Messaging applications have been updated year after year to offer increasingly comprehensive services, offering free text messages, voice calls and video calls, and even shared photos and files, all with the added benefit of encryption. At Digital Trends in Spanish we have tried many options, and we can assure you that the following are the best messaging apps you can find, both on Android and iOS.
Telegram
With millions of active users, Telegram names itself as the fastest messaging app available. Best of all, it works on both mobile and desktop devices. This app can store chat history in the cloud and share files with no size limit, and chats are secured with symmetric 256 bit AES encryption, 2048 bit RSA encryption and Diffie-Hellman key safe.
It also has support for stickers, GIFs, photo and video editing, and group chats that can reach up to 100,000 people. To make matters worse, it is completely free and does not contain ads.
It is worth noting that Telegram is financed by a donation and for this reason, its manufacturers promise that it will be kept for free, that they will never sell data and that they are not intended to generate income.
KakaoTalk
The most popular text messaging app used in South Korea is also available in the US Known for its fast and reliable messaging – no matter what network you’re connected to – KakaoTalk has become a favorite with many. A standout feature is the integration of e-commerce in the app. KakaoTalk offers you exclusive coupons and popular brand deals for you to share with your friends and family. The app has become so popular for transactions that it now even offers credit cards. Additional features include the ability to create your own calendar and schedule appointments and reminders for lunches, business meetings, or parties.
WhatsApp is a free messaging application, very easy to install and one of the most used in the world. With it, you can chat and share things like your location, photos, documents and contacts. You can also make videos and voice calls. Its configuration allows you to have a list of contacts, to which you must give prior access. One of the qualities that makes this application so attractive, apart from its popularity, is the addition of end-to-end encryption that it has to protect the privacy and security of all its users. Also, WhatsApp supports GIF and Snapchat editing functions to offer more fun.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook has its own separate messaging app that makes chatting with friends and family very convenient. This platform automatically pairs with your Facebook contacts, but you also have the possibility to add a new contact or allow someone to add you as a contact, by scanning a unique code. Furthermore, it offers many stickers, video and voice calls that are clear and very reliable and you can even send a GIF. On Android, the ” Chat Heads ” feature allows you to keep a chat icon floating at the top of the screen, which is very convenient and you can even start a secret conversation consisting of end-to-end encrypted conversations.
Line
Line is a very popular platform, especially in Asia, with more than 600 million users. This application combines a timeline similar to that of Facebook, where you can post and receive comments from your friends, in addition to having all the standard functions of a messaging application. Landline calls and totally free voice or video calls are also available. It offers a variety of stickers that are very famous in Asia. Group chat allows conversations of up to 200 participants and you can follow artists and brands online, such as on Twitter. It also lets you set up albums and share them with friends, and Line recently decided to introduce encryption to chats.
Kik
Kik is the messaging app for young people. Unlike many apps that require you to link to a phone number, Kik only requires a username to start sending text messages. Adding your friends and loved ones is as easy as scanning their unique Kik QR code with your phone’s camera. The interface is fun and easy to use – you can literally play within your chats! With nearly 70% of the user population ages 13-24, Kik is a great way for teens and young adults to interact and make new friends.
Viber
This is a very popular application that automatically adds to your contacts and also allows you to send text messages, stickers and emoticons, make video calls and voice calls and, of course, share your favorite photos. Also, like other platforms, it offers you color-coded encrypted messaging. Viber Out also has a quality that allows you to make national and international calls from Viber to Viber totally free and if you want to do it to other platforms it charges a fairly cheap rate.
WeChat is the most popular application in China with more than 700 million users. It offers the usual functions of the messaging application, such as sharing photos, videos and voice calls. Also, you can enjoy features like “Friend Radar”, “People Nearby” and “Shake” to help you find friends who are close to you. WeChat is also available for Android Wear and Apple Watch.
Signal
Signal , by Open Whisper System , is one of the most recommended applications if what you need is security in your chat. This application has military grade encryption for all your voice calls and messages. Supports sending text messages, voice calls, group messages and sending multimedia attachments. Edward Snowden recommended this application, ensuring that it is the best option on the market, for all people who have their safety as a priority.
Dust
At Dust they define themselves as “the world’s safest messenger”, so if privacy is your number one concern, it might be worth downloading. The application is free and all messages are deleted after 24 hours. You can send a message at any time, removing it from the recipient’s phone in real time, a tool that many times we wished we had at hand. The app will notify you if someone takes a screenshot of your messages. Once Dust messages are deleted, they can never be recovered, making this one of the most secure messaging apps out there.
Snapchat
Snapchat is establishing itself as one of the most popular platforms among young people and celebrities every day. It allows you to share photos and videos that self-destruct. You can send a friend a snap for a short period of time before it disappears. Its most famous and original feature is based on fun filters to add to your videos, and it also offers photo editing. It is definitely the most fun way to communicate.
GroupMe
The center of this application, as its name implies, are group chats, but you can also have one-on-one conversations with direct messages. GroupMe allows you to add up to 500 members to a group chat, which we do not recommend, unless you want to receive a bombardment of notifications. You can add people using your email or phone number, and if you are in the US you can chat via SMS if your friends or family don’t already have the app. You can also share images, GIFs, and videos, and the app has its own selection of emojis. The app is proprietary to Microsoft and does not have end-to-end encryption, so if privacy matters to you, you may want to download something else.
Discord
Discord is a free chat application designed specifically for video game players, although it has been expanded to others since its launch in 2015. With around 250 million user accounts and 14 million daily active users, it allows you to chat privately on groups of up to ten people. It also allows you to voice chat with friends while playing together, as well as start clubs or communities. It is a great way to create messaging groups with a specific interest or purpose. However, messages sent through Discord are not end-to-end encrypted, so anyone who wants complete privacy is better off looking elsewhere.