In the ever-evolving world of digital communication, WhatsApp has long been the reigning champion, connecting over two billion monthly active users with its simple, reliable messaging. But as we dive into 2024, the tides are turning, and a new league of messaging apps is vying for the crown, offering features that make them not just alternatives, but in many cases, better choices than WhatsApp. Whether it’s about prioritizing privacy, enhancing user experience with innovative features, or simply connecting in a more fun and engaging way, these apps are making waves and challenging the status quo.
So, why consider switching or at least expanding your messaging app repertoire? Imagine securing your chats with military-grade encryption, customizing your app themes to the nth degree, or joining communities with shared interests right from your messaging platform. These aren’t just hypotheticals; they’re real features offered by emerging apps in 2024.
Join us as we explore 10 messaging apps that are giving WhatsApp a run for its money this year.
Table of Content
1. Discord
Discord is an app that allows you to talk to your friends and family and watch your favorite series, jam to music, and play games all at the same time. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows many features.
The app offers integration with YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter, etc. This is absent from WhatsApp. Another feature is its ability to make servers that are like groups but with more benefits.
Features
- Discord allows you to send emojis, documents, GIFs, images, and texts.
- This app lets you host meetings, video calls, and voice calls.
- It also allows you to browse various sites together by sharing your screen.
- The app can be integrated with other useful social media and utility apps.
- It allows you make servers for a large number of people
Pros
- The ability to host servers and make a variety of calls makes it a good app for workplace.
- Its servers are also helpful in making personalized communities for families, friends and influencers.
- The app can integrate with github, which makes it useful for developers.
Cons
- Discord takes up a big chunk of RAM
- Safety becomes an issue in large servers
Pricing and Availability
Discord is a free app that is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Linux, and web browsers. It also has an upgraded version called discord Nitro, which costs $9.99/- monthly.
2. Google Chats
Google Chats or Hangouts, as the name suggests is a product of Google. Google chats lets you chat, send GIFs, Images, and videos, make group chats with up to 250 people in it. You can also have HD video calls with a upto 25 people. The best part is the integration it offers with other google apps.
Features
- The app is divided into two sections: Spaces and chat.
- You can edit & delete messages for consumer accounts.
- You can also customize emojis.
- The app comes with several integrations with various Google applications.
Pros
- The app integrates with other google apps, which increases the efficiency.
- You can share files and assign tasks, which makes it good for work environments.
Cons
- This app might not be able to share large files.
- The search function is inefficient at times.
Pricing and Availability
The setup is free of cost. You can use Google Chat on iOS, Android, and Web Page.
3. LINE
LINE is one of the biggest competitors of WhatsApp. With 350 million users worldwide, it allows you to send stickers, emojis and interactive messages. LINE also lets you make new friends and chat with them.
Features
- It provides a range of services like LINE Pay and LINE News.
- It also allows you to send stickers, emojis, and interactive messages.
- LINE lets you chat with individuals with similar interests.
- It also comes with a “For You” tab that lets you explore areas of interest.
Pros
- LINE lets you make free messages and calls.
- You can make new friends with the app.
Cons
- It shares user data with third parties.
- There are some other security concerns such as the protection of users from hacking.
Pricing and vailability
Line is available on iOS, Android, Windows 10 or later, macOS, and Chrome browser for free.
4. AWS Wickr
WhatsApp has had some serious issues with its security measures. Wickr is the perfect application if you are looking for a secure communications platform. This is important if you work in sensitive industries or services such as Security, Law, Banking, and IT.
- This app has a multi-factor authentication
- The design of the app also deletes data after delivery in case there is a data breach.
- It has 256 end-to-end encryption.
- This app allows you to chat, share files, and get on video calls.
Pros
- The app keeps security as first priority.
- It becomes specially useful if you work in sensitive industries like Security, Law, Banking, and IT.
Cons
- It has fewer users as compared to other apps.
- The app has gone through big leadership change with change in features.
Pricing and Availability
Wickr is available on Android, iOS, and Windows for 417.97 Rs. standard and 1253.91 Rs. for premium version.
5. Wire
Wire is another app that takes security seriously. Wire is available on various platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux making it a versatile application. Its unique feature is the timed messages.
Features
- The app has advanced features for group chats and group video calls.
- The features let you collaborate on projects in a secure and organized manner.
- It also has self-destruct messages.
Pros
- The app is very useful in businesses and teams.
- Its features for collaboration make it useful for workplace.
Cons
- The quality of the pictures degrades when sent through the app.
- People have been dissatisfied with the customer service.
Pricing and Availability
Wire is available for 487 Rs. for pro version and 794 Rs. for an even advanced version. The app is available on various platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
6. Viber
Viber is a vibrant and fun messaging app. It lets you text, and send images, videos, voice texts, fun GIFs, and never-ending stickers. It also allows you to make voice calls that can easily be changed into high-quality video calls.
Features
- It lets you send texts, images, GIFs, and stickers.
- You can also make your own GIFs and Stickers.
- The app allows you to have group video calls with around 40 people.
Pros
- The app lets you edit, delete, and send disappearing messages.
- The best part is that you can unsend what you did not intend.
Cons
- The app doesn’t have an option to block users.
- The endless amount of stickers makes the app suitable for personal use only.
Pricing and Availability
Viber is available on Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows.
