Instant messaging apps have become extremely important for connecting with friends, family, and colleagues. Whether you need to send quick messages, make voice or video calls, or create group chats, these mobile applications have you covered. If you are looking for top messaging applications to use, you have landed on the right article, here you will find the most suitable IM apps you can use on Android and iOS.
Most of these apps are often categorised as social media apps, even though the most important difference is that social media apps allow one-to-many conversations, such as sharing a post, picture or videos on Instagram for followers to like and comment on. On the other hand, chat or messaging apps deliver one-to-one interactions, allowing individuals to connect with friends and family.
In this article on Naijaknowhow, I’ll be sharing some of the best instant messaging apps for Android and iOS users, if you want to send fast messages or make quick voice or video calls, these apps are the best you can use. They’ll have different features and one or two benefits in terms of how they work.
Top Instant Messaging Apps for Mobile:
1. Telegram
- Features:
- Unlimited group members
- Channels for broadcasting messages
- Automatic message backup
- Self-destructing messages
- Anonymity options
- Extensive library of stickers and GIFs
- Download: Google Play, App Store
Honestly, I’ll say Telegram is one of the most underrated instant messaging apps out there, yeah people like to talk more about WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, but if you want a convenient messaging app with a lot of features, then you should consider going for Telegram. Telegram is very fast and secure, if you want to run a channel or a group with unlimited members, Telegram is the only app that’ll let you achieve that.
Telegram is fun to use, you can be anonymous on Telegram, there are lots of funny stickers and GIFs on Telegram, on Telegram you don’t need to worry about backing up your messages, they’ll get backed up automatically and even if you change your device, you’ll still have access to your messages from the new device, you can clear conversations from your side and the person you’re chatting with. Telegram is awesome and for me, it’s one of the few instant messaging apps I’ll always rate higher than WhatsApp.
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Pros:
- Supports unlimited group members and channels.
- Automatic message backup.
- Features self-destructing messages and extensive stickers/GIFs.
- Offers anonymity options.
- Fast and secure.
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming with too many features for basic users.
- Not as widely used as WhatsApp, so fewer contacts might be on it.
2. Viber Messenger
- Features:
- End-to-end encrypted messages
- Self-destructing conversations
- Large collection of stickers and emojis
- Unlimited group members
- Free voice and video calls
- Download: Google Play, App Store
Viber Messenger is a very popular instant messaging app that has a cool feature that makes up a perfect messaging app, this app has a unique interface and it makes chatting easy for its users, a lot of people don’t use Viber, but I’ll tell you its one of the most downloaded instant messaging app after WhatsApp. Messages on Viber are encrypted and you can even self-destruct a conversation you have left behind.
Viber Messenger is just like Telegram in terms of stickers and emojis, you’ll find lots of funny stickers on Viber, you can also build a community on Viber and there is no limit to the number of members you can have.
Pros:
- End-to-end encrypted messages.
- Self-destructing conversations.
- Large collection of stickers and emojis.
- Allows unlimited group members.
- Free voice and video calls.
Cons:
- Less popular, so fewer contacts might be using it.
- Interface can be less intuitive compared to other apps.
3. WhatsApp Messenger
- Features:
- Free voice and video calls
- Status updates
- End-to-end encryption
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Share status directly to Facebook Stories
- Download: Google Play, App Store
We all use WhatsApp Messenger so there’s a little I have to say about it, though it’s an amazing instant messaging app but limited to many features compared to Telegram and Viber Messenger and that is why we get to see different WhatsApp Mods online, and these mods have more features than the official WhatsApp Messenger.
With WhatsApp Messenger you can communicate with friends and family, you can also make quality voice and video calls for free, can share what’s on your mind through the status features, and it also allows you to share your status directly to your Facebook story. WhatsApp Messenger is the world’s most used IM app, but it lacks features everyone needs.
Pros:
- Widely used, so most contacts are available.
- Free voice and video calls.
- Status updates and sharing directly to Facebook Stories.
- End-to-end encryption.
- Simple and user-friendly interface.
Cons:
- Lacks some advanced features found in Telegram and Viber.
- Limited customization and functionality compared to other IM apps.
4. WeChat
- Features:
- WeChat Pay for mobile payments
- Games and mini-programs within the app
- Free voice and video calls
- Extensive privacy options
- Suitable for users with Chinese connections
- Download: Google Play, App Store
WeChat is the most popular instant messaging app in China, if you have friends or families in China, this is the only app you can use to communicate with them, WeChat is cool to use and also has some amazing features, with WeChat you can make payments via the WeChat Pay option, you can also play games and have more fun than ever.
The only way to get the better of WeChat is when you have an account that was opened in China, WeChat has a lot of restrictions, but it’s still an amazing messaging app. If you’re looking for an instant messaging app to chat and have fun with friends and family, then you should try installing WeChat on your Android or iOS device.
Pros:
- Integrated WeChat Pay for mobile payments.
- Includes games and mini-programs within the app.
- Free voice and video calls.
- Extensive privacy options.
- Ideal for users with Chinese connections.
Cons:
- Best functionality is for accounts opened in China.
- Heavy restrictions for non-China users.
5. Discord
- Features:
- Text, voice, and video communication
- Server and channel creation
- Bots for moderation and automation
- Screen sharing and live streaming
- Customizable roles and permissions
- Download: Google Play, App Store
Discord isn’t our normal instant messaging app like WhatsApp and co, but it’s rather a messaging app for gamers who want to connect with gamers or fans around the world. Discord is the best instant messaging app gamers use to communicate with each other, if you want to grow an online community and set rules that’ll keep the community intact, Discord channels are one of the best ways to do so, you can set bots that’ll moderate every activity done in the channel.
You can text, make voice calls and also make video calls, which essentially makes it one of the top platforms for instant messaging on Android and iOS devices, unfortunately, it is best-suited for gamers who want to connect with other gamers and fans.
Pros:
- Supports text, voice, and video communication.
- Server and channel creation for community building.
- Bots for moderation and automation.
- Screen sharing and live streaming capabilities.
- Customizable roles and permissions.
Cons:
- Primarily geared towards gamers, may not be suitable for all users.
- Can be complex to set up and manage for non-technical users.
Conclusion
These are the best instant messaging apps for Android and iOS users, use these apps to text friends and family, and if you want to build your business or grow an online community, you can use apps like Telegram, Discord or WhatsApp to get it done.
