10 Best Mobile Messaging Apps of 2020

WhatsApp is a mobile text messaging app designed for smartphones and tablets that lets you send text messages, make VoIP calls, and share files from your phone or computer. WhatsApp also lets you share your GPS location, and you can view the other person's location without leaving the app thanks to a built-in map. You can even set a status message for all of your contacts to see without having to individually message everyone.

Viber and WhatsApp are very similar, but Viber supports additional features like stickers and GIFs, video messaging, and a built-in QR code scanner. Viber users can text and call each other for free regardless of their location. In addition to public chat channels that you can join, Viber also supports Communities, which are group conversations that can contain unlimited members.

Snapchat differs from most mobile communication apps in that it specializes in sending multimedia messages that self-destruct after a predetermined amount of time. You can also send messages without pictures and use Snapcash to send and receive money from your phone. Snapchat even supports a variety of Bitmojis.

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging service that is accessible from all of your devices. Unlike most messaging apps, Telegram allows you to edit and delete messages even after you've sent them. Additionally, you can mute notifications for specific durations, send files, and share your location. Telegram also lets you send messages that are automatically deleted after a designated time.

Use LINE for free one-on-one and group chats with your friends from anywhere in the world. Call your friends and family as often as you want with free domestic and international voice and video calls. The core communication features are all free, but LINE offers premium stickers, themes, and games for a fee. The LINE Out feature lets you talk to anyone anywhere, even if they don't use the LINE app.

Google Hangouts supports text messages, phone calls, and video calls between Google accounts users. You can have private, one-on-one conversations as well as group chats with up to 150 people. The app lets you share videos, photos, stickers, and emojis. Google Hangouts also lets you share your location with others directly from the app, suppress all notifications for any conversation, favorite conversations, and archive messages to declutter the conversation view.

Voxer is a walkie-talkie, or push-to-talk, app that delivers live voice messages. The message is either instantly played through your friend's phone speakers if the phone is turned on and the app is running, or it's stored as a recorded message like voicemail. Voxer also supports texting, photo messaging, and emoticons, as well as military-grade security and encryption.

You can also make notes to yourself, star and share messages, and enable what's called Extreme notifications to get repeated alerts and louder sounds. Voxer Pro is the only way to get some features, like unlimited message storage, admin controlled chats, message recall, Extreme notifications, chat broadcasting, hands-free walkie-talkie mode, and more.

HeyTell is another push-to-talk app that allows for instant voice messaging. A push notification tells the recipient when a voice message is received, and the message will play when they open the app. If the recipient has the app open at the time of the message, it will play for them automatically.

One thing that sets this messaging app apart from most others is that you don't have to make a user account to get started. Just enter your name and start adding contacts by their phone number or email address. The app is free, but there are in-app premium options for advanced features like ringtones, a voice changer, message expiration, and more.

Talkatone offers free voice calling and text messaging over Wi-Fi or data plans. It essentially turns your tablet into a phone even if it doesn't have a cellular plan. When you sign up, you get a real phone number for free. You can call not just other Talkatone users but even regular landlines.

This messaging app works much like your regular phone's calling and texting features. You can change ringtones, hide texts from showing in notifications, change your voicemail greeting, block numbers, access your phone's contacts, and more. Talkatone Plus can be purchased to unlock more features like call forwarding and voicemail transcriptions. You can also remove ads and get unlimited international calling for a monthly fee.