With over 2 billion users globally, WhatsApp is one of the most popular chat apps. You can send messages in different formats and make voice or video calls with an individual or group of up to 1024 participants. You can even share your screen while you’re on the call.
This free texting app also has plenty of security features and privacy options. End-to-end encryption is available, ensuring that even WhatsApp can’t read your messages. Your chat backups are also encrypted, so they stay secure when you migrate from one mobile device to another.
You can password-protect your chats and choose which users can see whether you’re online. You can also set messages to disappear after 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days after you’ve sent them. Don’t want to receive calls from unknown callers? A privacy setting can silence calls from unknown numbers.
WhatsApp users can also create a Community and invite up to 2000 participants and administrators. This feature is handy for organizations and communities, enabling them to send announcements to everyone through the chat app. Only community admins can send messages to the community.
2. Viber
Device compatibility: A top texting app for iPhone, philippines phone number example iOS, and Android mobile devices and Windows and Mac desktop apps
Viber texting app homepage
Viber is next on our list of best texting apps. This all-around chat app lets you send texts, images, videos, and files to individual users or a group chat of up to 250 participants.
If you’re in a hurry and can’t text, you can record and send a voice or video message instead. Sending sensitive information like bank details? Use disappearing messages so that the message will self-destruct.
Like WhatsApp, Viber lets you create channels and communities with unlimited participants. Members can send private messages to other members, but their phone numbers remain hidden.
End-to-end encryption is available in individual and group chats. However, community and public group chats don’t have this feature to let new members view the chat history.
If you need to make an international call to a non-Viber user, you can use Viber Out. Viber Out is a paid feature that enables you to use Viber to call anyone on landlines and mobile phone numbers.
3. Telegram
Device compatibility: One of the top free texting apps for iPhone and iOS, Android, Web, Windows, and Mac devices