In this post, I will highlight several whatsapp alternatives that you can also use for your social media purposes. As such, if you choose to drop the use of Whatsapp, you may not have much to lose.
Whatsapp has grown to become one of the most used and popular social media network with its amazing features. It was created in 2009 by Jan Koum who was previously a staff at Yahoo Inc. in 2012, Facebook (now Meta) bought the app for a whopping $19B. Ever since the purchase, Whatsapp has remained highly innovative by introducing amazing features that enhances interaction and user-friendliness.
Whatsapp support video and voice calls. It has the status feature that enables you share your status and your friends will be able to view them. The status lasts for 24 hours and after that, it disappears. Also, it has group chat where you can also place both video and voice calls. In the recent update, users can now exit groups without anyone knowing.
These feature and more gives Whatsapp a competitive advantage over the other competitors. Adding to that fact that messages are end-to-end encrypted enhancing its security and privacy. As such, you are safe on whatsapp.
Meta introduced another version of whatsapp call Business Whatsapp. As the name implies, this Whatsapp is most preferable for business owners looking to grow their businesses. With this version, you can add your business description, email, website, location etc on your profile. You can also create a customized message which will be sent to your friends when they chat you.
Also, whatsapp enables broadcast messages, such that you do not have to send messages one by one. Although, there is a limit to the amount of people and groups you can forward messages to at ones.
Also, other types of whatsapp like GBWhatsapp and FMWhatsapp has been introduced. They copied several features from the original whatsapp, though they are not owned by same Meta.
Whatsapp is available on Android, iOS, Windows and MacOS. On Android, it is available on 60 languages and 40 on iOS.
It is available in about 180 countries but has been banned in few countries for several reasons. The countries include; China, Iran, Turkey, Brazil, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Cuba, Switzerland, Zambia. In some of the countries, the reason for the ban is because there is an already existing indigenous social network that performs same functions with Whatsapp. As such, banning whatsapp is their way of promoting the indigenous apps. Although, using a VPN, you can access whatsapp in these countries where it has been banned.
Remember that whatsapp is owned by Meta Inc. which is also the parent of Facebook, Messenger and Instagram. As such, they announced their plans to merge Messenger, Whatsapp and Instagram’s message functionality in order to allow users message each other between the three networks.
But in recent times, there is need to have other Whatsapp alternatives because of some issues we encounter in recent times. On several occasions, whatsapp has experienced outage either globally or in some countries. Some of the days in which it had such experience includes; Jan 19, 2021, Match 19, 2021, October 04, 2021 and October 25, 2022.
To curb this menace, sourcing for whatsapp alternatives becomes the way forward. Although there are other whatsapp alternatives that offers matchless features too, whatsapp still dominates because of the high level of innovations.
This post highlights several whatsapp alternatives that you can also use for your social media purposes. In using them, you will still achieve great features as though you were on Whatsapp. As such, you can leverage any of them and enjoy social media services to the peak
#1 Signal
The first app on our list of Whatsapp alternatives is called Signal. Signal is an amazing free application with strong encryption, and works on all mobile platforms. It can be installed on Android and iOS. The application is very simple to use as you will not need special training and explanation to use it. Just like Whatsapp, it also offer voice and video calling features.
Also like whatsapp, Signal has a desktop version. This therefore makes it possible for you to use Signal both on your computer and your mobile devices as well. It encrypts every message so that only the sender and receiver will be able to read them. One of the major reasons why Signal is secured is that it uses Open Source encryption. This allows experts to test the app to find loopholes and bugs. With this, hacking into the app becomes extremely difficult and almost impossible.
It could be said that the disappearing message feature that was introduced on Whatsapp was copied from signal. This implies that signal also uses disappearing message feature. You can activate this feature by setting a time interval for automatic deletion. With this, your privacy will be better enhanced, even if a third party has access to your phone. Unfortunately, Signal does not have the animated emojis feature.
Signal was developed by Whatsapp cofounder Brian Acton. He left WhatsApp after facebook acquired it. This he did because he knew that the new owners of the company will most likely go against their initial privacy policy. As such, he used part of his proceeds from the sale of WhatsApp to set up Signal. Elon Musk, the world richest man recommended Signal as the best WhatsApp alternative you can use.
#2 Telegram
For the fact that this list was not compiled in any given order, Telegram appears as the second in the list of whatsapp alternative. If we were to follow a given pattern and sequence of compiling this list, Telegram should be the first Whatsapp alternatives worth mentioning.
Telegram currently has more than 200 million active users and works on various platforms. Just like Whatsapp, when messages are received, the sender gets notified by the double tick feature.
On Telegram, you can chat with people directly like you do on other apps. It has groups and also channels for a more expanded conversation. Before now, Whatsapp group had limited number of permissible users. But then, Telegram group allows more people to it. This feature became a big threat to whatsapp because many people who needed to create larger groups opted for Telegram instead of whatsapp. This made Whatsapp to in turn expand their groups and allow more users compared to how it was previously.
