Messaging app for text, voice and video communication.
WhatsApp at a glance
WhatsApp is a telecom website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #41 in the country. It was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton, Jan Koum and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, United States. Today WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 200 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through business api fees, click-to-message ads. Its closest rivals include telegram.org, messenger.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 188 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 194 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 200 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 212 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct60%
- Organic search28%
- Paid search6%
- Referral4%
- Social2%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 25-3428%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 60 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Very high | Dominant | |
| mobile plans | Top 10 | High | — |
| bill payment | Top 10 | High | — |
| internet packages | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 80% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading telecom apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- whatsapp.com
- Sector
- Telecom
- Owner
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Owner type
- Subsidiary
- Founders
- Brian Acton, Jan Koum
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Menlo Park, California, United States
- Employees
- N/A (part of Meta)
- Ownership
- Meta Platforms, Inc. controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- N/A (bundled within Meta)
- Languages
- English and 60+ languages
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- N/A (bundled within Meta)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
WhatsApp operates a telecom operator focused on United States. Messaging app for text, voice and video communication. Revenue comes mainly from business api fees, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Business API fees
- Click-to-message ads
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #41 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading telecom site in United States
- Global rank
- 3
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| telegram.org | ≈ 120 million / month | #42 class competitor | — |
| messenger.com | ≈ 90 million / month | #43 class competitor | — |
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp (whatsapp.com) is a telecom operator serving users in United States. Messaging app for text, voice and video communication. It ranks #41 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the telecom category.
Who owns WhatsApp?
The site is operated by Meta Platforms, Inc., founded by Brian Acton, Jan Koum. The company was established in 2009 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, United States. It employs around N/A (part of Meta).
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place WhatsApp at roughly 200 million visits per month, about 6.7 million per day. Around 80% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.4 pages per visit with an average session of 6 min.
How WhatsApp makes money
Revenue comes primarily from business api fees, alongside click-to-message ads.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include telegram.org, messenger.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2009
WhatsApp is founded in Menlo Park, California, United States.
- Growth phase
Expands its telecom offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #41 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Self-service billing and plan management
- Nationwide network coverage
- Bundled mobile, internet and TV offers
- Digital top-up and support channels
Cons
- Contract terms and early-exit fees
- Support queues at peak times
- Pricing complexity across bundles
- Coverage gaps in rural areas
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is operated by Meta Platforms, Inc.. Subsidiary structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is WhatsApp headquartered?
WhatsApp is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, United States.
When was WhatsApp founded?
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton, Jan Koum.
How many employees does WhatsApp have?
WhatsApp employs approximately N/A (part of Meta) people.
What is WhatsApp's revenue?
WhatsApp's revenue: N/A (bundled within Meta).
Who are WhatsApp's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include telegram.org, messenger.com.
How does WhatsApp make money?
Mainly business api fees, click-to-message ads.
Is WhatsApp publicly traded?
No — WhatsApp is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Meta Platforms, Inc..
How many visitors does WhatsApp get?
Third-party estimates place WhatsApp at roughly 200 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 80% mobile traffic.
Is WhatsApp safe?
WhatsApp is an established telecom site founded in 2009 and ranked #41 in United States; use the official domain whatsapp.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementswhatsapp.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos