In 2010, WhatsApp was a buggy messaging app with limited features. As its user base grew, WhatsApp was updated with new features. The latest version of WhatsApp is similar to social networking apps. It allows you to post ephemeral status updates, comment on your friend’s status, etc. Although WhatsApp has over a billion active users, you cannot find people by their name or city. You can send messages only to the users on your contact list. This is the only difference between WhatsApp and the most popular social networking site i.e. FB.
WhatsApp is a great messaging app, but it has some serious drawbacks. WhatsApp claims to encrypt every sent or received message, but it shares the user data with FB. Facebook uses this data to recommend better Ads to its users and generate more ad revenue. This move by FB hasn’t gone well with a lot of users. Furthermore, users who use WhatsApp for business communication will find the app’s new features distracting or irritating. Users concerned about their privacy or are distracted by the latest WhatsApp features should try out one of the apps like WhatsApp I’ve shared below.
Best WhatsApp Alternatives apps of 2022
Telegram
Telegram is an open-source WhatsApp alternative app. It provides a secret chat feature that lets you set messages as self-destructing. Telegram allows you to share large files having a size of up to 1.5GB. It has a simple user interface and an option to sync messages from other devices to your phone. Users can create and manage groups in Telegram. WhatsApp lets you add up to 256 members to a group. Telegram groups can have up to 5000 members.
Telegram lets you edit videos. It enables you to share GIF images and stickers with the users in your contact list. The application employs three powerful 256-bit algorithms to encrypt your messages. It prevents prying eyes from reading your messages by letting users set a passcode. It lets you set up bots for automating certain tasks, playing games, getting the latest news, weather information, etc.
Must check: Best apps like Kik messenger
Viber
Viber enables you to make free video and voice calls to other users. It also allows users to make international calls to non-Viber users for a cheap rate. The application supports end-to-end encryption. Hence, hackers won’t understand your message even if they manage to sniff it. Viber features a sticker marketplace where you’ll find various types of paid and free stickers. It has a discover section where you’ll find groups of top brands, celebrities, sports stars, etc. You can follow or join a group that you find interesting with this application.
Viber enables users to back up their data on Google Drive. It supports file sharing and has the option to delete accidentally sent messages. This is a feature that WhatsApp and other similar apps like it lack. Viber, the WhatsApp alternative app, lets you express your emotions with a 30-second short video message. As Viber is fast and has some features that other top messaging apps don’t provide, it is an excellent alternative to WhatsApp messenger.
Also read: Best file sharing app for Android
Line
Line has 500 million users, and it is the 2nd most popular messaging app globally. In addition to the Android OS, Line supports various mobile devices. You can also use this application on your PC. Like WhatsApp, the app has a tabbed interface. Line has a timeline feature where you’ll find the latest or previous status updates. It lets you embed links, videos, location, emojis, and photos in status and text messages. It enables users to make free voice and video calls.
Line supports hashtags. If you want to make your status update public, you can add a hashtag to the status. Line allows you to discover people nearby you. Like Viber, the application features a sticker marketplace. It lets you purchase new themes and create polls. It has an inbuilt QR code scanner utility. Line users can stay in touch with their favorite personalities by following their official accounts. It allows users to discover new apps and games. Line has a special feature called “keep” which you can use to save the media files received from other users. It is one of the best apps like WhatsApp.
Google Allo
Google Allo is one of the most secure messaging apps ever. It provides an incognito chatting feature that encrypts messages sent from users’ devices. Allo enables you to send media files and messages to its other users. It lets you send SMS (text messages) to non-Allo users for free. Allo’s most interesting feature is its integration with the Google Personal Assistant utility. The Google Assistant is similar to Apple Siri. When you ask a question to GA, it will display an answer.
You can use Google Assistant to find movie theaters, restaurants, pizza outlets, flight details, shopping malls nearby you. Google Allo has a better interface than WhatsApp messenger. You can send self-destructing messages, emojis, stickers to friends with it. Google Allo has an inbuilt camera utility to capture pictures and record videos. One more fantastic feature of Allo is that you can set a different chat theme for each contact. Allo is a great alternative to WhatsApp messenger.
Also see: Best GPS apps for Android and iOS
Threema
Threema is an app like WhatsApp that doesn’t prompt users to enter their phone number or email id for account registration. It generates a random user ID that you can use to send or receive messages and files anonymously. The Threema servers function as a postman. It forwards messages to the users without knowing the content of the message. Once the message is delivered to the user, it is deleted from the server automatically.
Threema employs end-to-end encryption to ensure that no one excluding the people in your Threema contact list can see your status, profile picture, etc. Like WhatsApp, you can access Threema on the desktop. The app includes a contact verification system that prevents fake users from getting in touch with you. Threema enables you to backup your ID, messages, and other data. It supports emojis, group chats, dark/light theme, etc. It doesn’t support voice or video calling.
Also see: Best SMS app for Android
Signal Messenger
Signal is a free messaging app like WhatsApp that uses a top-class encryption algorithm for secure communication between two or more users. As in WhatsApp, users must verify their phone numbers to use Signal. Once the application verifies your number, the server generates a pair of keys. Then, it deletes the number from the database. Once your key is ready, you can start communicating with your pals.
Signal encrypts every bit of data sent/received by the user. It supports private video/voice calling technology and enables you to manage linked devices. Signal lets you import or export your SMS, chat history, etc. You can create encrypted groups and add members to the group. Signal is an open-source app. Hence, anyone with a good understanding of security protocols and encryption can verify the source code. It lets you share files with other users. It provides several options in the settings interface.
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