14 Best Worldwide Texting Apps in 2024

What texting apps do you use?

Texting is the most popular communication method among people. That’s why a new texting app emerges every day.

Sometimes you might get confused when choosing a messaging app to text your friends. This is even worse when it comes to business communications.

In this article, we’re going to compare the 14 best worldwide texting apps to help you choose the best tool for your purposes.

How to Choose the Best Texting App?

First, let’s see how we can say a texting app is good or not. Here are some criteria for choosing the best messaging tools:

Security & Privacy

You need to pay special attention to the security features of the texting app like end-to-end encryption, data protection features, and the app’s privacy policies. Although there are reports of data leakage from almost all famous messaging apps, you need to choose the one with higher security levels.

Free Messaging Features

A good texting app offers lots of free features to communicate with your friends and family. Try to consider the content type (text, voice, video, live, …) group chats, channels, and secret chats when you want to choose a messaging app.

User Base

If you want to be able to talk to everybody in the world, you need to use a worldwide texting app that billions of people use.

Ease of Use

The messaging apps that you want to use for personal communications need to be user-friendly. Remember that apps that have lots of features on their dashboards are not easy and you might get confused when you want to work with them.

Available on All Platforms

Remember that you can’t use your mobile everywhere so you have to use a texting app that is available on all operating systems. For example, if you want to communicate with your remote team members while working with a computer, you need to use a web app or a desktop application.

Best Messaging Apps for Personal Purposes

Some of the apps are specifically designed for personal communications. Of course, many businesses use them to reach out to new customers.

Here is the list of best free worldwide texting apps in 2024:

#1 Telegram

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging platform you can use on all operating devices including iOS, Android, Windows, and browsers.

It was launched in 2013 and soon gained popularity. At the moment, it has around 1 billion monthly active users across the globe. 

Telegram has great features like group chats, secret chats, and channels, and supports all types of content from text to large videos.

Here are the pros and cons of this free texting tool:

Pros of Telegram

• End-to-end (E2E) encryption.
• Encryption algorithms: MTProto, a custom protocol.
• Open source apps and Telegram Database Library.
• Self-destructing messages.
• Multimedia up to 2 GB per file.
• Users can be logged in on multiple devices simultaneously.
• Supports Two-Step Verification.
• GDPR compliant.
• Doesn’t show your phone number to other users and uses Telegram ID.

Cons of Telegram

• E2E encryption only for Secret Chats.
• Logs IP address and other user data. It’s recommended to use a good VPN service when working with Telegram.
• Servers are not open-source.
• Maybe sharing data with government agencies.
• Registration requires a phone number.

#2 WhatsApp

WhatsApp is also a famous online texting app that lets you connect with more than 2.7 billion people around the world. 

You can use it on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows desktop, and also on your browser. This way, you don’t have any limitations in your messaging no matter if you use it for personal purposes or business management. It’s good to know that there are more than 350 million business accounts on WhatsApp which shows it’s a great tool for customer support and team management.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of WhatsApp:

Pros of WhatsApp

• End-to-end (E2E) encryption for all messages.
• Signal Protocol for encryption.
• A large global user base.
• Multimedia sharing, voice, and video calls.
• Group chats with up to 1024 participants.
• Status updates that disappear after 24 hours.
• WhatsApp Business for companies to connect with customers.
• Options to hide last seen, profile picture, and status.

Cons of WhatsApp

• It shows your phone number to other users.
• Backup data stored on cloud services isn’t encrypted by default.
• There are some privacy concerns because Meta owns WhatsApp.
• Limited multi-device support.
• Group chats lack the same privacy controls as individual chats.
• Status updates might share more information than intended.
• Business accounts may have different privacy policies.

#3 Viber

This is another online and VoIP messaging app. Viber was launched in Israel in 2010 and has reached 1.1 billion downloads and 250 monthly million active users in 2024.

