Too much of anything is bad. In the case of instant messaging (IM) apps on your smartphone, too many of them can result in confusion. According to data released by research firm Statista in January, WhatsApp has over 700 million users worldwide and is the undisputed IM leader globally, followed by Facebook Messenger (500 million) and WeChat (468 million).
Sometimes it is difficult to choose one app over another. What also complicates matters is that there are three sub-divisions within the IM app ecosystem—some focus on text conversations, others offer free app-to-app voice calling as well as enhanced media sharing, while some offer cost-effective voice and video calls.
We compare the features, the cost of service and the usability of 10 most popular IM apps so that you can decide which one works best for you.
Facebook Messenger
Platforms
iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Optional access of phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app), video calling
The good stuff
Facebook Messenger allows users to mute message notifications for conversations with friends or groups. Media sharing is the most convenient compared to the rivals—images and videos can be attached and sent without having to leave the chat window. If you prefer to use smileys and emoticons, there is an extensive range available, which is free to download.
Room for improvement
Despite its popularity, fears about Facebook’s privacy policy persist. Avoid sending sensitive information over a chat.
Download or not?
All your friends are on Facebook. And this is a good way of keeping in touch with them, without having their phone numbers.
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat
The good stuff
The WhatsApp Web feature can be used on the Chrome Web browser on a Windows or Mac computer—read and reply to chats without having to pick up your phone.
Room for improvement
The interface and emoticons have been around for a long time now and need a refresh.
Download or not?
Simplicity—the reason why WhatsApp is so popular. And it is a guarantee that almost all your friends will be using it.
Google Hangouts + Hangouts Dialer
Platforms
iPhone, Android, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app),
voice calling (other phones), video calling
The good stuff
These two apps which work together for Android, are a common platform for all Hangout chats as well as SMSes. Group chats can be converted into a video conference. Voice calls to mobile phones start at $0.01 (60 paise) a minute. Recharge calling balance with your Google Play account—lowest recharge denomination is $10, and it can either notify you or simply auto-recharge when the balance goes below $2.
Room for improvement
The interface is cluttered—there is no clear segregation of Hangout chats and SMS.
Download or not?
One app for texts, voice and IM makes life simpler for power users, particularly if your organization uses Hangouts for video conferences.
Skype
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app), voice calling (other phones), video calling
The good stuff
Skype allows recharge in denominations of Rs.300, Rs.600 and Rs.1,500 with optional auto-recharge facility. Call rates to mobile phones globally cost as low as Rs.1.3 per minute on the pay-as-you-go scheme. However, monthly packages (available for regions such as the US, UK and Australia) reduce call rates further, or even offer unlimited calls. For example, if a majority of your calls are to the UK, Rs.300 a month offers unlimited calls to mobiles in the region. Further, the Rs.540 a month plan extends those benefits to all European countries. While all other apps mentioned here are available on PCs and phones, Skype is available as app for smart televisions as well as gaming consoles (Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PS Vita, for example).
Room for improvement
The phone app has the annoying habit of logging out the user every few days.
Download or not?
This is the complete application, if you are a heavy user—voice calls, video calls and text chats within one app. The package options for international calling offer simple tariff plans and make it easier to recharge.
Line
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone,
Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app), voice calling (other phones), video calling (Android and iOS)
The good stuff
Line is aiming to be much more than just an instant messenger. It has created an entire ecosystem of supporting apps on Android and iOS—Line Camera (image click, editing and filters), Line Antivirus and Line Card (greetings for festivals and special occasions), for example. There is an extensive collection of games as well. The tariff for voice calls to mobile phones across the world starts at $0.01 per minute.
Room for improvement
The interface is complicated and has become bloated over time with so many features. A refresh is long overdue.
Download or not?
Support across multiple devices makes for a seamless usage experience. And its own ecosystem of apps can be quite useful for the younger audience.
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone,
Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app), video calling
The good stuff
WeChat automatically ties in with any Google or Facebook account signed in on your Android phone. Some people may find this convenient for populating the contacts list, but it can be a privacy issue for others. There are some unique options, including the walkie-talkie live voice chat with friends, and locating friends who may be near your location at that time. Users can recall a message or a picture within 2 minutes of sending it, and delete it permanently from the conversation. Media transfer size (images, audio and video) is a mammoth 1 GB. Messages sent in any other language can be automatically translated.
Room for improvement
A slicker interface is urgently needed—with so many features loaded into one app, a simple chat with a friend can be overwhelming for some users.
Download or not?
Young people will like the different features, but more serious users will find them overwhelming.
Telegram Messenger
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat
The good stuff
The feature set is similar to WhatsApp, but Telegram does do a few things better. First up, all your chats and settings are stored on the cloud, which means if you are switching phones, you don’t lose out on the existing conversations in the app. Second, all chats are encrypted, making it impossible for anyone to access data. And the messenger isn’t just reliant on a Web interface to work on a PC—it also has desktop apps for Windows and Mac computers.
Room for improvement
Telegram gained a lot of users in the first half of 2014. But the app didn’t offer any standout feature that would entice WhatsApp users. It needs voice chats.
Download or not?
Use this if you want a no-frills IM, which is secure too.
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM)
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone,
Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Optional access phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app), video calling
The good stuff
The screen-share feature, which allows users to work on the same application simultaneously, is useful for professionals. BBM also has timed messages which self-destruct after a specified period (from 1-25 seconds). In case you send something by mistake, Retract Message lets you delete that message from the conversation. Image sharing has been enhanced—the recipient can request for a full-size image of the one that you shared (by default, image size is reduced for quicker transfer). BlackBerry Blend app allows access to BBM messages (as well as texts, emails and documents) on a computer or an iPad. In-app purchases are available for some emoticon packs; a basic set of smileys is free.
Room for improvement
If the 3G or Wi-Fi connectivity disappears while sending an image, there is no option to retry the transfer; you have to reattach the image and resend.
Download or not?
Unlike WhatsApp, it does not allow anyone to automatically add you as a friend and start sending messages—the unique BBM pin enhances privacy. Plus, BBM chats are encrypted, making this a better bet for business users.
Hike
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app)
The good stuff
If you are worried that someone might read your chat on the phone, Hike has the rather neat Hidden Mode option—hide each conversation behind a pin, from nosy friends or family. For transferring images, music and videos, users can send files as large as 100 MB. The variety of stickers (Hike’s version of emoticons) is huge.
Room for improvement
There are a lot of system-generated chat messages from Hike’s end—starting with a welcome message detailing the features available to regular prompts about some new initiative or service. This can be annoying.
Download or not?
The interface is slick, and the voice chat feature adds to the convenience.
Viber
Platforms
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone,
Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Basic features
Access phone contacts, text and group chat, voice calling (app to app), voice calling (other phones), video calling
The good stuff
The Viber Out feature lets users make voice calls to mobile phones globally, with call charges starting at $0.019 a minute. Call quality is extremely good.
Room for improvement
Fixed rental plans with a pre-specified number of included voice calls would make it simpler for users.
Download or not?
Even though Skype has a more elaborate feature set, Viber makes sense as a clutter-free international voice-calling application.
