But with that now most of us spend our time on the Web and there are many of us who do not even have mobile phones and tablets for communication purposes but just for taking the pleasure of the Web. Many tablets are there without slots for SIM cards and thus people use internet messengers for keeping in touch with their folks. Today we are going to share a list consisting of 5 best and free Android (the mobile Operating System for which 71% of all the mobile developers in the world, develop and which has 1 billion active monthly users) messaging apps.
Disclaimer: These free messaging apps are not the same as the text messages that are sent through the carrier of your mobile phone. None of these apps can send SMS or MMS without you having an Internet connection on your smartphone and without your recipient having the same app you are using to send messages as well.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger comes on top because it is a part of the family of Facebook, the social network which has 1.28 billion monthly active users all around the world, as of March 2014. Many people out there use Facebook regularly (even many are addicted) so its obvious why people prefer this messenger. Today, Facebook Messenger remains a hefty contender in the messaging arena.
Pros
Surely the best feature of Facebook is its massive user database. As told previously, it has many users around the world. Even if the recipient doesn’t use Facebook Messenger itself, you can still send free messages to them. You also get the ability of making calls for free to other Messenger users over WiFi and data (though data charges still apply). The Chat Heads feature, which causes messages to pop up even when you’re using another app, allows you to continue conversations no matter what you’re doing.
Cons
The biggest 'con' is that there is no feature of video calling which is certainly a massive bummer for those folks who want something like that in Apple's FaceTime. Not being integrated with the official Facebook app is a bit of an annoyance too. In fact, the app being associated with Facebook (not the most privacy-sensitive company out there) is probably this app’s greatest drawback. Requires a Facebook account to log in.
Get on Google Play Store (Facebook Messenger was last updated on 31st of July, 2014):
Path Talk
Path Talk is one of the newer messengers to hit the scene, but already it’s making a big splash throughout the community and collecting cheers. It claims to be good enough to replace the need for SMS and Facebook altogether, but the point is that does it have enough features to back up that claim?
Pros
Messaging is free. Path Talk can keep your friends updated on your status, and does that in such an awesome way that your friends will also be able to know if you’re in transit or are having low battery on your smartphone. The interface is familiar and sleek, which is important for day-to-day comfort and ease of use. In addition to text messages, you can send simple voice messages. Group chats and syncing of contacts is also available.
But most importantly, Path Talk cares about your privacy. Every message sent with Path Talk is stored on their servers for a maximum of 24 hours before they’re automatically deleted. Worried about text messages being logged? Here’s one answer to that.
Cons
Let us explain it all to you. Path actually started out as a social network and Talk was its communication feature. Path Talk is the result of Path splitting their Talk functionality away from the social network and putting it out there on its own. For Path users, this is an unnecessary and foolish redundancy. Requires a Path account to log in.
Get it on Google Play Store (Path Talk was last updated on 24th of July, 2014):
LINE
LINE is a really well-known messaging app that deserves its reputation. It has over 480 million users spanning over 230 countries, and it really is international, worldwide, and global in every sense of those words. It’s so good that it’s been labeled “the most downloaded app” in over 50 of those countries.
Pros
LINE’s killer feature is the ability to make free calls and send free messages at any time in any place. Calls include voice and video and they’re free both domestically and internationally. There are a few other features of lesser importance, such as the “Timeline” that tracks what you and your contacts have been doing lately as well as the ability to use Emoji. There’s also a LINE Call feature for reaching non-LINE users at a low rate.
Cons
LINE messages can only be sent between LINE users, which means that you’re not under the umbrella of luck if your social group doesn’t use it. Despite being used all over the world, LINE’s popularity is mostly concentrated in Asian countries. Requires a LINE account to log in.
Get it on Google Play Store (LINE was last updated on 22nd July, 2014):
WeChat is an all-in-one communication app that doesn’t have many distinguishing features to set it apart from its competition, yet has built up a massive community of users regardless. It’s not as popular as LINE, but it still blows many other messengers out of the water.
Pros
Its completely free for sending text messages, multimedia messages, voice calls, and video calls. Moreover, group chats have the ability to contain up to 100 participants. There’s also the ability to share “moments” with your friends, which is essentially a stream of your photos. Localized to support over 20 languages and certified by TRUSTe to ensure user privacy.
Cons
The interface feels a bit crowded at times. Also it, like many others, requires a WeChat account to log in.
Get in Google Play Store (WeChat was last updated on 30th of July, 2014):
Viber
Viber is pretty darn good too. Not too long ago, they released the “Viber Out” feature that lets you make low-cost calls around the world, making it a fantastic option for VOIP. But how does it fare for text messaging?
Pros
Not only can you make calls, but Viber is great for sending text, photo, and video messages for free over WiFi and data. Group chats are available for up to 100 participants. Quality is great, there are over 200 million Viber users, and the app has support for over 30 localized languages. Free without ads.
Cons
Viber collects names and phone numbers for functional reasons, which is understandable given the nature of the app, but it does raise some concerns regarding privacy and security. Messages can only be sent between Viber users. Requires a Viber account to log in.
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