And while there are plenty of feature-rich messaging apps available, these iMessage alternatives are some of the most popular, smart, and secure.
1. WhatsApp – Editor’s choice
No prizes for guessing, Whatsapp is by far the most popular messaging app in the world. Boasting a staggering 1.5 billion users in 180 countries, this messenger stands out from the rest as far as popularity is concerned. You can use this app to communicate in a fun way and send/receive messages, calls, photos, videos, voice messages, and hilarious GIFs. As there is no extra charge, you can also send messages internationally. Share your real-time location with your close friends and also set a cool status. Thanks to the WhatsApp Web, you will be able to send and receive messages even from your computer’s browser. Price: Free Download
2. Messenger – For text, audio and video calls
Facebook Messenger is probably the most feature-rich messaging app. From a huge library of GIFs to a mammoth collection of stickers, the app has got you fully covered. Besides, you can do audio, video calls, send photos, videos, and even play with your friends. Suddenly your wallet runs out of cash? No problem, ask your friend to send some cash to you. What’s more, you can also connect with your favorite businesses to solve problems or get immediate help. Price: Free Download
3. Kik Messaging & Chat App – Stay in the loop
Stay in sync with your friends and loved ones. Kik can let you express all the colors of your emotions due mainly to the large collection of emojis, GIFs and stickers. Plus, you will also start a group to remain connected with your clients or funny buddies. Capture every special moment and share it with your dear ones. Also, make the most of video calling feature to stay close to the people who matter a lot to you. And oh, the app can also help you meet new people with a similar interest. Price: Free (In-app purchase starts from $0.99) Download
4. Signal – Say “hello” to privacy
“Signal” pitches itself as a private messenger. And if you want to offer a bit more privacy to your personal information, this one can be a reasonable option. The app doesn’t store any of your data and provides end-to-end encryption to keep it safeguarded. Aside from reliable security, it allows you to communicate through video, audio, and text. Plus, it also has an option to send disappearing messages that are great for secret conversations. For more about How to Use Signal App and Signal Messenger Tips and Tricks for iPhone. Price: Free Download
5. Telegram Messenger – Fast, secure and powerful
What makes “Telegram Messenger” a worthy contender is the ability to provide a trusted safeguard to your personal information. All of your data is protected with the advanced 256-bit symmetric AES encryption along with 2048-bit RSA encryption and Diffie–Hellman secure key exchange. It works pretty fast and also keeps your messages shielded. One notable feature of this messenger is the synced functionality. That means, you can start typing on your iPhone and pick it up from you left off on your iPad. Even better, you can make a group chat with up to 200,000 members to remain in touch with everyone who matters to you. Price: Free Download
6. WeChat – Good language support
“WeChat” is enormously popular in China and has over one billion active users across the world. What stands out for this messaging app is the option to make group chats with up to 500. So, whether you want to stay connected with your clients or a number of friends, it can stand up to your demand really well. It lets you make group video calls with up to 9 people. Record a short video and share it with your besties in your Time Capsule. The clip will automatically disappear after 24 hours. Besides, get the most out of custom stickers to liven up your conversation. Price: Free Download
7. Viber Messenger – Message with confidence
“Viber” has got all sorts of ingredients to light up your conversation. With over 1 billion users worldwide, it’s not far behind WhatsApp when it comes popularity. This app promises end-to-end encryption to offer the desired safeguard to your personal messages. Create a group chat for up to 250 friends and stay in touch with them–whenever and wherever. Take advantage of the self-destructing feature to delete accidentally sent messages. That’s not all, you can also start a Viber community to interact with like-minded people. Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $1.99) Download
8. Skype – Best for collaboration
If video-calling is your main priority, go for Skype. You can use this app to enjoy one-on-one or group video chat with up to 24 friends at a time. Just in case, you don’t want to chat face-to-face, use the audio calling feature. Besides, you will also send nice pics and clips to your besties. That’s not all, you can annotate your images and also share some of the most fascinating GIFs to keep the mood of the conversation alive. Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $3.49) Download: iPhone | iPad
9. LINE – Stickers, emoji, and themes
“LINE” may be less popular than most of its counterparts but it can give them a long run for their money. It has deservedly over 600 million users worldwide. You can use this app to make group calls with up to 200 people. It lets you store your favorite pics, videos and even message to share them with your friends. The option to make both voice and video calls ensure you have all the essential tools to communicate. Furthermore, it also has a social networking service to let you post awesome photos on your timeline and comment on the pics shared by your friends. Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $1.99) Download
10. KakaoTalk – Connect everything
I’ve found KakaoTalk more than a decent messaging app. The user-friendly interface coupled with all the essential tools means your communication will remain free-wheeling. Whether you want to go one-on-one with your close pal or want to bring multiple friends onboard, the video call feature will live up to your expectation. Schedule appointments and get timely reminders to never forget them. Check out the option to filter your voice calls for fun. Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $0.99) Download That’s pretty much it! So, these are my all-time favorite iMessage Alternatives. Your top bet? Agree, these apps can’t replace iMessage nor offer the same security and experience level. However, they’ve got enough to let you communicate with aplomb. And this is what makes them worth a chance. You’d like to check out these posts as well:
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Which is your favorite messaging app and why? Share your thoughts down below.
