Not happy with the built-in Messages app on your phone? Maybe iMessage isn’t enough to send messages to friends who own Android devices? If so, try one of these fun and reliable cross-platform messaging apps to stay connected with your loved ones.
1 What’s up
With end-to-end encryption and a range of social tools at your disposal, WhatsApp is rightfully the best messaging app out there.
You can chat, call, join communities and stay up to date with your favorite channels. If that’s not enough, WhatsApp always finds ways to make your user experience fun.
For example, the app has a feature that lets you create and edit WhatsApp stickers from photos. You can personalize your profile and messages even more with status updates, emoticons, GIFs, polls and more.
Download files: WhatsApp for Android | iOS (free)
2 Messenger
Thanks to Facebook, Messenger is the main messaging app for iPhone and Android users. Complements Meta’s social media platform with communication tools, both essential and fun.
In addition to messaging and calling your contacts, you can share and view other people’s stories, and even track orders, payments, and Facebook Market activity.
For maximum ease of use, Messenger allows you to customize your app down to the last detail. You have access to options like avatar, dark mode, adjustable settings and family control.
Download files: Messenger for Android | iOS (free, in-app purchases available)
3 Telegram
Telegram is another must-have messaging app for individuals and groups. As with all of today’s top digital communication software, you can write to your contacts or call them for an audio or video chat.
For a greater sense of community, you can also join the best Telegram channels and make new friends. The app can even detect nearby users.
Customizing its settings to suit your chat, security, storage, and other requirements can turn Telegram into the only networking tool you’ll ever need.
Download files: Telegram for Android | iOS (free, subscription available)
4 Viber
This messaging app is very popular because of its convenience and versatility. You get access to useful Viber features such as group chats, customizable wallpapers, sticker creation, and the ability to hide your status and block users, among many other security options.
Viber offers easy-to-use tools for chatting and calling, and is constantly expanding its additional services. Not only can you take notes, for example, but you can also use AI chatbots for useful insights like language or fun activities like playing games and reading tarot.
There’s so much to see and do on Viber that it’s easy to lose track of time while using it. Ultimately, it’s a digital communication app that doubles as a virtual assistant.
Download files: Viber for Android | iOS (free, subscription available)
5 Signal
Comparing the utility of WhatsApp and Signal, the latter may have fewer features, but it wins in terms of data and user security.
You’ll feel safe using Signal thanks to its settings for visibility of your phone number, PIN, screen lock and payments, and how quickly you want the app to make your messages disappear. Personalization settings are just as varied.
At the same time you can enjoy all the standard communication tools. So whether you want to text, call, video chat or share stories with your friends without limits, Signal has you covered.
Download files: Signal for Android | iOS (free)
6 Snapchat
Snapchat is one of the most popular social apps on this list. It allows you to send messages to contacts, send pictures and videos with cool or funny filters, share stories and personalize your profile, for example by creating and customizing your Snapchat Bitmojis.
We’re talking about a messaging platform with built-in photo editing tools and a spotlight, so connecting via Snapchat can be a lot of fun.
Whether you’re chatting one-on-one or as part of a group chat, it pays to make the most of the app’s features and customize it to suit your needs.
Download files: Snapchat for Android | iOS (free, subscription available)
7 Strife
If you’re looking for a community with the same interests as you, and not just a way to chat with your friends online, Discord is the right messaging app for you.
You can join servers dedicated to a wide range of topics and geek out with other members. Chat privately or on message boards, interact with the posts you love, and stay up to date with community news and events.
If privacy is important to you, learn how to become invisible on Discord and hang out on your own terms.
Simply put, Discord is a social network for fan clubs. And the more you explore it, the more fun servers you’ll discover to deal with the topics you’re interested in.
Download files: Discord for Android | iOS (free, subscription available)
8 WeChat
What makes an instant messaging app great is the usefulness of its basic functions. WeChat is a great example of combining good security with fun and versatile communication tools.
It’s not the most attractive app, and logging in can take a few steps, but once you’re on WeChat and entering your contacts, the benefits of the platform become clear. After all, millions of users around the world trust it above all other platforms for good reasons.
In addition to chatting and sending pictures and videos, you can find your friends in real time by sharing your location through the app. It lets you create a time capsule—a collection of short videos that disappear after 24 hours. You can also find games to play with friends or collect stickers to take your WeChat exchanges to the next level.
Download files: WeChat for Android | iOS (free, in-app purchases available)
To narrow down the best messaging apps, you need to decide why you want them and what features appeal to you the most. Whether you prefer simple and secure chatting, multiple features that make the user experience more enjoyable, or a full social network that brings together like-minded people, one of the options above should suit your needs.