7. Signal
Signal is another app that allows you to text, and do video and voice calls. It also focuses on privacy the most. It allows you to link various devices, put stories, and play around with chat colours, themes, and wallpapers.
Features
- The app allows you to text, and do video and voice calls.
- It encrypts all your texts and stickers.
- It allows you to chat with yourself.
- You can also send disappearing messages, carry out in-app payments, and schedule messages.
- Its most unique feature is the incognito keyboard.
Pros
- If you don’t want the keyboard to stop learning from your Inputs, you can turn inccognito mode mode on.
- The app gives you more control with its disappearing messages.
Cons
- The app doesn’t support simultaneous use on different devices
- There is a risk of losing your data since everything is saved on your device
- It doesn’t let you make groups or channels.
Pricing and Availability
This app is available for free on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux.
8. Spike
Communication is a key factor when it comes to maintaining good relations. Spike lets you do that. It has features such as Magic AI. It lets you manage your workflow. It also has the ability to merge all your calendars to keep you updated for upcoming events.
Features
- Spike allows you to chat, send voice notes, and have one-on-one and group chats and video calls.
- The apps helps you with conversations with its Magic AI.
- It can also merge all your calendars.
- The app also lets you form a priority inbox, make collaborative notes, and collaborate projects.
Pros
- The app makes file management an easy task.
- Spike lets you have easy communication between your teams.
Cons
- The organization bit of the app can get a bit tricky to navigate sometimes.
- The Magic AI sometimes edits the contents of the email on its own.
Pricing and Availability
For teams, they charge $4 every month and for businesses, it’s $8 per month. There is also a free starter pack. The app is available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Web.
9. Slack
Slack is an app for those who communicate with a lot of people at the same time. It lets you make channels that can help you conduct discussions. Slack lets you automate your workflow to a huge extent.
Features
- Slack lets you make channels that can help locate discussions.
- It integrates with other essential apps like Google Drive, Dropbox, GitHub, etc.
- The app also has an in-built bot.
- The app allows you to have voice and video calls.
Pros
- The app lets you make custom emojis and reactions to convey your emotions.
- Its ability to integrate with other apps and its inbuilt bot helps in automating tasks.
Cons
- People have raised concerns over the audio and video-sharing features.
- Their plans are considerably expensive.
Pricing and Availability
The pricing starts at $7.5 and goes up to $15 per month. It is available on iOS, Android, macOS and Web browsers.
10. iMessage
iMessage is a great alternative to WhatsApp for its security. It allows traditional messaging features but with extra security. The features include text messages with images, videos, and voice messages.
Features
- The features include regular text messages with images, videos, and voice messages.
- iMessage allows its users to send animated emojis and customized avatar reactions.
- It also allows its users to make in-app payments, share locations, and etc.
Pros
- The app allows traditional features but with extra security.
- It also has message effects to include visual elements in texting.
Cons
- You can’t send messages if you don’t have internet access.
- If you lose your iCloud account it will be extremely hard to recover old messages.
- You can not text android users with iMessage.
Pricing and Availability
It is available on iPhone. iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.
Final Thoughts
To wrap it up, one can say that being completely dependent on one app can have some bitter consequences. Today, an app user should be able to easily shift to any of the alternatives that best suit their needs. There is a range of other applications and you should not stick to an app without trying others.
FAQs – Messaging Apps That Work Better Than WhatsApp
What is the best app instead of WhatsApp?
Selecting the “best” app as an alternative to WhatsApp depends on your priorities such as security, features, user interface, or the region you’re in. Some popular alternatives include Signal for its enhanced privacy and security features, Telegram for its blend of speed, security, and features like large group chats and bots, and Viber for its voice and video capabilities alongside text messaging. Each of these apps offers a unique set of features that might cater to different user needs.
Which is the No 1 chatting app?
As of my last update, WhatsApp is often considered the No. 1 chatting app globally, boasting billions of users due to its simplicity, reliability, and comprehensive features that include text messaging, voice and video calls, and file sharing, among others. However, popularity can vary by region, and competitors like WeChat dominate in China, while Telegram and Signal have seen their user base grow significantly worldwide due to their focus on privacy and security.
Is there a safer app than WhatsApp?
Signal is frequently cited as a safer alternative to WhatsApp. It is an open-source messaging app that prioritizes user privacy and security. Signal uses end-to-end encryption for all forms of communication on its platform, ensuring that only the sender and receiver can access the messages. Unlike WhatsApp, Signal does not store metadata (information about who is messaging whom), offering an additional layer of privacy. Its encryption protocol is highly regarded and has even been implemented by other messaging services, including WhatsApp, but Signal’s commitment to minimal data retention sets it apart as a safer choice for privacy-conscious users.
Is there any Indian app like WhatsApp?
Hike Messenger, also known as Hike Sticker Chat, was one of the most prominent Indian apps similar to WhatsApp, offering features like messaging, stickers, and even wallet services. However, it was officially shut down in January 2021. In its absence, JioChat, developed by Reliance Jio Platforms, is a notable Indian alternative, offering features like text messaging, voice and video calling, and conferencing capabilities. Another emerging Indian app is Bharat Messenger, which focuses on providing instant messaging services with an emphasis on speed and security. These apps aim to cater to the Indian market with localized features and language support.