Technology has made our lives much more manageable. Gone are the days of sending a carrier pigeon to a friend when you want to contact them (or a traditional SMS text) — we have Discord and WhatsApp now!

But how do you know which one you should use when you want to connect with someone, and is there any difference between the two? Here is what you need to know.

Difference Between Discord And WhatsApp?

Discord allows you to join virtual communities and is designed for people who love gaming. WhatsApp is a replacement for traditional SMS and phone calls, no matter what your interests are. Discord servers are like private social networks, whereas WhatsApp is primarily used for text communication between two people.

While Discord and WhatsApp are both socialization platforms that create bridges between people, there are major differences between the two.

The main difference is that WhatsApp is mainly used to carry two-way conversations, while Discord is for gathering big communities who bond over a shared interest (mainly gaming). WhatsApp is similar to traditional text messaging, in that most people use WhatsApp to communicate with people they know in real life. 

In contrast, many people use Discord to meet friends and connect with people whose identities remain anonymous. A discord server is similar to a private social network that brings together people with common interests.

Reasons Why WhatsApp Is Better

WhatsApp is better than Discord for simple two-way communication exchanges. It allows users to simply and easily send text, picture, video, and audio messages to each other. Also, WhatsApp is fully encrypted, meaning messages and data cannot be intercepted and read by hackers or third parties.

Are there some reasons why WhatsApp is better than Discord? Sure, let’s dig into some of them and explore why it could potentially be a better service.

For starters, WhatsApp is known for being a super secure, encrypted communication platform. This makes it nearly impossible for third-parties, like ISPs or governments, to read the contents of your messages.

WhatsApp also syncs to your cloud, meaning you can access messages, photos, and videos on your other devices. Just make sure they’re also connected to the cloud.

WhatsApp also allows users to backup their app data to an email address. This will ensure you have a backup just in case WhatsApp goes down or you somehow lose valuable information within the app.

Another advantage of using WhatsApp is that you can easily send a contact to another person within the app itself. It’s very easy to forward the information of people in your contacts list to other WhatsApp users. 

If you’re waiting for a friend to respond to your message, you can see when they were last active. In addition to that, you can share your location, so your friends and family will know where you are.

If you’d rather keep your information private, you can also deactivate the option for people to see when you were last in the app or your current location.

Are you really into selfies and sharing them with your social network?

Well, WhatsApp is wonderful for taking photos within the app, then immediately letting you send it to someone within seconds.

Not only that, but you can also draw on the pictures and write captions as well.

Now that you know several valid reasons why WhatsApp is better, let’s flip the coin and take a look at the other side of this debate.

Reasons Why Discord Is Better

Discord is a better platform for discovering new people and engaging with communities who share common interests. It excels at creating large, collaborative groups of users who convene to discuss some shared interest or cause.

A significant advantage of using Discord is that it doesn’t require a SIM card to use all of its features. While WhatsApp requires users use a phone number to register, you do not need a phone number to use Discord. You can use it from any device.

Discord is similar to Reddit or Facebook groups in that it organizes lots of people into communities. On a Discord server, there are many channels dedicated to various uses and interests.

For example, a Discord server for dog lovers might have one channel for discussing grooming tips, one channel for discussing training tips, and another channel for animal rights activism.

Users who join a Discord server can initiate conversations, either over voice or text, in any of the channels in the Discord server. This way, users can interact with strangers and share opinions with people they do not know.

In contrast, WhatsApp requires you to know people before you can get any use out of the app.

In other words, Discord offers users the chance to join and engage with pre-existing communities, whereas WhatsApp requires you to bring your own friends in order to get anything out of the app.

Which Is Better: Discord Or WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is better than Discord if you mainly need one-to-one communication that allows for basic media like photos and videos. It provides group messaging, too. But if you like to engage in big group activities, debates, and games, then Discord will probably be better for you.

If you’re looking for a replacement for SMS and voice calls, then WhatsApp is a great fit. It allows you to communicate with people using just their phone number over data.

This is ideal for people who want to converse with folks outside of the country they live in. WhatsApp calls made over Wi-Fi are free, so you can theoretically speak with anyone in the world without incurring large carrier costs.

On the other hand, Discord is in a league of its own when it comes to meeting new people and establishing a group of internet friends. Discord is a great place to hang out if you want to meet other people who share your particular interests.

Final Thoughts

WhatsApp is one of the most well-known messaging apps in the world. It’s used globally and continues to be one of the most frequently used communication apps by people of all age groups.

On the other hand, Discord is designed for gamers who like to communicate with other video game lovers in order to gain skins that’ll improve their skills. Today, Discord isn’t just used by gamers but people of all interests.

Whichever service you choose (you can even choose both), you’ll be one touch away from sending a message to your loved ones.

Sources

• Steemit: Discord vs WhatsApp
• Versus: Discord vs WhatsApp
• Board Games Tips: Why is discord better than WhatsApp?