what is the best app for messaging to use between ios and android

Keeping in touch with friends and family has never been easier. If y'all take an internet connection, yous can ship a message to anyone, anywhere, gratis of charge.

With endless free texting apps for Android and iPhone, you need to determine your priorities to figure out which one to choose. Some services are designed purely with security and user privacy in mind, while others emphasize broader communication in the form of audio and video calling. Some messaging apps closely resemble social networks, while others provide a platform on which to do things similar play games and settle tabs.

Here we'll present our picks for the seven all-time texting apps—all of which are free—and aid you decide which i'southward right for you.

What Makes a Slap-up Texting App?

How we evaluate and test apps

All of our all-time apps roundups are written past humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. We spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as information technology'south intended to be used and evaluating information technology against the criteria we set up for the category. We're never paid for placement in our manufactures from any app or for links to any site—nosotros value the trust readers put in us to offering accurate evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our procedure, read the full rundown of how nosotros select apps to feature on the Zapier blog.

In our quest to find the all-time way to stay in touch, we've put almost 30 unlike apps and services to the examination. The about basic requirement is that all apps are able to send text and multimedia messages in the form of photos and videos to an individual or group chat. The messages must also exist free to send.

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For this roundup, we've only considered services have both iOS and Android apps and so you tin can connect with anyone on any device. Desktop apps and web access is a prissy-to-have, simply not a requirement for inclusion. Other dainty features include voice and video calling, filters, mobile payments, games, and other interactive experiences.

Nosotros've given priority to services with first-class security practices. All services on this list implement some form of cease-to-cease encryption, which means not even the service provider can read message contents. Some services go a step farther by putting security at the center of the product, incorporating boosted safeguards similar decentralized networks and self-destructing messages.

Texting apps use an internet connectedness to send and receive messages. This is different from SMS, which uses your carrier's own protocols to ship and receive letters anywhere with a cellular connexion (fifty-fifty a weak ane, with no information). While SMS letters toll coin—either on a per-message basis or included with your cellular plan—the messages sent through data-only texting apps will all be costless (fifty-fifty if the app itself is not).

The vii All-time Texting Apps

• WhatsApp for a balance among features, security, and convenience

• Viber for public group chats

• Telegram for speed

• Indicate for simplicity

• Wickr Me for security

• Facebook Messenger for doing more than just chatting

• Tox for a decentralized chat service

WhatsApp (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Web)

Best texting app for a residual among features, security, and convenience

WhatsApp is the undisputed ruler of free mobile messaging in the West. Launched in 2009 as a way to send messages over a data connection rather than SMS, WhatsApp was eventually caused past Facebook in 2014. Since and so, the service has grown both its feature set up and user base, exceeding a billion daily users in 2017.

The app is a simple messaging client that supports basic text chat, likewise as photos, videos, and voice messaging. You can also send files to other users on WhatsApp as long as they're under 100MB. Chats take the form of one-on-one interactions with other WhatsApp users or grouping chats of upward to 256 participants.

In Apr 2016, the company rectified ane of the longstanding criticisms of the service by adding end-to-finish encryption. All messages sent over modern versions of WhatsApp are at present secured, including file transfers. Encrypted letters are removed from WhatsApp'south servers one time they're delivered.

WhatsApp has a distinctive look and feel. Its signature double tick next to each message indicates that a message has been sent (ane checkmark) and delivered (two checkmarks). When the 2 ticks plow blue, y'all know that the recipient has read your message too. You tin farther customize your experience by changing the chat wallpaper under the app'southward settings, renaming groups, and setting custom alerts on a per-chat footing.

WhatsApp users can identify gratis phonation and video calls to other users of the service. Group calls can be made with upwardly to four people, and all communication is secured with the same terminate-to-cease encryption. You can also download WhatsApp desktop apps for Windows and Mac, or admission the service via a browser at spider web.whatsapp.com.

WhatsApp Price: Complimentary

Viber (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows)

Best texting app for public group chats

Viber is some other groovy all-around entry to the messaging space, with large user bases in India, the U.S., Russia, and Brazil. The app fuses text and media messaging with a costless voice and video telephone call service that can even be extended to users who aren't currently using Viber.

Talk to individuals or create a group conversation with upward to 250 participants, where you can share instant phonation and video messages without having to make a call. It's perfect for when you lot're as well busy to talk and besides lazy to blazon. While many other apps include simple voice messaging (like WhatsApp, above), Viber makes it simply as easy to send a video message for a more personal touch. Plus, GIFs and stickers are built into your chats to help liven upwards conversations.

Finish-to-stop encryption is standard on all Viber communications. You can go a stride farther and exchange private keys with certain contacts to maintain security (and you'll be notified if their details change too). To practice this, you'll demand to tap Gratuitous Viber Call, talk to the person in question, and verify their identity; then both parties will tap the lock icon on the phone call screen. After that, yous'll run across each other'south private keys and can choose to Trust this contact.