After launching Telegram, Viber lost many of its users but it’s still one of the most popular texting apps in many countries like Russia and Ukraine. 

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages:

Pros of Viber

• End-to-end (E2E) encryption for messages and calls.
• Messages are color-coded to show encryption levels.
• Self-destructing messages and hidden chats for added privacy.
• Supports multimedia sharing, voice, and video calls.
• Group chats with 250 participants.
• Viber Out allows calls to non-Viber users at low rates.
• Extensive library of stickers and GIFs.
• Available on multiple platforms, including desktops.

Cons of Viber

• Other users can see your phone number.
• Backup data on cloud storage is not E2E encrypted.
• Security concerns due to collecting metadata.
• Can be resource-intensive and affect battery life.
• Lacks some advanced group management features.
• Viber Out is a paid service, not free.
• Some stickers and content are behind a paywall.
• Limited multi-device support; must sync through the phone.

#4 Facebook Messenger

Messenger was launched by Meta in 2021 and became available on all operating systems in 2023. 

Currently, it has more than a whopping 1 billion active monthly users in the world. It has everything you need from a communication and texting app with lots of extra features like business page tools.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this texting app:

Pros of Facebook Messenger

• Integration with Facebook to connect with friends and family on social media.
• Supports text, voice, and video messaging.
• Group chats with up to 250 members.
• Multimedia files, including photos, videos, and documents.
• Fun features like stickers, GIFs, and reactions.
• End-to-end encryption through the Secret Conversations feature.
• Supporting multiple devices, including desktop and mobile.
• Cross-platform communication between Facebook and Instagram.
• Additional features like games, polls, and payments within the app.

Cons of Facebook Messenger

• Privacy concerns, data collection, and sharing metadata.
• End-to-end encryption is not enabled by default for all chats.
• Resource-intensive, consuming significant battery and data.
• In-app ads and promotions can be intrusive.
• Too many non-messaging features on the interface.
• Overwhelming notifications.
• Privacy settings are complex.
• File size limit: 25 MB.

#5 Signal Private Messenger

Signal is one of the newest messaging applications in the world. It was launched in 2024 and has reached more than 40 million monthly active users within several months.

It has some advantages over other apps like phone number and username privacy, making it a fast-growing texting app in the last year.

Here are some other pros and cons of Signal:

Pros of Signal

• Highly secure.
• Fully open-source and transparent.
• User-friendly.
• Audio chat with verification.
• Self-destructing messages and screenshot detection.
• Minimal data collection, with no tracking or advertisements.
• Available on iOS, Android, and desktop.

Cons of Signal

• Buggy, especially on iOS.
• Small user base.
• Requires a phone number for contact discovery.
• Anyone monitoring your internet use can see you’re using Signal.

#6 Discord

Discord is an all-in-one platform for messaging, social media communications, and sharing pics, audio, and videos.

It was launched in 2015 and is now available on all operating systems: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Linux, and web browsers.

It now has more than 600 million monthly active users in the world and is really popular among youngsters, especially gamers.

Here are some pros and cons of Discord:

Pros of Discord

• Highly customizable.
• Supports text, voice, and video chat, along with screen sharing.
• A vast range of features for free.
• Available on desktop, web, and mobile.
• Features for managing large groups.
• Regular updates and active development.

Cons of Discord

• No end-to-end encryption for messages.
• Privacy concerns due to data collection.
• The interface is overwhelming for new users.

#7 Google Messages

Despite other platforms, Google Messages is an SMS-focused app and doesn’t need an internet connection to send your message. 

Although its features are limited compared to other apps, it’s a safe and reliable texting tool that is being used by 1 billion people around the world. Of course, it’s only available on Android devices but you can use it on your browser as well.

Here are the pros and cons of Google Messages:

Pros of Google Messages

• Large user base: default messaging app on all Android devices.
• Supports Rich Communication Services (RCS) that offers features like read receipts and high-quality media sharing.
• User-friendly interface with a clean design.
• Doesn’t need an internet connection.

