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| Best instant messenger apps for Android |
It's not all about WhatsApp you know, there are tons of instant
messengers out there. We’ve rounded up ten of best the Android platform
has to offer, along with screenshots and feature lists so you can best
choose which one suits your individual tastes and needs. Here are the
best instant messenger apps for Android
Messenger: because everybody has Facebook
Facebook’s official instant messaging app has recently been made over
to deliver a faster, cleaner service and interface. It’s much like
WhatsApp (as are most of the apps on this list), but Messenger instantly connects to all of your Facebook contacts, making it one of the most convenient messaging apps if nothing else.
As of recently, however, you can also message non-Facebook friends by
using their phone number. Messenger allows you to access all of your
Facebook messages without using the main app or website. It’s also got
stickers and emojis, groups, voice recordings, location data, free
calls, photo sharing and more
download
Skype: for video calls
The granddaddy of video calls, Skype
has been around for forever and is still kicking strong. Skype is
primarily used for calls, but the IM component is just as useful. In
fact we use it at AndroidPIT as our primary communication tool.
Skype requires Skype ID’s though, so you’ll only be able to add
friends if you know their Skype contact name. But once you do, and
basically everyone is on Skype too, you can have video chats anytime you
want, for free. You can also add Skype credit and make cheap
international calls to landlines and mobile phones.
The chat section offers group chat, media sharing, emojis and more.
Plus you can have one account on several devices (something which
WhatsApp doesn’t allow offer).
Tango: for networking
It takes two to Tango,
but there’s plenty more than that using the service. Tango does much
the same as the rest: instant messaging, media sharing, stickers, group
chat, video calling, group chat etc, but it also has a ton of
extras. Tango recently went through a complete overhaul and now hosts a
news feed and even dedicated news channels for you to follow.
Tango will automatically find your friends based on your contact
list, but they must be using the service to show up (or you can invite
them). Additionally, Tango can be used to place calls, find like-minded
friends or people in the vicinity using the service, which adds a bit
more social networking to the mix than some other providers. The
mid-call mini-games also help Tango stand out from the rest.
Hangouts: because it's Google
Google set up Hangouts
as the standard (but interchangeable) messaging app in Android 4.4
KitKat, and thanks to this it picked up a lot more users. Hangouts is a
combined SMS and IM app, that separates the two types of messages, but
can be used to automatically place voice calls and video calls from your
phone via Hangouts rather than traditional carriers.
Because it handles both SMS and IM, it cuts down on the number of
apps you need to be working with, and its video calling quality is
arguably better than Skype's. In addition, Hangouts integrates with
Google+ in much the same way that Facebook Messenger interacts with
Facebook, meaning contacts added via the social network can be
called/messaged in the separate app. Be careful who you connect with if
you're a particularly private person.
Viber: for sticker enthusiasts
Viber
is really pushing the sticker market, where you can get tons of free
and paid sticker packs, but the core business of Viber is instant
messages. You can, of course, also send recorded voice messages like
WhatsApp (but not video calls like Skype) and you now have the option to
call any phone number anywhere with Viber Out – much like adding Skype
credit to call people not on the service. Check out my tips and tricks for Viber article for more info.
Line: if you want the younger, cooler Skype
Line
is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. With the
recently added video calling functionality, it is now as fully featured
as Skype, but has a younger, sexier feel to it than the tried and true
Skype. It’s jam packed full of stickers and other fun stuff, and is
immensely popular throughout large parts of Asia. But it’s also feature
filled with group chats, multi-platform capabilities (phone, tablet,
PC), timeline, recorded voice messages, media sharing and much, much
more, including official account messages from celebrities you like.
Line is kind of like Twitter, Facebook and Skype all rolled into one.
BBM: for the important
After a substantial waiting period, BlackBerry's messaging service finally made it to the Android platform last year. BBM
is not as Androidy as the rest of the apps on this list, but it does
offer some very cool features including: always-on service (you don’t
need to open the app to use it), timed and retractable messages, 2-way
opt-in (nobody can message you until you specifically allow them),
delivery reporting, groups, emoticons, broadcast messages and more. The
ability to choose who can message you, rather than it being available to
anybody with your number, makes this an attractive messaging option.
Razer Comms: for gamers
Though Razer Comms
is a fantastic instant messenger in its own right, it's first and
foremost known for its popularity in the gaming community. With an
accompanying PC version too, Razer Comms allows to you to group
conversations, free VoIP chat, and it makes it quick and easy to connect
with other gamers around the world. Think of it as Xfire for the
smartphone era.
Kik - for fun
"185 million people love Kik!" Says its Play Store description, proving there is more to messaging than just WhatsApp. Kik
is a little more playful than the likes of WhatsApp, with more color
and sticker options. Kik also houses its own built-in browser, to make
video and image sharing between friends simple. It's a fast growing and
friendly messenger with users from all over the planet, give it a try.
WhatsApp: because everybody has it
It's not all about WhatsApp...
but WhatsApp sure is a big part of it. While it doesn’t have the same
feature-rich content as many of the other apps on this list, WhatsApp
can’t be beat for simplicity, reliability, and the sheer number of
contacts using it. Chances are, if you know someone with a smartphone,
they’ve got WhatsApp.
WhatsApp uses your existing contacts’ phone numbers, so you don’t
need to add contacts manually. You can send written messages, stickers,
emojis and media, as well as broadcast and group messages.
As of a recent update, WhatsApp also allows you to make free calls to
your contacts. It's an excellent addition and means you don't have to
swap apps when instant messaging is no longer enough.
- WhatsApp voice calling feature: here's how to get it
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