Chat analyzer guide: what the numbers in your chat really show
A chat analyzer reads an exported chat as a text file and counts patterns: who sends more messages, who starts conversations and how long replies take. These numbers describe habits, not feelings, and they only become meaningful over a longer stretch of time and when you compare then with now.
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How to export a WhatsApp chat as a text file
Almost every chat analysis starts with an export. WhatsApp has an “Export chat” option inside the chat itself; the result is a .txt file with the date, time and sender in front of every message. Choose “Without media”: statistics do not need photos or voice notes, and the file stays small.
The export is a copy. The other person is not notified and the chat itself does not change. Still, treat the file as private as the chat, since it contains every message in plain text.
- Android: open the chat, tap the three-dot menu, then “More” and “Export chat”.
- iPhone: open the chat, tap the contact or group name at the top, scroll down and choose “Export chat”.
- Pick “Without media” and share the file to where you want it, such as an analyzer app or your own folder.
Who texts first? How conversation starters are counted
A “conversation” is not written in the file, so it has to be defined. A common approach is a gap rule: if more than a fixed time, say six hours, passes between two messages, a new conversation begins. Whoever sends the first message after the gap started it; whoever sends the last one ended it.
Fix the rule once and keep it. A shorter gap turns one long evening into several conversations and shifts the shares. Only compare numbers that were counted the same way.
| Metric | Person A | Person B |
|---|---|---|
| Conversations started | 84 (70%) | 36 (30%) |
| Conversations ended | 45 (38%) | 75 (62%) |
| Messages in total | 2,310 (55%) | 1,890 (45%) |
How do you calculate reply time in a chat?
Reply time is the gap between the last message from one person and the first message from the other. When someone sends several messages in a row, only the switch counts. Long overnight gaps distort the average a lot, so the median, the middle value of all reply times, is the better measure.
Example: reply times of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 600 minutes give an average of 122 minutes, but the median is 3 minutes. The one reply the next morning says little about the usual pace.
- Almost everyone replies more slowly at night or at work, so compare the same times of day.
- Double texts (several messages in a row without an answer) are a separate number, not a reply time.
- In group chats it is unclear who is answering whom; shares and rankings work better there than reply times.
Can a chat analyzer tell who is more interested?
Numbers from timestamps show behaviour: who writes more, who asks questions, who reaches out first. Whether that comes from interest, politeness, a busy week or simply a different texting style, no statistic can tell. Some people send one long message, others five short ones, and then the message count says more about style than about affection.
Change over time is more telling than any single number. Compare the first 30 days with the last 30 days: has the share of conversations started flipped, have replies slowed down? Trends like that are a good reason to talk, but they do not replace the conversation.
Is it okay to analyze someone else’s messages?
A chat always contains another person’s words, so be fair with them. Share numbers and charts at most, never screenshots with message text, and ask before you post a result with the other person’s name on it. In the EU, the GDPR does not apply to purely personal or household activity (Article 2(2)(c)), but that does not make sharing someone’s messages polite.
- Delete the export once you no longer need it.
- Do not upload chat exports to online tools when you do not know who runs them.
- For group chats, share rankings only inside the group itself.
How Yapsy helps as a chat analyzer
Yapsy is an Android app that reads an exported chat text file and turns the numbers above into cards styled like till receipts. According to its store listing, the export is analyzed on the phone and not uploaded, and only the numbers of each receipt are kept, never the messages. Yapsy is an unofficial app and is not affiliated with WhatsApp or any other messenger.
- Open a chat export (.txt) from the share sheet or inside the app; Android and iPhone formats, 12 and 24 hour clocks, files up to 40 MB.
- Receipts for message count, each person’s share and interest points; further receipts for reply speed, who starts and ends conversations, double texts, questions, night messages, emojis and favourite words.
- “Then vs. now”: the first 30 days compared with the last 30 days.
- Group chats with a ranking of the most active people.
- Every card explains the rule behind its number under “How is this counted?”, and receipts can be shared as story images.
- An example chat to try without your own export; delete one receipt or all of them in one tap.
What the app cannot do
Yapsy counts patterns in timestamps and words; it does not guess feelings and it is not relationship advice. It needs a text export in the format of Android or iPhone chat exports, so exports from other messengers in other formats (such as HTML or JSON) do not work, and the app is Android only.
Price
Three receipts per chat are free; Pro with all receipts is a subscription at $5.99 a month or $29.99 a year in the US (Google Play shows your local price), cancel anytime in Google Play. The free version shows ads; Pro is ad-free. We build this app ourselves; on Google Play it is listed under the developer name InfinityAkhi.
Screenshots
Related calculators on ToolboxDay
Frequently asked questions
Does the other person know when I export a chat?
No. The export is a copy on your device and no message is sent. Keep the file private anyway, because it contains the whole conversation.
Why use the median for reply times?
A few very long gaps, such as overnight, pull the average up a lot. The median is the middle value and reflects the usual pace.
Does Yapsy upload my messages?
According to its store listing, no: the export is analyzed on the phone and only the numbers are stored. The app uses the internet for Google Play purchases and for an anonymous usage count without any device or user ID.
Does it work for group chats?
Yes. For groups, shares and a ranking of the most active people make more sense than reply times, because it is not clear who is replying to whom.
Sources
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