Messaging apps are a dime a dozen these days. No matter what operating system you’re using, there are plenty of choices out there.
Fortunately, you can use different messaging apps for various aspects of your life. There are messaging apps to talk with friends, find people who like the same games you do, or even chat with coworkers.
That being said, it can be a bit hard to choose the right apps to use. Fortunately, we’re here to guide you on some of the best options.
1. WhatsApp: The Dominant Messenger
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for (var i = 0; i Even if you haven’t used it before, you probably know about WhatsApp. It has been the most popular messaging app in the world for a while, and there’s a reason for that. WhatsApp is easy-to-use, effective, and has a massive user base.
You can talk to friends and family individually or create groups that include multiple people. And the best part is WhatsApp is entirely free to use.
Of course, it isn’t perfect. As you’ve probably heard, WhatsApp has been under the spotlight because of its planned change in its terms and conditions. And even though your messages will continue to be private, some users are not comfortable with the plans to share other data with Facebook.
Download: WhatsApp Messenger for Android | iOS (Free)
2. Discord: Perfect for Gamers
If you’re more into gaming and you’d like to connect with people with similar interests, then Discord might be the right messaging app for you.
Discord is the gamer’s choice to talk with people who play and love the same games as you do. Not only that, but you can also chat with other streamers or influencers who have a Discord server. Of course, this means the app isn’t the best place to chat with your family or friends if they aren’t that into gaming since you wouldn’t use many of its features.
You can chat with your friends via direct messages, but the most popular Discord feature are its servers. You can create and find other servers for games, genres, or streamers you like. The downside is that finding servers can be hard if you don’t know where to look. Fortunately, you can use workarounds to find the best Discord servers.
It might be difficult to learn to use at first, but Discord is great for creating your own servers, chatting, and even calling your friends before a game. But if you’re new to this app, here’s an article on how to get started with Discord.
Download: Discord for Android | iOS (Free)
3. Slack: It Gets the Job Done
Not every messaging app helps you chat with your friends or family. There are messaging apps that help you stay in touch with your coworkers and help you be more productive at work, especially if you’re working from home.
That’s when Slack comes in. You can easily add and chat with other coworkers. You can talk with someone in private or create a channel to talk with your entire team.
The best part of Slack is that you can customize it only to receive specific notifications.
The app also has a browser version that can be accessed on your PC.
Slack offers a free subscription to the platform for small teams and the app itself is also available for free. Paid subscriptions are available for organizations with more robust needs.
Download: Slack for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
4. Signal: Whatsapp’s Private and Secure Rival
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for (var i = 0; i In the face of backlash to WhatsApp’s new terms of service, one of the biggest winners is Signal. The messaging app has soared in popularity thanks to the controversy.
This messaging app stands out from the others because of how conscious it is about its privacy. Signal offers a bunch of security features, including the ability to block screenshots, which is meant to conversations even more secure. All chats in the app are end-to-end encrypted by default and you can set messages to disappear using a timer.
Its user interface is similar to Whatsapp’s, and you’ll get used to it pretty quickly.
Download: Signal for Android | iOS (Free)
5. Telegram: A Featured-Packed Messaging App
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for (var i = 0; i Telegram is another popular messaging app that’s been around for quite a while and it’s a Whatsapp alternative that a lot of people use. And there’s a reason for that.
At its core, Telegram is a straightforward app to use. Right from the start, you’ll see how easy it is to invite your friends and start chatting right away. Plus, the app lets you know when one of your contacts starts using Telegram so you can start chatting.
But, if you’re more of a power user, there are many Telegram features you should be using. From using Telegram bots, to sharing your live location, and even connecting to another proxy server instead of a VPN. Whether you’re tech-savvy or a casual user, Telegram fits all your needs.
Download: Telegram for Android | iOS (Free)
6. WeChat: More Than Just a Messaging App
WeChat isn’t like the other instant messaging apps on the list. It has some unique features that you might want or need.
One of the most significant features of WeChat is WeChat Pay, which lets you use it as a wallet to make payments. The other cool feature WeChat has is that it has some social media features other messaging apps lack. For example, you can search and follow verified accounts or search for moments and stories on your favorite topics, like food or video games.
On top of that, WeChat is an excellent instant messaging app in general. You can invite friends, share your current location with them, post short videos called stories, and find people near you using the app.
Download: WeChat for Android | iOS (Free)
Never Miss a Message Again
Now that you know the best instant messaging apps available, there’s no excuse to miss a message anymore. Whether you need an app to chat with your friends and family, your coworkers, or even your gaming buddies on a Saturday night, there’s an app for you.
All these apps are mostly free and easy to use.