Text messaging is a big part of our day-to-day life. There are various types of messaging apps for android. Some native text messaging apps don’t handle MMS the way we want, while others don’t provide such features. Some new messaging apps can provide rich services, and they offer all kinds of interactions with others. For example- free text messaging, voice and video calling, photo and file sharing with encryption. Already we explore different types of texting apps. Here, we enlisted 15 Best Texting Apps for Android.
Why Are These Texting Apps the Best?
Our texting apps need an internet connection to send and receive messages. Texting apps are different from sending SMS via phone, which uses your protocols to send and receive notifications with a cellular link. It needs no internet connection—sending SMS messages to cost money- per-message basis or included with your cellular plan. But the messages sent through our texting apps will all be accessible even if the app is not.
Things You Should Keep in Mind
To select the best texting apps, we’ve considered services that have Android apps so you can connect with anyone from your android phones. Desktop apps and web access is additional option, but not a must for inclusion. Other features include voice and video calling, filters, mobile payments, games, and many more unique experiences.
In the list, we’ve given priority to security practices. All services on this list implement end-to-end encryption, which means not even the service provider can read message contents. Some services serve you high security along with incorporating additional safeguards like – decentralized networks and self-destructing messages.
15 Best Texting Apps for Android Phone
To find the best way to stay in touch, the most basic requirement is that all apps can send text and multimedia messages in photos and videos to a person or group conversation. The messages must be free to send.
Best Texting Apps For Android Reviews
- Telegram – Best for security
- WhatsApp – Best for simple and easiest communication
- Facebook Messenger – Best for fast communication
- Viber – Best for a secure chat
- Slack – Best group task
- Microsoft Teams – Best for keeping the team organized
- Band – Best for sport teams
- GroupMe – Best for small businesses
- WeChat – Best for group chats
- Houseparty – Best for having some fun time with friends and family
- Messages – Best for fast messaging facility
- iMessage – Best for Apple devices
- Google Hangouts – Best tool for employees
- LINE- Best to keep in touch with friends and family
- Signal- Best secure texting app
1. Telegram
Telegram is a multi-platform messaging app. Telegram features fast, encrypted chat messaging, client-server encryption. It provides you a secure chat, end-to-end encryption so that only you and your recipient can read it. The app can serve as an option to set messages for self-destructing and sharing videos, documents and participating in group chats with around 200 users.
Pros:
- It doesn’t make a hassle to use
- It has a secret chat option
- Data encryption system
- Provides you a high-security system
Cons:
- It doesn’t have multiple options if you want to share more than one file
- Telegram doesn’t have a story option available
Used for:
Telegram can be used to send messages to other Telegram users. You can also create group conversations, call other users, and send files and stickers. Telegram is more secure and safe than WhatsApp.
2. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is said to be a part of the Facebook family because it has many Messenger features as well. But WhatsApp is specially made for the user who needs the best texting app that can meet all their needs.
Users can send text, photos, voice, video messages to other WhatsApp contacts. The app has features to add continuously new functions like emoji and fully encrypted messaging between WhatsApp users. For this reason, this app keeps you up-to-date. Like Messenger, WhatsApp also provides you with video chat features, but only 50 people can join a call.
Pros:
- User-friendly
- You can share live location
- Audio and video call
- Audio chats
- Free of cost
Cons:
- The Whatsapp calling feature is not available in many countries.
Used for:
Businesses under Banking, Insurance, Health, and Luxury industries use the app to exchange sensitive information with their customers. You can also WhatsApp for messaging and voice calling to anyone alone or in a group, and the app is excellent for families and small collaborative workgroups.
3. Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is another popular choice among the best texting apps for android. There are many reasons people love the services of this app. This is a video chat feature, and it supports like 50 people. Messenger users can also chat with people on Instagram even without having the app. Messenger allows you to message all your friends on the social network. Last year messenger launched a new feature named Rooms.
Messenger users sign in via Facebook, and they can send other users messages, voice messages, voice and video calls to other Messenger users. Messenger also has some extra features like GIF support and photo and location sharing. Facebook continually updates Messenger’s look, so you’ll be updated while using this app.
Pros:
- Faster chat
- Useful for collaboration
- Can make calls for free
- You can share your photos and videos
Cons:
- Cannons protect your privacy
- Quickly drain your battery life
Used for:
Local Businesses, E-commerce Stores and Software Products business-related purpose, seeking assistance and customer support, providing feedback, making purchases and appointments. People also use messengers to communicate and stay in touch with their family and friends.
