It can be said today that messaging apps have replaced phone calls. Due to the convenience and speed of communication, a good number of people, especially young people, have opted for this method. The problem is that, many times, the expression has become a monopoly of WhatsApp – a company, we should say, like any other. It has even become popular jargon: the famous “comes from zap”. To help, Vida Celular put together a short guide on which would be the best messaging app to use, in case the reader opts for an alternative to Facebook Messenger.

We chose seven options, all available in the Brazilian market, and in the end we gave a verdict on which app might be the most interesting, based on their relative specifications. Of course, the choice will be yours, so we'll talk a little about each one on the list so you can draw your own conclusions.

WeChat

The most downloaded app in China, with more than a billion users e trying to expand to other countries. Free, it offers users instant messaging, voice and video calls and multimedia resources (images, videos, stickers and audio).

Additionally, it comes with some quirky features like “Friends Radar” and “People Nearby,” where you can hunt down friends or people near your location to chat with. WeChat also supports Apple Watch and Android Wear – a somewhat strange feature, but due to its eccentricity it may be important to highlight.

Facebook Messenger

Messenger is vital for anyone who works with Facebook every day. And since it was launched in 2011, it hasn't changed much, functioning as a sort of satellite app for Mark Zuckerberg's social network.

You can register for the app via Facebook or email and from there you will have access to your entire contact list on the network. You can use it to send the usual chat messages, as well as voice messages, voice chats and video calls. There are some extra features such as support for GIFs and sharing photos and locations. It is a very practical messaging app to use, since you only need to be logged into Facebook to access it.

Discord

This app has quickly become one of the best apps for gamers who want to organize and communicate while playing. Launched in 2015, Discord features robust voice and text chat capabilities and allows users to create their own servers. This allows discussions to be organized into subchannels – much like IRC did in the early 2000s – and easily divided into topics.

The only downside to Discord is its security, as it doesn’t provide end-to-end encryption. However, if you’re looking for an app that can provide a workspace or a study group with a variety of discussions, Discord might be a good option. The app currently has over 250 million users.

Skype or Whatsapp

It’s best known for video calling, but it’s also a great messaging app to use. With Skype, you can send texts, photos, and short videos to other users, even when they’re not online. You can also use Skype Credit to make calls to mobile phones or landlines.

An interesting feature of Microsoft's app is that it retains the user's contact list from Windows Live Messenger (aka MSN). This means that right from the home screen of contacts, you can find that long-lost friend you haven't spoken to since high school. Good integration between the desktop and mobile platforms – although the mobile app is heavy, it must be said – also keeps this old workhorse in action.

Signal

If you're concerned about security, Signal is a good option. Originally developed by Open Whisper Systems, the app has end-to-end encryption and allows messaging, voice calls, groups, and the sending of images, audio, and videos. It was even recommended by Edward Snowden.

Like WhatsApp, Signal users register using their mobile phone number. The latest updates include dark mode, sticker packs, and a feature that lets you react to any message with an emoji. You can also video conferencing with 100% secure encryption, however for only five participants.

Voxer

This is an option for users who prefer audio communication. It’s not a common option, but some people like it that way. Developed by a San Francisco-based company, Voxer takes a more voice-oriented approach, allowing users to send messages similar to those they would receive from a walkie-talkie or a push-to-talk device.

Users can listen to live messages in the app or play back messages as voicemails later. The app supports photos and text messages, and allows groups of up to 500 participants. There is also an option to encrypt messages using the same protocol as Signal.

Telegram

With millions of active users, the Russian app Telegram works on multiple mobile and desktop devices. It’s free, contains no ads, and comes with support for stickers and GIFs. Users have a wealth of options: from creating groups with up to 200 people – with voice chat – to scheduling a message to self-destruct in 24 hours.

You can also store your chat history in the cloud and share files without any size limit. The encryption is end-to-end and relatively secure: 256-bit symmetric AES, 2048-bit RSA, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange. One interesting point is that there is a secret chat mode in which the app notifies the user when someone takes a screenshot of the conversation.

Verdict

Okay, but out of all these options, which is the best messaging app for you to use, besides WhatsApp? And the answer may be: it depends on the purpose. If you need an app to send more casual messages, participate in groups and, to some extent, have an experience similar to WhatsApp, perhaps the best option is Telegram. In addition to being safe, as we mentioned above, it is an app that has been growing in Brazil – recently, the City of São Paulo created an official channel on the app for official information about the coronavirus.

Now, if you want even more security than Telegram, we highly recommend Signal. That's because it's an open-source app and, according to the company itself, "made especially for people interested in offering greater privacy to those who know how important it is." The problem with Signal is quite simple: no one knows it. You won't be able to reach out to the closest person in the office and ask for their contact information on this app. But if you really need an ultra-privacy regime, this app is the best way to go.

If you want alternatives to the dynamics of WhatsApp, we would choose between Discord, which offers a multichannel environment, with the possibility of creating several discussion threads, and Voxer, this huge network of users with virtual answering machines. But this gets into a more specific area that is up to the reader to decide. In any case, regardless of your decision, keep in mind important tips to ensure your privacy in the medium: avoid clicking on unknown links and make sure to always keep the application updated.

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