Private by design
Imported chats are opened locally on your device.
Private WhatsApp export viewer for Apple devices
Open your WhatsApp export like a real chat again.
Chat Explorer turns WhatsApp .zip exports into private, searchable archives with messages, media, timelines, and conversation insights. Everything stays on your Apple devices.
No account, no upload, no cloud. Native on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Made for Apple devices
Designed for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Built for exports
Works with WhatsApp .zip exports, including media when available.
Subscription and lifetime Pro
Pro is available as a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Final prices are shown in your App Store.
Timelines & milestones
See the rhythm of the conversation
Explore timelines, activity patterns, milestones, long streaks, quiet periods, and the moments that shaped the chat.
How it works
From export to searchable archive in minutes.
You export the chat from WhatsApp, open the .zip in Chat Explorer, and explore it entirely on your device. No account, no cloud, no middleman.
Step 1: Export from WhatsApp
Choose a private or group chat in WhatsApp and export it as a .zip file. Include media if you want photos, videos, voice notes, and documents in your archive.
Step 2: Open in Chat Explorer
Share the exported file to Chat Explorer. The app imports the conversation and rebuilds it into a readable, searchable chat archive.
Step 3: Read, search, and explore
Read old messages, search forgotten details, browse shared media, and unlock deeper timelines and wrapped-style insights with Pro.
Everything you need to explore a chat archive.
01
WhatsApp .zip import
Open exported WhatsApp chats, including media when available, and rebuild them into a structured archive.
02
Readable chat view
Browse your messages in a clean conversation layout with dates, names, and bubbles instead of a wall of exported text.
03
Fast archive search
Search across years of messages instantly. Find addresses, names, plans, links, or that one photo from three years ago.
04
Media browser
Every photo, video, voice note, and document in one view, pulled directly from your export archive.
05
Conversation analytics
See message counts, active days, reply gaps, and participant balance at a glance.
★★★★★The app I didn’t know I needed
“Ended up spending way more time in this app than I expected. Seeing my messages as a timeline like a story is a pretty unique experience. The AI running locally also super good to see.”
Thewho00, United States · App Store, May 2026
Privacy
Your chats stay on your device. Full stop.
Your exported .zip is opened on your device.
Messages are parsed locally.
Media stays inside your local archive.
Search runs on your device.
No Chat Explorer account is required.
You can delete imported chats from the app.
Semantic search and conversation analysis run on your device. AI export only creates a template for you to use outside the app if you choose. Optional enhanced transcription may use Apple services when you enable it.
Pricing
Start free. Upgrade for the full picture.
Free
$0
Import any WhatsApp export and explore it for free. Chat view, search, and media preview are included. Pro unlocks analytics, timelines, insights, PDF export, and unlimited history.
- Import a sample or limited archive
- Browse messages
- Preview media and timeline features
- Test the app before upgrading
Pro
Upgrade to Pro
Try free. Upgrade to Pro with a monthly, yearly, or lifetime plan. Prices are shown at checkout in your local currency.
Unlock the full Chat Explorer experience for long-term archives, deeper insights, unlimited exploration, and full PDF exports.
- Unlimited imports
- Full chat history
- Full PDF exports
- Watermark-free exports
- Media gallery
- Advanced analytics
- Timelines and milestones
- Conversation insight cards
- Semantic search, topic explorer, AI export ✦ Experimental
Apple platforms iPhone Import and revisit chats wherever you are. iPad Browse long conversations and media galleries with more space. Mac Search, organize, and review large archives from your desktop.
Built for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Start from the device where you receive the export, then explore longer archives comfortably on a larger screen.
FAQ
Questions before importing your chat?
Is Chat Explorer affiliated with WhatsApp?
No. Chat Explorer is an independent app for opening and exploring chats that you export yourself from WhatsApp. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by WhatsApp or Meta.
Does Chat Explorer connect to my WhatsApp account?
No. Chat Explorer works with exported chat files. You export a chat from WhatsApp and open the resulting .zip file in the app.
Does my chat leave my device?
Core import, browsing, and search are designed around local files on your device. No Chat Explorer account or server upload is required to open and explore your archive.
What file types are supported?
Chat Explorer works with WhatsApp .zip exports and plain .txt chat logs. You can import a .zip archive (with or without media) or a raw .txt file exported directly from WhatsApp. Media attachments are included when WhatsApp bundles them in the export.
Does it work with group chats?
Yes. Chat Explorer is designed to work with both private chats and group chat exports.
Can I use Chat Explorer on Mac?
Yes. Chat Explorer is designed for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Is Chat Explorer available on the App Store?
Yes. Chat Explorer is live on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
What does Pro unlock?
Pro unlocks the full Chat Explorer experience, including unlimited imports, full history, deeper timelines, wrapped cards, full PDF exports, watermark-free exports, and access to experimental features like semantic search, topic explorer, and AI export.
Is Pro a subscription?
Pro is available as a subscription (monthly or yearly) and as a one-time lifetime purchase. The App Store shows the final price for your region before purchase.
Can I delete imported chats?
Yes. Imported archives can be removed from the app when you no longer want to keep them there.
Can I import live WhatsApp chats automatically?
No. Chat Explorer currently works with chats that you export yourself from WhatsApp. It does not connect to or scrape your live WhatsApp account.
What changes in PDF exports with Pro?
Free PDF exports include the messages currently unlocked in the chat and carry a Chat Explorer Free watermark. Pro exports the full transcript and removes the watermark from PDFs and share cards.
Download now
Download Chat Explorer today.
Your exported chats have been sitting as unreadable .zip files for long enough. Download Chat Explorer to open them properly. It is free to try and needs no account.