10 Of The Best Messaging Apps

1. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is one of the most popular free mobile messaging apps in the world at the moment.

It allows you to send unlimited video, audio, text and photo messages without paying SMS fees to carriers. The first year is free, then it is just 0.69p to purchase the app once thereafter, and best of all it is ad free.

Messages are sent via the Internet and therefore you will require data connection, but it is fast, reliable and comes with a wealth of emoticons and icons that you can use. Users can create group chats, and as it is available for a variety of mobile operating systems and allows messaging across them all, it is perfect for staying in touch with friends from all over the world.

 2. Viber

Viber is a popular free app that allows callers to use their smartphone’s WiFi or data plan to go beyond the constraints of their limited voice-calling and SMS text messaging plans.

Viber uses voice over the Internet (or VOIP) calling, and is well known for its usability, reading your phone’s settings and contacts to immediately get you going.

Messages on Viber can include photos as well as text, and the voice calls will transfer over from 3G or 4G to WiFi, once a network is detected. Group messaging also is available.

3. LINE

This app allows you to exchange free instant messages with friends whenever and wherever you are, with group chats also available.

LINE allows free voice & video calls over your data or WiFi connection and lets you share photos, videos, voice messages, contacts and location information.

It also has a Facebook-style timeline feature, which friends can check in on to keep updated on your posts, and it also has SnapMovie, which is a function that allows you to take quick, 10 second video clips.

4. Voxer

Voxer is what is known as a ‘walkie-talkie’ app in that it allows you to send an instant voice or multimedia message to a contact, with the push of a button.

If their phone is turned on and the app is running, the message is played through their speakers, or if not, it is received as a recorded message like a voicemail.

Along with this feature, Voxer allows the standard text and photo messaging, VOIP calling, and group messaging. Voxer is free for individuals but a business version is also available with extra features for a fee.

5. Keek

Keek is like a video version of Twitter, which allows users to record and share video status updates for up to 36 seconds of recording time.

Videos are recorded into the app by looking into your phone’s camera and talking or doing whatever you want. These short clips, or status updates (each one is called a ‘keek’), can then be uploaded simply to Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook or your own page on Keek.com.

Much like Instagram, Keek allows users to follow each other and comment on posted content. Keek also hosts Twitter/Instagram-like features, such as @mentions.

 6. Tango

This app allows you to make video chats, free phone calls, send text messages and share pictures and status updates.

This award-winning free calling app makes it easy to chat across devices and share high-quality video calls and traditional phone calls without using up your minutes.

Tango offers free calls and text over WiFi and data use calls over 3G and 4G. You can group chat with up to 300 friends internationally and also to easily share music from Spotify.

7. WeChat

This app features one of the largest selection of features of any free messaging service.

It features voice chat, group chat, moments (an image gallery you can invite friends to), free call, video call, friend radar (show’s who from your contacts is in your area), shake (a feature which allows you to see who’s shaking their phone at the same time – you then contact them to ‘make friends’), and the aforementioned ‘walkie-talkie’ feature.

There are also said to be many secret features, that you will unlock over time, along with a host of message back-up options and storage.

8. Kik Messenger

Kik is another free messaging app that has seen massive uptake. Like many of the others it is cross-platform and hosts many great features.

You can send photos, have group chats and download different emoticons. You can also create and send different memes and ‘photobomb’ your contacts – very much like SnapChat, whereby you can send instant images that then disappear after a few seconds.

Kik also allows for privacy, so you don’t have to share your mobile number or email address, just the username that you create.

9. Skype

Starting out on desktops, but now fully integrated into the mobile and tablet world, Skype is possibly the best-known video call app available.

This app also supports instant messaging and file sending, group messaging recorded video messages.

Other tools in the Skype bag are: Qik, a mobile messenger for swapping videos with groups of friends. Skype WiFi, an app for getting online at over two million public hotspots worldwide, and GroupMe, which allows you to share messages, photos and your location on your mobile.

10. SnapChat

More of a fun app than something that could be used for serious communication, SnapChat allows you to share images quickly and privately, with the added bonus that they are automatically deleted once opened and viewed.

Images are captured and then sent to your chosen contacts with a self-destruct timer built in, obviously this is designed to add to the mischievous intent of the app.

Images, or videos, can be viewed for anything up to ten seconds, before wiping themselves from the receivers’ phone.
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A small amount of text can be added to images, which can also be drawn over with a simple tool, reminiscent of a very basic 1980s Microsoft Paint program.