WhatsApp SWOT Analysis, Competitors & USP

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Mobile & Web Application - Cross Platform Social media messenger

IT & Technology

Simple. Personal. Real Time Messaging.

WhatsApp offers simplicity & user friendly platform for private chats

All internet users (Smartphone as well as web)

Customers who need personalized messenger application (Relatively younger segment)

WhatsApp is a simple, user friendly & personal social media app

Below is the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats (SWOT) Analysis of WhatsApp. Strengths are:

1. WhatsApp is a top of the mind app among customers worldwide for personal & private chats

2. WhatsApp has a very high awareness and extremely high user engagement

3. With increase in telecom services, the app has had a cascading effect in terms of installations

4. Ad free service and hence higher customer satisfaction

5. WhatsApp has a strong loyal customer base of over 1.5 billion users worldwide

6. Available in all major smartphone platforms like iOS, Android etc

7. WhatsApp has been enjoying early mover advantage in the chatting platform

8. Bug free compared to its competitors (Works smoothly without any problems)

9. WhatsApp Inc was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for approx. US$19 billion

10. The brand has very high penetration in India, Brazil, UK & other parts of Europe

11. WhatsApp also plans to launch application for small businesses & enterprise level solutions

Here are the weaknesses in the WhatsApp SWOT Analysis:

1. Vulnerability of encryption, promotion of hatred etc have all been linked to WhatsApp

2. Fear among users that data might get leaked due to cloud

Following are the Opportunities in WhatsApp SWOT Analysis:

1. Increasing internet penetration especially in developing countries can be leveraged by WhatsApp

2. Increasing smartphone users would help in keeping customers engaged 

3. Technological development & better services can help WhatsApp reach to a wider audience

4. Ensuring better security & privacy of user data, and controlling viral outbursts can help improve its image

The threats in the SWOT Analysis of WhatsApp are as mentioned:

1. Intense competition from similar apps can hurt WhatsApp's user engagement

2. Similar applications are also available for free

3. Strict actions by governments can be a threat for WhatsApp & its operations

Below are the top 9 WhatsApp competitors:

1. Viber

2. WeChat

3. Line

4. Skype

5. Telegram

6. Facebook

7. Instagram

8. Snapchat

9. Twitter