You can’t compare us to WhatsApp: WeChat

Measuring WeChat against WhatsApp is the wrong comparison to make. That’s the word from Brett Loubser, the head of WeChat Africa.

“We can do a lot of stuff that WhatsApp will never do because it’s not their game plan,” he said.

Loubser was asked how many users WeChat had in South Africa, and how their uptake compared to that of WhatsApp.

He said that while they couldn’t break down user numbers by territory, he could say that WeChat was one of only three social platforms that have continued to grow over the past three years.

In terms of global user numbers, WeChat reported in November that it had 650 million monthly active users. By contrast, WhatsApp reported in September that it had 900 million users.

Loubser said they are comfortable with where they are positioned in the local market now, but added that they have work to do.

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