Updated: October 16, 2021 
WhatsApp vs Houseparty
1. User Interface
WhatsApp follows the tried and tested format here, one that I believe it came up with originally. A list of all your recently individual and group chats in the first tab. You can update your status or view your contact's status in the Status tab, and manage or make calls under the Calls tab. You will find a button at the bottom for initiating a message or call depending on which tab you have selected.
Houseparty comes with a fresh take on the UI. The Smiley icon is where you can add friends who already have Houseparty installed. Tap the circular button to create a room and invite friends to the party. The dice icon is for games. The '+' icon is for adding friends from Facebook, Snapchat, or phone contacts. Finally, you can disable the mic/camera or lock the room through the bottom bar.
Also Read: How to Change Fonts in WhatsApp Chats
2. Chatting and Calling
On WhatsApp, you can either tap one of the recent chat entries or search for a particular contact or group using the search bar. More often than not, scrolling through the recent list of entries is enough to find whom you want to connect with. Tap on the chat button at the bottom of the screen to either search for a contact or create a new group or add a new contact.
Similarly, you can go to the Calls tab to choose a contact you want to call. Note that you can only make an audio call from there. You need to open the contact chat window in order to make a video call or send a message of course. That can be done either from the Calls or Chat tab.
Houseparty is strictly a video calling app. There is no option to chat or send messages or anything else for that matter. It was purpose-built for video calling and playing games. And it was designed for group video calling, not one-to-one calls. Once you have added your friends, you will create a room and invite everyone whos online to that room. There is an option to lock the room once everyone is in. That's so that no one else can sneak in later. Yup, that's a feature we will discuss later.
There are only four games available right now but they are insanely fun and timeless games. Houseparty also likes to share small but interesting one line trivia and facts every time you open the home screen.
Once everyone has joined the room, you will see their faces on the screen. Decide what you want to do and let the games begin. This is where WhatsApp and Houseparty truly differ. You can't play games in WhatsApp and can't chat or send text messages in Houseparty.
Also Read: WhatsApp vs Telegram, Which One to Choose?
3. Files, Payments, and Whatnot
Most messenger apps allow users to send not just text messages but also files. WhatsApp is no different and though it entered the game late, it quickly caught on. Tap on the attachment icon below and you will see more options. You can take a new photo or attach one from the gallery, record and send audio notes, and even files. Note that WhatsApp can only open images, videos, and audio natively. All other file types will open in a third-party app.
You can also share contact details or even your present location using GPS. Tapping on the icon will open it in Google Map or your favorite map app. There is an option to share live location which will keep the other person updated in real-time. Finally, depending on where you live, you might see an option to make payments too. It is not available in all countries and for all users yet. Furthermore, WhatsApp should be using the same mobile number that you have used in your bank accounts. A must for verification.
