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Software · head to head

Flock vs WhatsApp

Flock logo

Flock

Software

Organized team communication platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WhatsApp logo

WhatsApp

Software

Simple. Reliable. Private.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Flock the Starter plan only makes the most recent 10,000 messages searchable and caps public channels at 10; WhatsApp consumer app messaging and calling is free, but the vendor notes carrier data charges may apply
  • They diverge on capability: Flock covers Team chat, WhatsApp covers Text messaging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flock and WhatsApp actually diverge.

Attributes where Flock and WhatsApp differ
AttributeFlockWhatsApp
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Founded20142009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Flock

  • Team chat
  • Channels
  • Threads
  • Polls
  • Integrations
  • Mobile apps
  • Slack
  • Zapier

Only in WhatsApp

  • Text messaging
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • Group chats
  • Status updates
  • Voice messages
  • Location sharing
  • WhatsApp Business API

Both cover

  • File sharing
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Flock

  • Team messaging with channels, direct messages and file sharingnot WhatsApp
  • Running polls, to-dos and reminders inside a chat workspacenot WhatsApp
  • Video conferencing and screen sharing for small teamsnot WhatsApp

WhatsApp

  • Personal messagingnot Flock
  • Family communicationnot Flock
  • Business communicationnot Flock
  • Group coordinationnot Flock
  • International callingnot Flock

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Flock

  • The Starter plan only makes the most recent 10,000 messages searchable and caps public channels at 10
  • Starter storage is 5 GB for the entire team, against 10 GB per member on Pro and 20 GB per member on Enterprise
  • Starter allows a single team admin and a single approved domain
  • Group video calls and screen sharing require the Pro plan; Starter is limited to 1-1 video calls
  • Group video calls are capped at 20 participants even on Enterprise
  • Single Sign-On and Active Directory sync are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise is quote only, with no published rate, and is positioned for organisations with 100 or more members
  • Unlimited auto-join and announcement channels require Enterprise; Starter and Pro get one of each

WhatsApp

  • Consumer app messaging and calling is free, but the vendor notes carrier data charges may apply

Pricing, plan by plan

Flock

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited chats
    • Channels
    • File sharing
  • Pro$5/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced search
    • API access

WhatsApp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited messaging
    • Voice and video calls
    • Group chats up to 1024 people

Which should you pick?

Choose Flock if

  • You need team chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want channels.
Flock review

Choose WhatsApp if

  • You need text messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want voice calls.
WhatsApp review

Questions people ask

Is Flock or WhatsApp better?
Neither clearly leads. Flock starts at Free and WhatsApp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Flock or WhatsApp?
Flock starts at Free and WhatsApp at Free.
Does Flock or WhatsApp run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Flock for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Flock best used for?
Flock is most often used for team messaging with channels, direct messages and file sharing, running polls, to-dos and reminders inside a chat workspace, video conferencing and screen sharing for small teams. Of those, team messaging with channels, direct messages and file sharing and running polls, to-dos and reminders inside a chat workspace are not what WhatsApp is typically brought in for.
What can Flock do that WhatsApp cannot?
Flock covers Team chat, Channels, Threads, Polls. WhatsApp covers Text messaging, Voice calls, Video calls, Group chats. Both handle File sharing, Cloud deployment, Web support, Windows support.
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Related pages

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