Telegram supports sharing of multimedia files and also has the ability to automatically delete a message after a certain time. It is very easy to move your data from Whatsapp to Telegram. As such, this becomes a very suitable alternative to Whatsapp
Telegram offers more advanced features like super groups of up to 100,000 people, public channels, usernames, ability to share files of up to 1.5 GB, pass code lock etc. Furthermore, it has the Telegram bots which provides important information on the go. The Bots also lets you play games in the app. The major drawback for Telegram is in the fact that it does not support video calls.
It also offers two forms of encryption for group and private chats. The first is Server-Client encryption. It encrypts messages on the way from sender to server and from server to recipient. The second is end-to-end encryption which is also known as secret chats. It ensures that only the sender and the recipient can read a message.
#3 Viber
Viber is another awesome Whatsapp alternatives that delivers awesome instant messaging feature. The app is owned by Japanese e-retailer Rakuten. At inception, Viber was a VoIP app and gradually grew to include other services like text messaging, voice calls, group messaging etc. It is fully available both on mobile and on desktop. The requirement for registration is your phone number.
Viber partners with Snapchat to provide AR-powered selfie lenses which enhances the quality of video calls. It is also end-to-end encrypted like Whatsapp and the other apps listed above. Viber is a free social media app but has a paid version called Viber Out. The subscription fee is $6 per month with which you can make unlimited international calls to contacts that are not on Viber.
Some of the features available on Viber includes; Stickers, file sharing, last seen Voice and video messaging etc. It has a multi-device support system which makes it stand out from Whatsapp, backs up to Google drive and is available on Android, iOS, Symbiam, Bada, Blackberry and windows. Currently, it has more than 100 million active users. These users engage in different activities like text, making HD-quality phone and video calls, and send photo and video messages.
Working in the same office, Viber enables you share your screen remotely with other colleagues. It also enables group chat for up to 250 people. It also has the data protection feature which makes it possible to set up messages that self-destruct so that they automatically disappear after being read. As a service owned by Rakuten, Rakuten uses it to reach a large number of potential customers by placing their ads on Viber. This may most likely disrupt and distract users while on the app.
#4 Threema
Threema is another whatsapp alternatives that provides complete privacy for its users. The app is not free like whatsapp but the security it provides makes the fee worth it. It app goes for $3. To achieve its privacy goals, the app store your contact lists and group information on your phone instead of the app itself. Also, as soon as messages are delivered, they are deleted from the server. This is to better enhance the privacy of the app. You can connect to people using an 8-digit Threema ID instead of a phone number and you can verify contacts with unique QR codes.
It also provides end-to-end encryption for all message types, including texts, voice calls, shared files, and group chats. Status messages are encrypted in order to prevent third party from keeping track of your activities. The privacy policy of Threema makes it possible for messages to be read only by the sender and the intended recipient.
Users of this app can create polls and surveys which is not possible on whatsapp. There is also an option to give a “like” feedback on messages. Your chats are password protected.
Threema does not support voice & video calls but you can send multimedia files like voice, images and video using the app. It also makes provision for anonymous chatting since you will not need your phone number to access the app. You can connect Threema to your phone number or email address so people can find you. It is available for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux and has a web version too.
Threema’s servers are located in Switzerland, where they are subject to strict data protection regulations. It offers a PIN lock feature for private chats. You can enhance your security by implementing passwords and fingerprint protections. Currently, Threema has about 10 million active individual users. While the app is also been used by about 7,000 companies
#5 Wire
Wire was founded by Skype co-founder Janus Friis. It is a safe and secured messaging app with end-to-end encryption that offers free personal accounts and paid business plans. It is protected by European data retention laws. Wire is a secure messaging app with end-to-end encryption. To enhance its security, the app undergoes regular security update.
One of its major strength is in the fact that it provides clear voice and video communications. It is available for all major platforms and can be accessed with up to eight synced devices. Wire supports group calls with its VOIP feature. In addition, you’re advised to be cautious with third-party functions such as YouTube or SoundCloud. On Wire, you can add someone with their username (no phone number needed). It’s available on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Wire can be deployed on Wire’s Cloud, your cloud server, or your own on-premises server and all features can be used across web, mobile, and PC.
#6 Kik
Like Threema, Kik is a messaging app for users who don’t want to use their number. Instead of your phone number, Kik requires you to use your email ID. Once you sign up for the service using your email ID, Kik will create a unique user name for you which you can share with other Kik users.
Some of the features of Kik include; text messages, emojis, stickers, GIFs, photo sharing, audio, video sharing and group chats. Kik also supports bots which can be used to play quizzes, get fashion tips, latest news etc. It’s available for both Android and iOS. On Kik, you can meet new people, or you can choose to stay in contact only with your old friends. Kik is completely free to use but it has some ads in it.