In addition to free voice and video calling to other Viber users, a service called Viber Out lets you call any mobile or landline in the earth. Yous'll have to pay for the privilege, and what fees you pay depend on where yous're trying to call. It's like Skype, except with better security practices.

Viber uses an understated, minimal pattern with an optional Dark Mode available under the app'southward Advent menu. Chats and calls are delegated to separate tabs, with Viber's non-essential features (like the Sticker Market) placed on a separate tertiary tab. If a chat gets as well rowdy, you can swipe left and cull to Mute or Snooze it. If yous have an of import conversation you'd similar to keep handy, you can Pin it.

You don't even actually need friends to make the most of Viber. Check out Viber communities—essentially big grouping chats with strangers—or start your own to meet new people. These public chats can take an unlimited number of members and feature robust controls for admins to moderate their chats. These controls permit you manage who's in the group and who tin mail, every bit well equally irresolute the community's look and feel with a new background and group description.

Viber Toll: Free

Telegram (iOS, Android, Spider web, Mac, Windows, Linux)

The best texting app for speed

Telegram is ane of the original secure messaging apps that puts security at the heart of the app. You lot can use it to send text letters, photos, videos, and files to other Telegram users, you tin can create grouping chats with a whopping 200,000 participants, and your conversations are stored in the deject and attainable from whatever Telegram client.

Telegram'due south "Clandestine Chats" encrypt messages on both ends: Just start a new message then choose New hole-and-corner conversation from the menu. You can also set self-destruct timers for any secret messages you lot send so that they won't hang around once they've served their purpose. Secret chats aren't stored in the cloud similar regular chats. Simply even your regular chats in Telegram are encrypted, stored on the server, then decrypted when they're downloaded. This gives you the option of choosing betwixt highly secure messaging and a more convenient, slightly less secure pick. You tin can use both interchangeably, as yous see fit.

By distributing their servers throughout the world, Telegram claims to be the fastest chat service—and it certainly passed our tests. Unlike many competing services, Telegram doesn't cater to voice or video calling. This is strictly a messaging app—ane that looks and feels very similar to WhatsApp, right down to the busy decorative backgrounds that yous can modify under the Advent menu. It's basically a WhatsApp clone in all but its security practices.

Finally, Telegram has an open API, which means users are free to build their ain unofficial apps for apply with the service. This has given birth to projects like Unigram, a Windows 10-optimized third-party client, and a control line version of Telegram for Linux users.

Telegram Price: Free

Bespeak (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux)

Best texting app for simplicity

Signal is one of the near unremarkable-looking texting apps. It features a unmarried screen for all of your chats and a single compose button. There'south little in the way of customization bachelor. It's ofttimes recommended as a WhatsApp culling: While chatting, you lot'll even notice WhatsApp-style double ticks to denote message status. Point besides includes free i-on-one vocalization and video calling to other Signal users. These chats are encrypted merely like other messages sent via the app.

You can send text, photos, videos, documents, and vox messages to individual or group conversations, just unlike with WhatsApp, in that location'south no limit on the number of people you lot tin add to a grouping. The app uses end-to-end encryption to secure all letters sent via the service, with the selection of setting expiration dates for each conversation. In one case your messages expire, they're no longer recoverable. There'southward also a handy "Note to Self" contact for you to shop your thoughts.

Yous can download a desktop app for Windows, Mac, and Linux to bring the full suite of Bespeak features to your computer too. And on Android, Signal tin can even replace your stock SMS app. This allows y'all to ship Signal messages and regular SMS messages to non-Signal users from a unmarried interface. (This doesn't work for iOS users on account of how messaging works in the Apple tree ecosystem.)

Signal Toll: Free

Wickr Me (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux)

Best texting app for security

If security is of primary importance to you, there's certainly no shortage of chat apps to choose from. But Wickr Me might be the about secure app of its kind, thanks to a few features not seen in Telegram, Signal, or elsewhere.

The app is a standard messaging app for individuals or groups of upwards to 10 people. You tin can send text, video, images, and files of less than 10MB securely and privately. End-to-end encryption is standard, with all new correspondence sent with a new central. (Wickr Me includes limited voice calling betwixt ii users, which is too encrypted on both ends.) All letters expire upward to half-dozen days after beingness delivered, and a feature called Shredder overwrites your deleted messages to make data recovery side by side to incommunicable.

Yous don't even need a phone number or e-mail accost to get started with Wickr Me, which ways no identifying information is tied to your account. Instead, you must register a username and make a note of your countersign somewhere secure (if you lose the password, there'due south no recovery option). And as if Wickr Me wasn't already secure enough, the app includes Wickr Open up Access, a built-in VPN you lot tin enable if yous want.

Wickr's secure roots are evident from the moment you beginning using information technology. All chats are locked by default, which means that y'all have to tap on a bulletin to reveal its contents. You can also opt to require your countersign each fourth dimension you open the app. While chatting, you lot take quick access to both the "Burn on read" timer and the "Expiration timer" alongside the chat box, only in case yous demand to adjust them on the fly.