4. Viber
Viber offers a variety of features that make this top chat app. Viber uses your phone number, and the app syncs with your phone to help you find new friends. You can send text, stickers and emoticons, photos, voice and video messages to other Viber users. You can also call non-Viber numbers and landline phones free. Secret chats are available on Viber. You can make phone calls without paying any amount.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- You can send high-quality photos and videos
- Well know app for messaging
- Instant messaging facility
Cons:
- It uses a lot of storage
- Flies have a limit to share
Used for:
The app serves exciting features like – free calls, send texts, pictures, and video messages to other Viber users. The app supports both mobile and computers. In February 2015, the messaging app claimed 236 million active monthly users.
5. Slack
Slack is popular for corporations and casual users providing features like- messaging, scheduling, management tools, and app integration. The app serves great productivity features and team-oriented messaging app. You can enjoy a real-time messaging experience and archive your communications. You can search through old messages, channels, and shared files.
The app allows you to set up subgroups for task or topic-oriented discussions and integration with various services like cloud storage, Asana, Zendesk, and more. Premium services of slack offer many more features, such as expanded file storage and better app integration. This app also supports file sharing, direct and group messaging tools.
Pros:
- You can create “channels” within the company.
- You can share anything with co-workers.
- Your data is always protected thanks to significant security.
- Easy to download
Cons:
- Your conversations will be deleted after 14 days
- You will get notifications throughout the day.
Used for:
Slack is at the top choice for companies that want a flexible environment for natural chat-based conversations. The app is all about keeping the conversation going in real-time, so everyone can feel like they’re in the loop. You can communicate as a group or privately. It is a fantastic tool to help you organize!
6. Microsoft Teams
If your company already has Microsoft’s Office 365, then you could do just as well with Microsoft Teams, the tech giant’s productivity-oriented messaging app.
Teams offer various features, from your primary group messaging, chat channels, and organization tools to video and voice calls and file sharing. You will get a searchable chat, customizable notifications, enterprise security and compliance features, and integration across the entire Office. It also provides you many other services. To work with Team, you need an Office 365 account.
Microsoft keeps updating the app features, and they are focused on people who want to stay productive during the pandemic. The app also includes a dynamic view for presentations. It can have 1,000 people join in on a call.
Pros:
- You can collaborate through channels
- It can increase your productivity
- You can create your own apps
- New team members can work more quickly
Cons:
- The file structure is not impressive
- Not flexible to work with
Used for:
Microsoft Teams helps your team stay organized and have all in one place. You can have the channels that belong to you or created on your own. You can hold on-the-spot meetings, have conversations, and share files in your channel.
7. Band
If you want messaging and collaboration and formal yet business-like, give it a try at Band. It is an app where a group chat and coordination platform is made for groups like friends, family, study groups, or your sports team.
You can create custom groups and invite your friends, general broadcast announcements through a community board providing more focused private chats. The group members can share files, create photo albums, participate in polls, and create events with a shared calendar, and this app helps you every day with your messaging and group coordination tasks.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Responds quickly
- Can send information to a lot of people at a time
- Ease of use
Cons:
- Website presence is not so good
- The map feature can cause the false direction
Used for:
BAND is a mobile community app that facilitates group communication. Users can create separate spaces for communicating depending on the purpose of those groups.
8. GroupMe
GroupMe is a messaging app with group conversation facilities. After creating your account and setting up, you can easily create groups and add contacts by searching them through phone numbers or email address for easy solo and group chatting.
GroupMe has some basic features like emojis, stickers, GIFs, and URL content previews within the chat window. The app also supports group chats over SMS for relatives and contacts who don’t have a smartphone. This app also tracks your photos and videos shared in your groups.
Pros:
- You can send messages from desktop
- Flexible with multiple devices
- You can leave your conversation and start from the same place
- Free messaging tools available
Cons:
- Limited notifications
- No voice messaging options available
Used for:
Users can text messages to the number, communicating with the whole group. Small businesses can save money and streamline communication using the GroupMe app. You can stay in touch with your friends and family, and the app is a completely free messaging app.
9. WeChat
WeChat has more than 1 billion users, so they are looking to extend globally beyond China as it has become a top-rated chat app.
WeChat provides instant messaging, video and voice calls, group chat, and messaging through images, video, audio, stickers, etc. Up to 500 people can participate in discussions.
The app also has features like “Friend Radar,” “People Nearby,” and “Shake” to find new people to chat with nearby quickly.
Pros:
- The app is entirely free
- Can use walkie-talkie for conversation
- New channel for e-commerce
Cons:
- Must need Internet access
- Anyone can get your details easily
Used for:
The app is a must for businesses to cater to users in China. WeChat allows users to send words, emojis, pics, and they can also do audio calls and video calls.
10. Houseparty
Chatting becomes the best when you link up with friends over a messaging app, and you can play fun games to spend some quality time. That’s what Houseparty provides you with. You can play many types of quizzes and other games with your family and friends and enjoy some face-to-face time.
