The best free instant messaging apps
Although SMS remains, many users are turning to instant messaging applications. Less expensive, faster and multifunctional, they often go beyond their simple text messaging status.
Today, most of these services allow you to make voice and video calls, to two or more. The end-to-end encryption implemented almost systematically also plays in favor of these applications which claim to be more respectful of personal data each other.
The choice of such an app rather than another actually depends on the uses of each and the habits of those around him. If WhatsApp gets the approval of a majority of users, some will be happy to know that there are more free and more confidential alternatives like Olvid or Signal. There are also padlocked situations requiring the use of a specific service. So, when traveling in China, it is almost impossible to do without WeChat.
1- WhatsApp
It is the most used instant messaging application in the world. At the start of 2020, WhatsApp passed the 2 billion user mark and confirmed its dominant position in the world, far ahead of Messenger, which has "only" 1.3 billion active users per month. One of the reasons for this success? No need to create a Facebook account to take advantage of the service. A simple phone number is enough.
Launched in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, the application arrives in a bubbling competitive market. Unlike his peers, we do not know him of a real economic model. Without advertising, WhatsApp at the time had an annual subscription set at € 0.99 after the first year of free use. In reality, few users have paid these fees, which disappeared completely in 2016.
Bought by Facebook in 2014, the application has evolved a lot since its inception to lead to the very complete version we know: private messages, group discussions that can accommodate up to 256 contacts, mailing lists, photo sharing, videos and links, phone and video calls from two to eight participants, end-to-end encryption via Signal protocol, deletion of messages too quickly gone. Disabling notifications for certain contacts or multiple conversations relieves users who are too polite to leave a group or crop an omnipresent contact.
Two shadows on the board, however. First, one can be contacted by anyone on WhatsApp. If it is possible to block a contact after the fact, there is nothing to prevent the reception of messages from unknown numbers. Second pitfall: WhatsApp shares certain personal information with Facebook such as the phone number, the identifier of the smartphone, or the frequency of use of the app. In other words, Facebook is capable of drawing up a fairly detailed profile of users who are not registered on the social network.
Download WhatsApp for Android
Download WhatsApp for iOS
2- Signal
Born in 2014 from the combination of the Redphone application and the TextSecure protocol, Signal is considered the ideal open source alternative to WhatsApp. Application of SMS / MMS and instant messaging, it encrypts end to end the written messages (Signal protocol), voice messages (ZRTP protocol) and video messages (Signal protocol) sent via the network. To take advantage of this security, it is imperative that the other party also goes through Signal. SMS / MMS have not been encrypted since 2015.
Signal experienced a major turning point in 2018 with the creation of the Signal Foundation by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, co-founders of Whisper Systems (Rephone and TextSecure) and WhatsApp respectively. This non-profit organization aims to develop open source communication technologies that respect privacy and protect freedom of expression.
In detail, Signal offers almost the same functionality as its competitors, the affront to personal data less. Two-way chats, encrypted chat groups with an unlimited number of participants, mute conversations, share videos and photos. It is also possible to send ephemeral messages to Signal users. However, it is not possible to make group calls, audio or video.
Warmly recommended by Edward Snowden, Signal remains one of the most transparent and secure couriers to this day.
Download Signal for Android
Download Signal for iOS
3- Messenger
Long integrated into Facebook, Messenger became a full-fledged instant messaging application in 2014. A split that has long enabled internet users to do without a Facebook account and register using their phone number. Since December 2019, this option is no longer available and only users registered on the social network can benefit from Messenger.
Messenger allows you to chat for two, but also to participate in conversations with others. Adding a new contact to a group gives them access to the messages preceding their integration. Additional modules expand the basic options to make the app a daily assistant. We are thinking of the possibility of creating surveys, configuring reminders, sharing location, transferring documents, deactivating notifications of overly active conversations, setting Messenger as the default SMS application. Video calls can accommodate up to 50 participants, but it is not advisable to push the experience as far as this could sink into an endless cacophony.
Unlike WhatsApp, Messenger chats are not automatically encrypted. It is possible to secure them manually and on a case-by-case basis by activating the Secret conversations option in the settings of a chosen conversation. End-to-end encryption (Signal protocol) is only effective if it has also been activated at the other party.
Download Messenger for Android
Download Messenger for iOS
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Although SMS remains, many users are turning to instant messaging applications. Less expensive, faster and multifunctional, they often go beyond their simple text messaging status.
