In the ever growing world of smartphones, the use of Instant Messaging apps has played a huge role, connecting people conveniently and for free. Thanks to IM apps, text messaging (check out 11 great texting apps too) seems to be a thing of the past and with growing user adoption, we’re seeing more and more IM apps hit the market. The best IM apps today do mostly the same things but it’s the different user interfaces and those little extra functions of each app that lead to serious competition between them.
Whether you’re a new Android user or an old one, if you’re looking for a good IM app to keep in touch with your friends and family, you can check out our list of the Top 11 Best Instant Messaging Apps for Android below and pick something that suits you.
#1. WhatsApp
An app that truly needs no introduction, WhatsApp has managed to make its way to phones around the world, whether they run Android, iOS, Windows or any other OS. It is by far one of the most convenient Instant Messaging apps and is used by millions of people every day.
Setting it up is easy, messages are delivered instantly, images are compressed before being forwarded and now the app also supports free voice calling which works well most of the time.
All in all, if you’re looking for a good Instant Messaging app to keep in touch with all your friends or create group chats, it doesn’t get much better than WhatsApp.
#2. Viber
Viber is a lot like WhatsApp, but couldn’t take off in a big way. It gained most of its popularity being one of the first IM apps to offer free voice calling, and that is still the app’s mainstay.
The interface is good and the app still has good features like celebrity chats, stickers and emojis. If you wanted an app that would sync well with your contacts and give you instant online calling option over the internet, Viber is a good bet.
#3. Snapchat
Snapchat has grown immensely over the past couple of years, mainly due to the large teenage fan following the app managed to gather with their unique take on Instant Messaging.
Snapchat basically enables live video conversations with selected friends with the added twist that all video messages can only be viewed for 10 seconds before they are deleted from the company’s servers (as claimed).
#4. KiK
Kik is another popular IM app for Android which doesn’t depend on phone numbers for contacts. Instead, you can add people via usernames and hold group chats with up to 50 people.
Apart from sending text messages, you can also share images and even funny GIFs and memes. If you want an Instant Messaging client that’s fun to use, KiK is the way to go.
#5. Line
Line is another popular IM app which also offers free voice and video calls. The app is kind of a mix between Facebook and Tango, and has some really cool stickers and the option to view a news feed to find out what your friends have been up to.
You can also make fun movies and add friends via NFC, making it more of a trendy app that aims to do well with teens.
#6. WeChat
WeChat has got it all, whether it’s video calling, voice calling or free messaging you’re looking for. It boasts powerful features such as Moments which allows users to share their favourite moments and memories with photos and videos on a personal stream, and a Friends Radar, allowing you to scan your surroundings for people using WeChat and connect with them.
On the plus side, the app also comes with a TRUSTe certification, which is great for people concerned about privacy when using Instant Messaging apps.
#7. KakaoTalk
KakaoTalk works a lot like WhatsApp by automatically synchronizing your contact list on your phone to your contact list on the app.
Other than its basic IM functions KakaoTalk supports video calling which is fast, reliable and fun overall. KakaoTalk is also compatible with Android Wear and is currently the most popular IM client in South Korea, so its definitely worth a try.
#8. Imo
Those who have been using smartphones for more than just 3 years would know that Imo has come a long way from being an IM client that allowed people to use their existing accounts from one app to an app that has its own online community.
Today the app offers its own free voice and video calls along with quick Instant Messaging between groups and contacts. You are also likely to find several of your friends on Imo, so its a good IM app overall.
#9. Skype
This our favourite video calling app (check out 7 amazing video calling apps too) on this list, and is undoubtedly the most popular in the world. However, that doesn’t take away from its Instant Messaging ability which is actually quite efficient.
Messages between contacts are fast and you can also transfer files easily. If a conversation gets wordy, you can also take it to a call with a single tap. The app also has several emojis to choose from, and all in all, its a pretty solid experience.
#10. Messenger
Even though Facebook’s official Android app gets a lot of criticism, the Messenger app works fairly well and allows you to chat with your Facebook friends on the go.
The app also allows for group chats and sharing media, and now you can also use it to make voice calls for free over Wifi. Since the app is linked to your Facebook friends, you don’t really have to worry about contacts, phone numbers and usernames.
#11. Telegram
We’ve updated this list to add Telegram to it, not only because it’s a great instant messaging app but also because the developers behind it put a lot of effort into updating it and communicating with the community.
The app has several great features, including bots, but the best feature for us was the seamless integration between multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, phones and tablets. All conversations are stored in the cloud and synced across all your devices so you can stop chatting on one and pick up from the other.
The only major issue has been the constant criticism of Telegram’s failing crypto technology, which is not without reason. However, the app is still popular and does well if you aren’t big on encryption.
While there are quite a lot of IM apps on the Play Store, these are some of the best ones for Android and you can choose any one of them according to your needs, your preferred modes of communication and what your friends use the most.
If there are any suggestions or recommendations you guys want to share, please hit the comments below and let us know.
Content Source Android Review
Messaging App 