There is an orientation for teens with Houseparty, but this app is widely used to stay connected in this shelter-in-place age. You’ll get a notification if your friends are “in the house” and using the app and ready to chat. To start a game is very easy—all you need to click the dice icon in the app’s window.
You can chat with ten people at a time. It feels exclusive at a time when rival apps are expanding the number of people allowed into chats.
Pros:
- Interactive, live video-chat options
- Integrated “friends list.”
- Free membership, high-quality video calls
- Text options available
- Secure connection
Cons:
- The app is helpful for only college students and a young demographic
- It can get hacked easily
Used for:
Houseparty is popular as it is free, and users can chat with up to 8 other people. The app is similar to a house party to chat with other people.
11. Google Messages
Google Messages is a free texting app made by Google. The app is capable of end-to-end encryption. If you need a fast and reliable message service, then you can use Google Messenger. But if you are concerned about security, then keep in mind that Google Messages doesn’t have end-to-end encryption. However, it has Google’s protection which is enough to secure your messages.
Pros
- Fast Messaging facility
- It can be accessed online
- Secured and safe
- High Communication Support
Cons
- end-to-end encryption is not available
- No, read receipt feature
12. iMessage
iPhone owners are passionate about their love for iMessage. They have enough reason to be proud of Apple’s messaging platform that has features like group threads, inline replies, mentions, Wi-Fi messaging, and full-res photo or video sharing.
Photo Courtesy: Apple Support
The major difference between iMessage and text messages is Internet Connection. Text messages use your cell connection, send texts through cell tower to the cell tower. While iMessages transfer data using the Internet. So you need Wi-Fi or cellular data to send an iMessage but a normal text doesn’t require an Internet connection.
Pros
- i-messages are encrypted so the information you send is safe with i-messages
- You can read and send i-messages from any of your Apple devices
- You can send effects and stickers using i-messages
- When you send an iMessage and when the recipient has seen the message, it will change to read. So you will get to know if the recipient has seen your important message or not.
- You’ll see when another person is typing in i-messages
- Group chats are available in i-messages
- Messages are saved in i-cloud
Cons
- Limited to Apple devices
- Closed source
13. Google Hangouts
Hangouts are easy to use as it comes free with a Gmail account. The app is very popular for both businesses and consumers. If you use Google Hangouts Chat, then you must have a G-account, and the account is a business-grade account. You cannot use this app in another way.
Hangouts is a quick, easy communication tool for employees. It is handy and keeps from having to track people down to ask them questions face to face. During this pandemic situation, it is great to prevent employees from needing to use their personal phones all day.
Pros
- The app gives you quick access to chat with and makes video calls with individuals or groups across platforms.
- Easy to navigate
- Can use G-mail to search previous chat history
- Setup is easy
Cons
- No free option available
- Limited integrations
14. LINE
Line app provides you with free Voice over IP calls, video calls, and messaging. It has a strong reputation in many countries, and it has 700 million users worldwide by 2016. Like WhatsApp and Viber, Line uses the user’s mobile phone numbers to offer paid calls and text messages through the service.
The line offers many features like stickers and emoticons. You can find them through the Theme Shop and Sticker Shop. It also has a timeline feature like Facebook and Twitter timeline functions.
You can share multimedia files, and the files you send can be recorded voice files, video files, and pictures. You can take pictures and edit them using the free Line camera photo editor app before saving or sharing them.
Pros
- Free text messages and calls
- Simple interference
- It can also be used on PC
- Line groups can add up to 100 members
Cons
- The size of the app is large
- Sending and receiving data is not stable
15. Signal
The signal is a secure and free messaging application. It uses end-to-end encryption to send and receive your messages to other signal users securely. The signal is a highly recommended best texting apps for android. Other texting apps like Facebook Messenger can use the Signal’s encryption protocol.
Its end-to-end encrypted system is one of the core features of Signal. Only you and your recipient can read your messages. The signal is famous for being incredibly secure and with a wealth of features. In today’s era where the Internet and businesses are trying to track you, Signal can keep all of your conversations secure.
Pros
- Free
- End-to-end encryption
- Multiplatform texting app
- Group chat, voice, and video chats
Cons
- Can lose messages
- Lack of fun features
Conclusion:
There’s no shortage of the Best Texting Apps for Android, but the best ones give you a fantastic experience in texting, voice, and video chat. Some focus on playing games with the folks, while others make it easy to swap pictures. Some chat apps provide you with collaboration and productivity, helping people stay connected with colleagues when they’re stuck working remotely.
Get the best chat apps loaded onto your phone that you need, and you never have to worry about staying in touch. Keeping in touch is exactly what you’ll want to do during this coronavirus pandemic situation that continues to keep us from being together in person.
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