Best Messaging Apps

Messaging apps send and receive text, voice, video, and multimedia messages online. They are also known as chat, instant, or online Best Messaging Apps. Messaging is essential to our daily communication as they offer convenience, speed, and affordability. They also provide various features that enhance our social and professional interactions, such as group chats, stickers, emojis, GIFs, voice and video calls, file sharing, and more.

Best Messaging Apps

However, not all are created equal. Some may have more functionality, security, or popularity than others. Depending on your needs and preferences, some may also have different advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important to choose the Best Messaging Apps for you from the many options available in the market.

This article will review some of the Best Messaging Apps you can use on your smartphone or computer. We will discuss their popularity, functionality, security, and pros and cons. We will also briefly mention other popular or emerging messaging apps you may want to check out. By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of which messaging app suits you best.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a used messaging app in the world. It has over two active users across 180 countries. It is owned by Meta (Facebook) but operates as a separate entity.

WhatsApp lets you send and receive text, voice, video, and multimedia messages online. You can also make voice and video calls to other WhatsApp users for free. You can create group chats with up to 256 people and share your location, contacts, documents, and other files. Best Messaging Apps You can also Web to access messages from your computer browser.

WhatsApp is known for its simplicity and reliability. It has a minimalistic and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use. It also works well on low-end devices and slow internet connections. It automatically syncs your contacts from your phone book, so you don’t need to create a separate account or username. Best Messaging Apps

WhatsApp is also one Best Messaging Apps in the market. It uses end-to-end encryption for all its messages and calls, which means that only you and the person you are communicating with can read or listen to them. No one else can access them, even WhatsApp or Meta (Facebook). You can also enable two-step verification, fingerprint lock, disappearing messages, and view once messages for extra security and privacy.

However, WhatsApp has its drawbacks. Some of the cons of WhatsApp are:

• It requires your phone number to sign up and verify your account, which may expose your personal information to others.
• It does not support multiple devices simultaneously, meaning you can only use one phone and one computer to access your messages. If you switch phones or lose your phone, you may lose your chat history unless you back it up.
• It does not have a native desktop app, so you must keep the Internet to use WhatsApp Web on your computer.
• It has a few customization options, including themes, fonts, colors, or stickers. You can only change your wallpaper and notification sounds.
• It has advanced features like bots, channels, polls, quizzes, games, or money transfers. You can only use third-party integrations for some of these features.

Viber

Viber is another popular Best Messaging Apps that offers similar features to WhatsApp. It has over 1 billion users and over 260 million monthly active users worldwide. Rakuten Group, a Japanese e-commerce company, owns it.

Viber lets you send and receive text, voice, video, and multimedia messages online. You can also make free voice and video calls to other Viber users. You can create group chats with up to 250 people and share your location, contacts, documents, and other files. You can also use Viber Out to make low-cost calls to non-Viber users around the world.

Viber is known for its fun and colorful features, making it more expressive and interactive than WhatsApp. It has a large collection of stickers, GIFs, emojis, chat extensions, and games that you can use to spice up your conversations. It also has a native desktop app you can use without your phone.

Viber is also a secure Best Messaging Apps that uses end-to-end encryption for all its messages and calls. You can also enable hidden chats, secret chats, self-destructing messages, and pin code locks for extra security and privacy.

However, Viber also has some disadvantages that you should consider. Some of the cons of Viber are:

• It requires your phone number to sign up and verify your account, which may expose your personal information to others.
• It does not support multiple devices simultaneously, meaning use one phone and one computer to access your messages. If you switch phones or lose your phone, you may lose your chat history unless you back it up.
• It consumes more battery and data than WhatsApp, which may affect your device’s performance and internet usage.
• It has more ads and spam than WhatsApp, which may annoy you or compromise your security. You may also receive unwanted messages from strangers or businesses.
• It does not have many features that WhatsApp has, such as disappearing messages, view once messages, fingerprint lock, or WhatsApp Web.

Telegram

Telegram is a different Best Messaging Apps offering more functionality, flexibility, and security than WhatsApp and Viber. It has over 500 active users and over 25 billion daily messages worldwide. It is owned by Telegram FZ-LLC, a Dubai-based company founded by Russian brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov.

Telegram lets you send and receive text, voice, video, and multimedia messages online. You can also make free voice and video calls to other Telegram users. You can create up to 200,000 people and share your location, contacts, documents, and other files. You can also use Telegram Passport to securely store and share your personal identification documents.

