy to use. You can start using it as soon as the app has been downloaded - it does not require setting anything up or registering. You can communicate with anyone in your contacts list that also uses WhatsApp. Includes useful features like seeing when a contact is currently available or typing.
Pro Widely used
WhatsApp reported 1.5 billion users in 2018. Your friends are most likely already using WhatsApp, so it's easy to get setup.
Pro Effortlessly builds your contacts by using your phone number as identification
WhatsApp will automatically find all of your contacts currently using Whatsapp and add them to your contacts. This makes it really easy to setup and given that it's the most popular messaging app it's likely that a lot of your contacts are already using it.
Pro Message mirroring on web app
WhatsApp can be used from the desktop via Chrome, Firefox and Opera browsers. Accessing it requires using the Android app to scan the QR code that's presented on web.whatsapp.com.
Pro Signal protocol
Whatsapp uses the state-of-the-art Signal protocol that ensure strong end-to-end encryption.
Pro One-on-one texts can be encrypted
WhatsApp has implemented end to end encryption for messages sent on it's service. Even WhatsApp has no way to read a users messages.
Pro Does a lot more than just notifications
Pushbullet also allows its users to push messages, links, files, locations, and more to any of their devices or to other Pushbullet users.
Pro Superbly easy to use
After installing the Pushbullet application the set up process is as easy as it gets. Pushbullet will first ask you to sign in to your Google account. Then all you have to do is enable notification access and install the Chrome extension.
Pro Almost no delay
Pushbullet is just as fast as its name suggests at mirroring notifications or pushing links or files.
Pro Uses a Chrome extension for PC/Mac or a Windows application
Pushbullet is designed to use its Chrome extension although a Windows application can be used as well. The Chrome extension provides the best experience because any computer with a signed in Chrome browser will provide your Android notifications.
Pro Runs without Chrome open
As long as you enable "Keep Pushbullet running after I close Chrome" in the Pushbullet extension options, Chrome does not need to be open to receive notifications.
Pro Free
Pushbullet is free with no advertisements.
Pro Chrome notifications act as a notification drawer
Pushbullet uses Chrome notifications to act as a running list of past notification that have not yet been dismissed. This is especially useful if you receive a lot of notifications or you are not at your computer when they are received.
Pro Cross device notification mirroring
Pushbullet can even sync notifcations with other Android devices (beta). This helps prevent you from having to dismiss notifications more than once and allows you to always see your notifications no matter what device you're on.
Pro More information shown in the notification than other services
Pushbullet includes the sender's name, email address, unread count, subject, and a preview of the message all in the notification.
Pro Universal Copy/Paste
Copy text on PC,paste it on your Android device and vice versa. You need the windows app for this. iOS and OSX support coming soon.
Cons
Con Shares meta data with Facebook
WhatsApp shares your messaging meta data with Facebook if you do not opt-out in the settings. If you use the same phone number for WhatsApp and Facebook, the profiles can easily be linked.
See https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/general/26000016
Con Tied to carrier phone number
WhatsApp cannot be used by people without a smart phone with an active cell plan. If your phone is lost or damaged, or if your phone number changes, you cannot get messages sent by friends without them updating your phone number. You cannot send message to them until you are able to get SMS messages at your phone number.
Con Proprietary
Not open source.
Con Hard to migrate history cross platform
Migrating your chat history from Android to iOS or the other way around is not so simple. In some cases it requires a 3rd party app and in some the only way is to migrate specific chats one by one.
Con Web interface uses message mirroring
To use your computer to send messages your phone must be on with a consistent data connection.
Con Single device
You cannot use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices (e.g. a tablet, a PC and a cellphone). The account is tied to the device with the specific cellphone number. Chat history is deleted when you sign in to a new account, unless you have created a backup.
Con No cloud sync
Messages are not stored on WhatsApp server for privacy and security reasons.
Con Limitation on shareable file sizes
WhatsApp now allows users to share files of any type, but there is still a 16 MB size limit.
Con Mac users must use their browser
There is currently no desktop application for Mac users available. The Pushbullet website claims a native OSX client is "coming soon".
