WhatsApp Web Or WhatsApp Desktop, Which One To Choose? Here's The Comparison
JAKARTA - WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging platform. The developers of this application also continue to innovate to ensure users do not switch to other applications.
Quoted from Efyei and Kahfi, there are around 2 billion active users worldwide. Then, WhatsApp is not only available for mobile applications, but can also be accessed via computers. When the user uses a computer, WhatsApp can be accessed at once without having to open the cellphone.
You may now be familiar with the Web version of the WhatsApp platform and the Desktop version. Both are equally accessible via a computer.
To access WhatsApp Web and desktop also have similarities, namely by linking the WhatsApp account on the cellphone on the two versions of the platform. Although they look similar, what is the difference between WhatsApp Web and Desktop.
Difference between WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop
The main difference between WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop is the format or form of the platform. WhatsApp Web is WhatsApp built with a Web-based format.
"While WhatsApp Desktop, WhatsApp has a format based on an application program for computers. The difference between the two formats automatically makes the way to access them also different, "said the information summarized from the official WhatsApp website.
How to access WhatsApp Web can be done via a browser on a computer. Then, users can open a browser application to go to the https://web.whatsapp.com page.
Then, the user links the WhatsApp account on the phone to the page, by opening WhatsApp on the phone, clicking the Settings menu, selecting the Linked Device option, and clicking "Link Device".
Next, point the camera of the open phone to scan the QR code located on the WhatsApp Web page. Wait a few seconds for the account to successfully log in to WhatsApp Web.
On the other hand, WhatsApp Desktop access requires downloading the app. You can download the WhatsApp Desktop application through the official WhatsApp website.
But make sure the application is compatible with your computer's operating system. If the download is successful, install the WhatsApp Desktop application according to the instructions on each computer.
To start accessing WhatsApp Desktop, you just have to link your WhatsApp account on your phone to the app. The way to link it is the same as on WhatsApp Web.
Users simply scan the QR code that appears on WhatsApp Desktop using the phone's camera in the mobile WhatsApp application. Then, wait a few moments until the account is successfully logged in.
The next difference lies in the ability to zoom out of the platform page. WhatsApp Web accessed via a browser does not have the Minimize feature. Meanwhile, WhatsApp Desktop has a Minimize feature.
Then, the most important difference is that WhatsApp Web is not equipped with these two features. Instead, WhatsApp Desktop has got an update that allows users to make video and phone calls.
Conclusion, Choose Web or Desktop Version?
Based on the description above, WhatsApp Desktop has advantages over WhatsApp Web. Namely with the features of video and telephone calls. However, this does not necessarily make WhatsApp Desktop the best choice. Because WhatsApp Desktop has minimum requirements that must be met by the user's computer.
"The WhatsApp Desktop platform can only be used on computer devices that are capable of running at least the operating system version of Windows 8.1 and later or Mac OS 10.10 or later," reads information on the official WhatsApp website.
So, if your computer or laptop does not meet these minimum requirements, it is recommended to use WhatsApp Web.
As is known, a computer that can run the two operating systems has a minimum RAM capacity of up to 2GB. If the user does not meet these minimum standards, they will not be able to run WhatsApp Desktop on their device.
In fact, when a user has a device but it is limited to minimal standards, it is possible that the application cannot run optimally.
Thus, if a question arises, it is better to choose WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop, then the answer depends on the ability and capacity of the user's computer.