The most famous messaging app in the world is WhatsApp Messenger, which Facebook owns. To stay ahead, the company keeps adding new features all the time. But everyone has their tastes, and some people might not like how WhatsApp works or looks on the inside or the outside. WhatsApp, which Meta owns, has a policy that makes it clear that the company gathers a lot of information from your device. Here are the 8 best messaging apps that aren’t WhatsApp that you can use in 2023 if you want to switch to one that is more private or safe.
1. Signal Private Messenger
The Signal Foundation offers its messaging app called Signal Private Messenger, which supports the end-to-end encrypted technology in Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp Messenger. Signal is safer than WhatsApp in several ways. It offers self-destructing messages, screen protection, and more.
This app is great for people who want to talk to other users safely. Because of this, writers really like Signal. Signal Private Messenger is the best WhatsApp option for people who want an easy and safe messaging app.
Availability: Android, iOS (Free)
2. Telegram Messenger
There has yet to be a change in the fact that Telegram Messenger is still the best alternative to WhatsApp. The open-source messaging app is still the best thing you can use instead of WhatsApp. Both WhatsApp and Telegram have basic messaging features. However, Telegram has extra features like usernames, supergroups with up to 100,000 people, public channels, the power to share files up to 2 GB in size, passcode lock, messages that delete themselves, and end-to-end encryption in secret chat.
Then there are Telegram Bots, which make things even better. The bots send you important messages while you’re on the go, and some also let you play games in the messaging app. Besides that, Telegram can be used on more than one platform at the same time, unlike WhatsApp. This means you can start chatting on your phone and continue on your PC. You can also make speech calls, which I like and works well.
Availability: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (Free)
3. Discord
It’s no longer just a place to talk to other gamers on Discord. There are many Discord groups where you can find people who share your hobbies, but many need to remember about Discord’s direct messaging feature. Personal messages in Discord let you send emojis, text messages, emotes (if you have Discord Nitro), GIFs, pictures, and even papers. After sharing your screen, you can also make talk and video calls or browse the web together.
With cool add-ons from Battle.net, Spotify, Twitch, YouTube, Steam, Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, Xbox Live, and GitHub, Discord can handle all your messaging needs and might even be better than WhatsApp.
Discord also allows you to create group chats with up to 10 participants. You can always create a server if you need more space. You should get rid of WhatsApp immediately and run Discord instead. Also You can find the link to download Discord below. I promise you that you will not regret your choice.
Availability: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (Free)
4. Messages by Google
It may seem strange, but hear us out! The RCS messaging service from Google has come a long way since it was first released. This tool should be on almost all Android devices, even if it’s not the most popular service globally, and is only for Android users. Turn on RCS (Rich Communication Services) after downloading the Google Messages app and going to settings.
The Google Messages app has a lot of useful features, like smart replies, stickers, GIFs, and suggested actions, and it works great with Gboard. RCS is a safe way to send messages between devices because the messages are encrypted and can carry more information than SMS. Apple has kept the service the same, even though Google has poked fun at them several times. This is the main problem with RCS. In other words, your messages will be sent as normal SMS if the other person has an iPhone.
Availability: Android, Windows, Web (Free)
5. Bridgefy
One of the main issues with messaging apps like WhatsApp is that they need to be connected to the internet to work. Most text messaging apps will only work if you are camping in the woods. This is where messaging apps that work offline come in handy. You don’t need a cell network or internet link to use these apps.
Instead, they work to create a peer-to-peer Bluetooth mesh network or a Wi-Fi direct network on your phone, allowing you to send messages to close friends. You should use Bridgefy if you want to find such an app. The three main types of messaging services that Bridgefy offers are Person-to-Person, Broadcast, and Mesh.
You can message a friend, send a message to the whole group, or even use other users as nodes to send messages over long distances. This comes in handy in places where cell service is spotty, like music festivals, sports games, nature disasters, and other events.
Bridgefy and other apps like it have become safe havens for protesters worldwide because they let them get around government-imposed internet blocks. If you want to use WhatsApp offline, this app is my pick. It’s free to download and use. Check it out!
Install: Android (free), iOS (free)
6. Snapchat
Of course, Snapchat is more than just a messaging app; it’s also a social media app. But I use it as a messaging app more and more because it has features that no other messaging app has. For example, I can send messages that will delete themselves after a certain amount of time. It also lets me know when someone screenshots one of my chats with them. Last but not least, it offers the best collection of face masks of all the apps I’ve ever used, which makes this app fun.
The other available messaging features are the ability to create group chats, group voice calls, voice calls, gifs, and more. As one of the most cutting-edge chat services on the market, I also adore Snapchat. WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger users often get the same features as Snapchat users. If you want to access these cool features and be the first to get them, Snapchat is the app.
Availability: Android, iOS (Free)
7. Skype
Skype is, without a question, one of the best apps for business chat that you can use right now. It has blown away all the other business chat apps because Microsoft backs it. That success, however, has worked against Skype for personal chats because its business name keeps regular users away. But I want to tell you that Skype is one of the best chat apps on the market, especially if you make a lot of voice and video talks.
It is great for making calls to people in other countries because the sound and video quality are much better than other apps. I also love that Skype lets you make group video calls.
Some apps let you make group video calls, but when you add more than three or four people, they often go slow. I suggest Skype over WhatsApp or any other chat app if you make many video calls with your friends and family.
Availability: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Web (Free)
8. Kik
For users who want to avoid using their phone number to use a messaging app, Kik is a great messaging app. Although chat services like WhatsApp require users to use their phone numbers, I know a lot of users who are uncomfortable sharing their numbers on these platforms.
Kik is a fantastic service for those users because all you need is your email address. Kik will develop a unique user name for you that you can share with other Kik users to chat once you sign up for the service using your email address.
When you use Kik, the best thing is that you don’t lose any messaging features. You can always access all the essential features, such as text messages, emojis, stickers, GIFs, photo sharing, video sharing, and group calls.
One more thing that makes Kik stand out is that it lets you use bots, which is not possible with WhatsApp. You can use bots to take quizzes, get fashion advice, read the news, and more. Still, the best thing about Kik is that you don’t need a phone number to use it, so if that sounds good, check it out.
Availability: Android, iOS (Free)