Wickr Me Price: Free

Facebook Messenger (iOS, Android, Web)

Best texting app for doing more just chatting

Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a Facebook business relationship to utilise Facebook Messenger. The company only requires you lot to sign up with a phone number to talk to anyone else using the service. If you lot practise already have a Facebook account, you lot can spring straight in and message any of your Facebook friends (and other Facebook users) who've signed up for Messenger.

The app includes all the basic messaging features you lot'd expect—and some you probably won't. Send texts to individuals or groups of upwards to 150 people, and react to messages with stickers, GIFs, and emoji. Yous can ship voice messages, photos, and videos, or capture your ain media using Messenger Camera and its fun Snapchat-like filters. You can even create polls to quickly become a group opinion on an idea.

Just Messenger isn't merely a chat service. Tap the four-dots icon in whatsoever message to come across a list of activities you tin start. These include playing games, watching videos together, sharing music, and—in some territories (at present the US, Britain, and France)—sending money via PayPal.

By default, Facebook has no end-to-end encryption. But if you tap on your contact'south proper name in whatsoever conversation and select Go to Secret Chat, you lot'll enable encryption on both ends. Do this for every conversation, and you've enabled finish-to-end encryption for all correspondence.

All images sent through Messenger are scanned for signs of kid abuse, and Facebook has used message scanning in the past to quell sensationalist messages designed to incite damage or unrest. The visitor claims they do non scan your private conversations for advertising purposes.

Messenger has its flaws, just ultimately, it'due south a well-designed app that'south pleasant to use. The app places your active chats and bachelor contacts on two separate tabs, each only a tap abroad. Big, assuming fonts and flecks of Facebook's brilliant blue coloring make it easy to discover your way effectually. You can even commencement a chat and tap the "Wave" button to get a conversation started without typing at all.

Facebook Messenger keeps you connected with voice and video calls to individuals or groups. Web admission means y'all can go along chatting even on desktop. For older, underpowered devices and areas of poor connectivity, users can download Messenger Lite, which only includes the almost bones features.

Facebook Messenger Price: Costless

Tox (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux)

Best texting app for a decentralized conversation service

Tox isn't a single app; rather, it's a messaging service that's run and maintained by the people who use it. Using an open source development model, Tox was designed with user privacy in mind. In that location are apps available for just most every platform: They're not "official" apps but user-contributed projects.

The service supports basic ane-on-one and group text messaging, photo and video messaging, and file sharing. All communications are encrypted on both ends, and there are no primal servers that can exist shut down. That means there are no servers that tin can be raided, and the distributed approach removes the potential for server downtime.

There are a variety of clients you can use, depending on your hardware. On iOS, there's an app chosen Antidote for Tox, which provides basic access to the service. On Android, an app called Antox does the same. For desktop platforms, you lot've got a choice of qTox and uTox. Yous can check out the official wiki to acquire more than nigh the different types of clients.

Since these projects are contributed past the community for gratis, progress tin be ho-hum at times. Unlike projects will have dissimilar characteristic implementations, so not all Tox features will piece of work with all Tox clients. But the basics, similar text chat, media messaging, and file sharing are well-implemented, despite the shortcomings.

Keep in heed that Tox is under constant development. The fragmented nature of the approach to apps can cause bug with how the service works. With that in mind, if yous've been pining for a complimentary, decentralized chat service, then this is the ane.

Tox Price: Gratuitous (open source)

What About iMessage and Android Messages?

Both Apple and Google have proprietary messaging solutions: You know them equally iMessage and Android Messages, and they cater solely to users on their native platforms. Both are used equally a default method of sending SMS messages on their respective platforms, just they likewise serve as data-based messaging apps.

iMessage is arguably the better messenger of the 2. It'southward encrypted cease-to-end, which ways not even Apple can read your message contents. It has unique features like animoji, animated emoji that use the TrueDepth camera on the forepart of the latest iPhones. Information technology's a platform on which you can play games, make payments, notice and share GIFs and stickers, and more often than not have a lot more fun than simply sending messages back and forth.

Unlike iMessage, Android Letters uses an open ecosystem. It wants to exist the simply messaging app on your Android device, replacing your SMS app with something more futurity proof. Unfortunately, in its bid to ditch the SMS protocol (and supervene upon it with Rich Communication Services, or RCS), Google has not mandated end-to-end encryption.

Your decision to utilise iMessage or Android Letters largely depends on who you spend the most fourth dimension chatting with. iMessage is secure and attainable from nearly Apple devices, then information technology'south a great pick if yous tin use it. By comparison, Android Messages lacks even bones safeguards, and then we'd recommend using something else (similar WhatsApp) if security is a concern.

Which Texting App Should Yous Choose?

Y'all don't e'er have a pick of which texting app to utilise when talking to friends and family, since it depends on what app they're using. Choice the app that's near convenient for you while too satisfying your security and privacy concerns. Explain to your contacts why you favor one service over another, and maybe they'll jump send with you.

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Source: https://zapier.com/blog/best-texting-app/

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