#7 Discord
Initially, discord was designed for fellow gamers. With this app, you could connect with other gamers in the space. But in recent time, Discord has upgraded and introduced more advanced features to the system. Some of the functionalities on Discord allows you to send messages, emojis, emotes (if you have Discord Nitro), GIFs, images, and even documents. The app also allows you to make voice and video calls. Discord has other social media integrations. Some of the social media that can be integrated to Discord include; Sportify, Twitch, YouTube, Battle.net, Steam, Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, Xbox Live, and GitHub. With this, most of your messaging services and needs can be accessed using Discord. Because of these massive integrations, some people argue that Discord is better than WhatsApp.
You can as well create group chats on Discord with up to 150 members with more than 4 billion conversations daily. But if you need a group chat of more than 10 people, then you have to create a server.
Discord is available Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web users. It has a paid service known as Discord Nitro, which is charged $9.99 a month. With this premium version, you will get bigger file uploads, HD screen share and streaming, and better emoji. The free version has a file sharing limit of only 8mb, which is why you need the Discord Nitro. When you initiate a video or a voice call through Discord, you will also have an option to share your screen.
#8 Wickr Me
Another awesome whatsapp alternatives is Wickr Me. With this app, you can synchronize your messages across all of your devices. It allows you to set an expiration time for all your messages and provides a localized encryption and a different key for each new message.
It retains complete anonymity for its users, and removes all metadata from all content sent through the app. Wickr Me is currently available for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
#9 Element
Element is another secured end-to-end encrypted app for collaboration and messaging. This app was developed based on the Matrix protocol. It enhances easy connections and interoperability. Based on its decentralized infrastructure, it has no single entity controlling it. It has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document. Additionally, it will not track you or use your personal data and multiple users can work together in Element simultaneously. It does not have any copyright violation policy. As such, it allows the use and reuse of data. Element is currently used by over 42 million individuals, companies and governments to protect their communication and it is currently available on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, F-Droid, and Linux.
#10 LINE
Another WhatsApp alternatives you can use is LINE, which is a highly popular cross-platform messaging app that packs in a ton of features. It is currently one of the most popular social media in Asia. It is a new communication app which allows you to make FREE voice calls and send FREE messages whenever and wherever you are, 24 hours a day. Like WhatsApp, the app features end-to-end encryption, support for voice and video calls & messages and more.
It has a very unique feature called LINE Out. LINE Out helps you to make international calls across to non-LINE users. It allows the use of sticker store which lets you save your favorite messages, photos etc. and more. In addition, LINE also has other features such as LINE Today which can display the latest news every day.
Other awesome features of LINE include passcode lock, filter messages, themes, LINE Pay for payments, and more. LINE is currently available on Android, iOS, iPad, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Windows, macOS, Chrome, Firefox and it is completely free to use.
#11 Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is a subsidiary of Meta Inc, which is the parent company that owns Whatsapp. Messenger is another awesome whatsapp alternatives out there. The major problems it has is that most times, if whatsapp server is down, it tends to also affect messenger.
Messenger was designed strictly for chatting and communication, since the main facebook is complex and has a lot of features inbuilt into it. Messenger has about 1.5 billion active users. It also has amazing features like text, file sharing, video, and audio calls, group chats, sending gifs and stickers etc.
Seeing that this is a branch of Facebook, you can only keep in touch with those friends you have on facebook. As such, to chat with anybody on Messenger, you will need to first add them up as friends to your facebook. For now, the end-to-end encryption technology has not been fully deployed to messenger. Hence, we cannot say that the app is completely secured.
Facebook Messenger is available for both Android and iOs, and you can use it through the web version of Facebook. It also has a desktop version that works with Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is also available in more than 40 languages
#12 WeChat
WeChat is a Chinese based company with interest in instant messaging. The app dominates several part of China but it is not widely known outside China because of some security concerns raised about it. It has a very simple interface with ability to read your phone contacts, letting you chat with your friends easily. With WeChat, you can also share media files wirelessly.
Apart from its instant messaging functionality, WeChat also support conferencing, gaming, and geotagging.
Although WeChat is free to use, there is presence of advertisement which is how the app is been monetized. Privacy of users is not fully assured on this platform. This is because, third parties can monitor private conversations through this app, including the governments of the USA, Taiwan, and India. Currently, it is available on iOS, Android, Symbian, Windows, and Blackberry
#13 2GO
Between 2010-2012, 2Go was highly popular around the globe. This is because of its instant messaging services which were also available on Java phones. But due to lack of technological innovations, it is not currently as popular as it used to be in the past. It has the ability to read you phone contact, which makes it possible to chat with your contacts who are on 2go.
There are also lots of rooms available on 2go which you are free to participate in as many as you deem fit. In participating on rooms, you can add friends from those rooms to your chat list and as such, can chat with them outside the room. 2go has rankings for its members are you get more consistent in using the app. As such, you can go ahead and leverage it. It is an awesome whatsapp alternatives you can trust. It is also available on multiple platforms.
Conclusion
Whatsapp is not the only instant messaging app out there. There are lots of whatsapp alternatives which were not even covered in this list. As such, I recommend that you learn to try new things. This will make you versatile and you will get more technological and technical knowledge.
You can leverage on any of these apps. That does not mean you are leaving whatsapp completely but if you choose to, its still okay.
