It’s fair to say that WhatsApp is our first port of call for chatting with others. But when it comes to a wealth of features, it pales in comparison to WeChat, Asia’s most popular messaging app. As WeChat now celebrates five years since its release, we were keen to share just what we love about it.

Facebook-owned WhatsApp now boasts almost 1 billion users, making it the most widely used in the world, ahead of Facebook Messenger. But that hasn’t stopped Tencent-owned WeChat pushing forward, especially when it comes to innovation. Although ranking in third place with a lower user number of around 650 million, the app is unique in the fact that it is more than just a messaging platform. From its Facebook-style home feed, to its different options for live-chatting, group chatting, web and voice-chatting, WeChat combines the best of social networking and messaging under one roof.

And especially when it comes to ecommerce, WeChat is exemplary, with startups and even larger businesses alike solely using the platform to attract user purchases. As early as 2013, the app introduced its online wallet payment system, WeChat Pay, in response to Alibaba’s Alipay, enabling users to quickly make in-app purchases. Since then, WeChat has also partnered with other companies, enabling users to quickly make restaurant and taxi bookings. And combining this feature with social connectivity means businesses can also market, as well as monitor brand chat and influence. Added to this, it’s currently the only social platform to house a fully functioning “Buy” button- something still to be rolled out to all users on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Because of this functionality, many developers have built their brands within WeChat itself, as opposed to relying on an app- this makes it cheaper, as well as having the additional benefit of a social community in place around their products.

WeChat’s other features also make it a standout app in comparison to other messaging services. For instance, it is lightyears ahead in terms of unique and fun features- personalised QR codes for instance, allow users to scan and add each other, while the “Shake” function allows you to make new contacts with those nearby who happen to shake their phones at the same time! We especially love the app’s “Walkie Talkie” feature, which essentially enables your phone to act as one- groups of users nearby each other need simply push their buttons to speak. With entertaining updates added to WeChat all the time, the app has now just released one of its most crucial to date. Just last week, the app launched a feature that now allows users to make calls to mobiles and landlines, with this service already available in the USA, India and Hong Kong. While the likes of Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp already offer this, WeChat is clearly determined not to lag behind in any area, showing advancement above and beyond its competitors in so many ways.

Do you use WeChat in addition to or in place of other messaging apps? Do you find it to be beneficial for brand promotion and business? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please tweet to us @PracticeDigital and share your comments on our Facebook page.