Telegram is known for its unique and innovative features, making it more powerful and versatile than WhatsApp and Viber. It has some of the following features:

• Multiple devices: You can use Telegram on multiple devices simultaneously, such as phones, tablets, computers, or web browsers. You don’t need to keep your phone connected to the Internet to use Telegram on your computer. You can also with a QR code or a password instead of a phone number.
• Cloud storage: You can store all your messages and files on Telegram’s cloud servers, which means that you don’t need to back them up or worry about losing them. You can also access them from any device or delete them remotely if you lose your device.
• Bots: You can use bots to automate tasks, get information, play games, or interact with other services on Telegram. Bots are third-party run inside Telegram and respond to user commands or messages. Thousands of bots are available for various purposes, such as weather, news, trivia, polls, quizzes, memes, stickers, music, etc.
• Channels: You can broadcast messages to unlimited subscribers on Telegram. Channels are public or private groups that allow you to share news, updates, announcements, or content with your followers. You can also join channels other users or organizations created to receive their messages.
• Encryption: You can use end-to-end encryption for all your messages and calls on Telegram. However, unlike WhatsApp and Viber, Telegram does not enable encryption by default. You need to start a secret chat or a secret call to use encryption. Private conversations and calls have additional features such as self-destructing messages, screenshot protection, and anti-forwarding.

However, Telegram also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of. Some of the cons of Telegram are:

• It requires your phone number to sign up and verify your account, which may expose your personal information to others.
• It does not have voice or video calls on its desktop app, meaning you must use your phone or web browser to make calls on Telegram.
• It has a few customization options, including themes, fonts, colors, or stickers. You can only change your wallpaper and notification sounds.
• It does not have many features like WhatsApp and Viber, such as GIFs, chat extensions, games, or money transfers. You can only use third-party integrations for some of these features.
• It may have security issues like data breaches, hacker attacks, government surveillance, or censorship. Some countries have banned or restricted Telegram due to its encryption or content.

Signal

Signal is another Best Messaging Apps focusing on security and privacy more than anything else. It has over 40 active users worldwide. It is owned by Signal Technology Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by American cryptographer Moxie Marlinspike.

Signal allows you to send and receive

text, voice, video, and multimedia messages over the Internet. You can also make voice and video calls to other Signal users for free. You can create group chats with up to 1000 people and share your location, contacts, documents, and other files. You can also use Signal Desktop to access your messages from your computer.

Signal is known for its security and privacy features, making it more trustworthy and reliable than other Best Messaging Apps. It uses end-to-end encryption for all its messages and calls, which means that only you and the person you are communicating with can read or listen to them. No one else, not even Signal or any third party, can access them. You can also enable disappearing messages, view once notifications, screen lock, registration lock, incognito keyboard, relay calls, and sealed sender for extra security and privacy.

Signal is also one of the few Best Messaging Apps that are open-source and non-profit. Anyone can inspect, verify, or contribute to its code and development. It also means that Signal has no ads, trackers, or data collection. It only collects the minimum amount of information necessary to operate the service, such as your phone number and the date and time of your messages.

However, Signal also has some limitations that you should take into account. Some of the cons of Signal are:

• It requires your phone number to sign up and verify your account, which may expose your personal information to others. 
• Allows you to receive text, voice, video, and multimedia messages over the Internet
• It also allows you to make free voice and video calls to other Signal users.
• It also allows you to create group chats with up to 1000 people and share your location, contacts, documents, and other files.
• It also allows you to use Signal Desktop to access your messages from your computer.
• Known for its security and privacy features that make it more trustworthy and reliable than other Best Messaging Apps
• It uses end-to-end encryption for all its messages and calls, which means that only you and the person you are communicating with can read or listen to them.
• It also allows you to enable disappearing messages, view once messages, screen lock, registration lock, incognito keyboard, relay calls, and sealed sender for extra security and privacy.
• Also, one of the few Best Messaging Apps that are open-source and non-profit, which means that anyone can inspect, verify, or contribute to its code and development
• Also does not have any ads, trackers, or data collection. It only collects the minimum amount of information necessary to operate the service, such as your phone number and the date and time of your messages.
• Requires your phone number to sign up and verify your account, which may expose your personal information to others
• It does not have voice or video calls on its desktop app, so you need to use your phone or web browser to make calls on Signal.
• Does not have many customization options, such as themes, fonts, colors, or stickers. You can only change your wallpaper and notification sounds.
• It does not have many features other Best Messaging Apps have, such as GIFs, chat extensions, games, money transfers, bots, channels, or multiple devices. You can only use third-party integrations for some of these features.

Messenger

Messenger is a Best Messaging Apps by Meta (Facebook) that integrates with its social media platform. It has over 1.3 active users worldwide. It is also compatible with Instagram and WhatsApp, which are also owned by Meta (Facebook).

Messenger lets you send and receive text, voice, video, and multimedia messages online. You can also make free voice and video calls to other Messenger users. You can create group chats with up to 250 people and share your location, contacts, documents, and other files. You can also use Messenger Rooms to make video chat rooms with up to 50 people.

