Text messaging is still the easiest way to send messages on your smartphone as the SMS apps are already installed when you power it up, but there are plenty of reasons to ditch text messaging for the majority of your messaging needs and move to a chat app instead, one of the biggest reasons being that nearly everyone is using one of the more popular chat apps available. There are quite a few to choose from, so here is our list of ten of the top chat apps you can find on the Play Store.
Telegram
Kicking this list off is Telegram, and like every single app on this list it’s free to use so the only thing you’ll have to do to get started is install it, and perhaps convince anyone y9ou want to use it to give it a shot. Telegram boasts security and quickness as being two main features, so if you’re looking for a chat app more focused on delivering secure messages in a speedy manner, see if this suits your needs.
WeChat is a popular option to consider, and there’s plenty to love about the app too. It has support for Android Wear so you can send messages from your wrist if you have one of the devices, and it also has a PC client so you can message fro your laptop or desktop as well. In addition to chatting, you can also make and receive video calls for free.
Signal
If you really want to be secure when it comes to your messages, Signal may be just the app for you. It prides itself on security for its users over anything else, and enables end to end encryption for every single message that gets sent out. It also supports group chat in case you want to get a larger conversation going.
BBM
BBM, better known as BlackBerry Messenger, is a great way to keep in contact. Just like many of the chat apps here you can send group messages, and it has some pretty advanced offerings too like timed messages which allow people to see the stuff you send only for an allotted amount of time. You can also makes free voice calls to any of your BBM contacts.
Snapchat
So this isn’t like your traditional chat apps, but it is a chat app nonetheless. Instead of just your typical typed up messages, Snapchat lets you take a quick picture with the option of attaching a short caption before sending it off to your contacts. Messages are also only available for a small amount of time before disappearing. The app also now supports video snaps too just in case a picture isn’t enough, and if you want to bring things back to regular messaging you can do that too.
LINE
LINE is actually one of the bigger chat apps out there, and it offers everything from 1-1 chat, group chats, and free video calls and free voice calls with your LINE contacts no matter where they are around the globe. Just like WeChat you can also send messages from your computer, and there’s a large collection of stickers to send to make your messages a little more fun.
Hangouts
Hangouts is certainly one of the most recognizable chat apps out there, and like a few on the list it can be used on multiple platforms like tablets, smartphones, and from the computer so you can keep in contact anywhere. You can chat person to person or add multiple people to a group with support for up to 100 people, have a Hangouts video call, and liven up your messages with stickers and emojis. The app also supports GIFs, because what would it be without GIFs.
Groupme
Groupme is mostly centered around group messaging, but you can also one on one chat with others as you can create a group and choose who to invite. The app supports emojis and you can buy premium emoji packs, and of course you can message people either from the app or you computer via the website.
There are few apps more popular than whatsapp for messaging, which comes through in real-time, and if typed words aren’t doing it for you then you can also opt to place a voice call. You can easily share your location through the app, insert media like videos and pictures, and the app has support for Android Wear so you can send and receive messages from your watch.
Messenger
Facebook’s Messenger app is easily the biggest and most used chat app out there. You can talk one on one with any of your Facebook contacts or set up group chats for multiple people. The app also supports voice calls and lets you easily share pictures and videos anytime you want. With Messengers chat heads feature it’s also easy to continue using it while you use other apps, and of course, it’s free.