Today, most of these services allow you to make voice and video calls, to two or more. The end-to-end encryption implemented almost systematically also plays in favor of these applications which claim to be more respectful of personal data each other.
The choice of such an app rather than another actually depends on the uses of each and the habits of those around him. If WhatsApp gets the approval of a majority of users, some will be happy to know that there are more free and more confidential alternatives like Olvid or Signal. There are also padlocked situations requiring the use of a specific service. So, when traveling in China, it is almost impossible to do without WeChat.
1- WhatsApp
It is the most used instant messaging application in the world. At the start of 2020, WhatsApp passed the 2 billion user mark and confirmed its dominant position in the world, far ahead of Messenger, which has "only" 1.3 billion active users per month. One of the reasons for this success? No need to create a Facebook account to take advantage of the service. A simple phone number is enough.
Launched in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, the application arrives in a bubbling competitive market. Unlike his peers, we do not know him of a real economic model. Without advertising, WhatsApp at the time had an annual subscription set at € 0.99 after the first year of free use. In reality, few users have paid these fees, which disappeared completely in 2016.
Bought by Facebook in 2014, the application has evolved a lot since its inception to lead to the very complete version we know: private messages, group discussions that can accommodate up to 256 contacts, mailing lists, photo sharing, videos and links, phone and video calls from two to eight participants, end-to-end encryption via Signal protocol, deletion of messages too quickly gone. Disabling notifications for certain contacts or multiple conversations relieves users who are too polite to leave a group or crop an omnipresent contact.
Two shadows on the board, however. First, one can be contacted by anyone on WhatsApp. If it is possible to block a contact after the fact, there is nothing to prevent the reception of messages from unknown numbers. Second pitfall: WhatsApp shares certain personal information with Facebook such as the phone number, the identifier of the smartphone, or the frequency of use of the app. In other words, Facebook is capable of drawing up a fairly detailed profile of users who are not registered on the social network.
Download WhatsApp for Android
Download WhatsApp for iOS
2- Signal
Born in 2014 from the combination of the Redphone application and the TextSecure protocol, Signal is considered the ideal open source alternative to WhatsApp. Application of SMS / MMS and instant messaging, it encrypts end to end the written messages (Signal protocol), voice messages (ZRTP protocol) and video messages (Signal protocol) sent via the network. To take advantage of this security, it is imperative that the other party also goes through Signal. SMS / MMS have not been encrypted since 2015.
Signal experienced a major turning point in 2018 with the creation of the Signal Foundation by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, co-founders of Whisper Systems (Rephone and TextSecure) and WhatsApp respectively. This non-profit organization aims to develop open source communication technologies that respect privacy and protect freedom of expression.
In detail, Signal offers almost the same functionality as its competitors, the affront to personal data less. Two-way chats, encrypted chat groups with an unlimited number of participants, mute conversations, share videos and photos. It is also possible to send ephemeral messages to Signal users. However, it is not possible to make group calls, audio or video.
Warmly recommended by Edward Snowden, Signal remains one of the most transparent and secure couriers to this day.
Download Signal for Android
Download Signal for iOS
3- Messenger
Long integrated into Facebook, Messenger became a full-fledged instant messaging application in 2014. A split that has long enabled internet users to do without a Facebook account and register using their phone number. Since December 2019, this option is no longer available and only users registered on the social network can benefit from Messenger.
Messenger allows you to chat for two, but also to participate in conversations with others. Adding a new contact to a group gives them access to the messages preceding their integration. Additional modules expand the basic options to make the app a daily assistant. We are thinking of the possibility of creating surveys, configuring reminders, sharing location, transferring documents, deactivating notifications of overly active conversations, setting Messenger as the default SMS application. Video calls can accommodate up to 50 participants, but it is not advisable to push the experience as far as this could sink into an endless cacophony.
Unlike WhatsApp, Messenger chats are not automatically encrypted. It is possible to secure them manually and on a case-by-case basis by activating the Secret conversations option in the settings of a chosen conversation. End-to-end encryption (Signal protocol) is only effective if it has also been activated at the other party.
Download Messenger for Android
Download Messenger for iOS
messaging apps for kids
messaging apps for android
messaging apps for iphone
messaging apps for pc
messaging apps for computer
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