Messenger is known for its social and interactive features, making it more than just a Best Messaging Apps. It has some of the following features:

• Chat heads: You can use chat heads on Android to access your messages from any app without leaving the screen. Chat heads are floating icons that show your contacts’ profile pictures and notifications. You can tap on them to open a chat window or swipe them away to close them.
• Stories: You can use accounts with friends that disappear after 24 hours. Charges are similar to Snapchat or Instagram stories, allowing you to add filters, stickers, text, or music to your content.
• Games: You can play with your friends on Messenger, such as Words With Friends, Uno, Tetris, or Everwing. Games are mini-apps that run inside Messenger and let you compete or cooperate with friends.
• Money transfer: You can send or receive money from your friends on Messenger using Meta Pay (formerly Facebook Pay). Meta Pay is a payment service that allows you to link or bank account to your Messenger account. You can also use Meta Pay to shop on Meta Marketplace or donate to charities.
• Bots: You can use bots to get information, book services, or order products on Messenger. Bots are third-party applications that run inside Messenger and respond to user commands or messages. Thousands of bots are available for various purposes, such as news, weather, travel, entertainment, shopping, etc.

However, Messenger also has some drawbacks that you should consider. Some of the cons of Messenger are:

• You must have a Meta (Facebook) account to sign up and use the app, which may expose your personal information to others.
• It does not have end-to-end encryption for all its messages and calls by default, which means that Meta (Facebook) or any third party may access them. You need to start a secret conversation or a secret call to use encryption.
• It consumes more battery and data than other Best Messaging Apps, which may affect your device’s performance and internet usage.
• It has more ads and spam than other Best Messaging Apps, which may annoy or compromise your security. You may also receive unwanted messages from strangers or businesses.
• It does not have many features other Best Messaging Apps have, such as multiple devices, cloud storage, channels, disappearing messages, view once messages or fingerprint lock.

Other Messaging Apps

Many other Best Messaging Apps besides WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, and Signal can check out. Some of them are:

• Snapchat is a Best Messaging Apps focusing on ephemeral and creative content. You can send videos that disappear after a few seconds or 24 hours. You can add filters, stickers, lenses, or Bitmojis to your snaps. You can chat with your friends, make voice and video calls, play games, watch stories, or discover content from publishers and creators.
• Chomp SMS: Chomp SMS is a Best Messaging Apps that replaces your default SMS app on your Android phone. You can send messages with emojis, stickers, GIFs, themes, fonts, colors, and more. You can also schedule messages, block spam, backup messages, or use quick reply popups.
• Pulse SMS: Pulse SMS is a Best Messaging Apps that syncs your SMS messages across all your devices. You can send messages from your phone, tablet, computer, or web browser. Advanced features such as delayed sending, message archiving, blocklisting, or automatic replies can also be used.
• QKSMS: QKSMS is another Best Messaging Apps that replaces your default SMS app on your Android phone. You can text messages with a clean and simple interface that supports dark mode, night mode, dual SIM cards, group messaging, and more. You can customize your notifications, sounds, vibrations, colors, or themes.
• Microsoft SMS Organizer: Microsoft SMS Organizer is a Best Messaging Apps that organizes your SMS messages into categories such as personal, transactions, promotional, or starred. You can also use smart features such as reminders, offers, backups, or bill payments. You can also text messages with emojis or stickers.
• Textra SMS: Textra SMS is another Best Messaging Apps that replaces your default SMS app on your Android phone. You can send messages with over 1800 emojis, GIFs, stickers, themes, colors, fonts, and more. Advanced features such as quick reply popups, voice memos, message scheduling, or message blocking can also be used.
• Handcent Next SMS: Handcent Next SMS is another messaging app that replaces your default SMS app on your Android phone. You can text messages with emojis, GIFs, stickers, themes, colors, fonts, etc. You can also use advanced features such as cloud backup, private box, SMS backup, eCards, or Handcent Talk.
• Simple SMS Messenger: Simple SMS Messenger is a messaging app that offers a simple and lightweight alternative to your default SMS app on your Android phone. You can send messages with emojis, colors, or group chats. You can also use basic features such as mute notifications, block numbers, or delete messages.

These are some of the other Best Messaging Apps you can try out. However, many more messaging apps are available in the market, so you should research them before choosing the best one.

Conclusion

In this article, we have reviewed some of the best Best Messaging Apps you can use on your smartphone or computer. We have discussed their popularity, functionality, security, and pros and cons. We have also briefly mentioned some other popular or emerging messaging apps you may want to check out.

Best Messaging Apps are essential to our daily communication, as they offer convenience, speed, and affordability. They also provide various features that enhance our social and professional interactions, such as group chats, stickers, emojis, GIFs, voice and video calls, file sharing, and more.

However, not all messaging is created equal. Some may have more functionality, security, or popularity than others. Depending on your needs and preferences, some may also have different advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important to choose the best messaging app for you from the many options available in the market.

We hope this article compares and contrasts the different Best Messaging Apps and provides recommendations or tips for choosing the best one for your needs.

Thank you for reading this article on the best Best Messaging Apps. If you have any questions or feedback, please comment below. 😊