Cons of Google Messages

• Limited to Android devices.
• Lacks end-to-end encryption for SMS messages.
• RCS features depend on carrier support.

#8 TextNow

This is a great calling and texting platform based in Canada. TextNow was founded in 2009 and has more than 100 million users.

This VoIP is available on all operating systems and offers a free phone number with 5G internet.

Here are the pros and cons of TextNow:

Pros of TextNow

• Free phone number for texting and calling within the U.S. and Canada.
• Available on Android, iOS, and web.
• Includes Wi-Fi calling and texting.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons of TextNow

• Supported by ads unless you upgrade to paid plans.
• Depending on Wi-Fi or data connection strength.
• Limited international texting.
• Privacy concerns.

It’s also good to take an overall view of the features offered by these texting apps:

Best Business-Focused SMS Platforms

Now that you’ve learned about international messaging apps that are mainly used for personal communications, it’s good to know some texting platforms that are designed specifically for businesses.

#9 WP SMS

WP SMS is a powerful SMS plugin for WordPress websites. It allows you to send SMS notifications to your subscribers and receive text messages from them.

If your business needs higher engagement rates and efficient SMS marketing campaigns, WP SMS is best for you.

WP SMS offers easy integration with your WordPress site and is great for bulk messaging and scheduling.

Here are some pros and cons of this SMS marketing plugin:

Pros of WP SMS

• Direct engagement with your audience.
• Easy to set up and use.
• Supports 300+ SMS gateways.
• 2-Factor Authentication SMS
• GDPR Compliance
• Unlimited International SMS

Cons of WP SMS

• Limited to WordPress websites.
• Some features of WP SMS need a premium plan.

#10 SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting is a web-based texting platform that provides a straightforward interface for managing SMS communication and offers various features to enhance messaging efficiency.

It offers Two-Way Messaging for businesses and lots of message templates. Here are its pros and cons:

Pros of SimpleTexting

• Features like bulk SMS, SMS marketing, and automation.
• User-friendly interface.
• Integration with email marketing platforms and CRM systems.
• Detailed analytics and reporting.

Cons of SimpleTexting

• Primarily designed for business use.
• Expensive.
• Primarily text-based.

#11 EZ Texting

EZ Texting is one of the best text marketing platforms you can have on your browser. It’s great for reminders and alerts and offers a user-friendly dashboard with customizable templates.

Apart from that, it has useful analytics to help you track the performance of your text marketing campaigns.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of this texting platform:

Pros of EZ Texting

• Bulk SMS/MMS marketing features.
• Two-Way communication
• User-friendly platform.
• Integrates with CRM systems and email marketing platforms.
• Analytics and reporting.

Cons of EZ Texting

• Not so good for personal messaging.
• Expensive for advanced features.
• Limits for multimedia.

#12 OpenPhone

OpenPhone is another intuitive app that offers business phone service. You can use it across all your existing devices and text from your computer.

It has great features like calling, messaging, and a lightweight CRM tool, making it a great option for businesses of all types and sizes.

Pros of OpenPhone

• Set up secondary phone numbers.
• Keeps personal numbers private.
• Doesn’t need a new SIM card.
• Easy to use.
• Available on all operating systems.

Cons of OpenPhone

• Not useful for personal purposes.
• Expensive options.

#13 Textedly

Textedly is great for mass texting.

Textedly is a web-based platform that simplifies mass text message marketing campaigns. If your business needs to engage with large audiences using text messaging, this tool is your best choice.

Here are the pros and cons of Textedly:

Pros of Textedly

• Bulk Text Messaging.
• Autoresponders.
• Keyword Tracking.
• Campaign Analytics.

Cons of Textedly

• Expensive advanced features.
• Some complaints about customer support.

#14 TextMagic

Last but not least, TextMagic lets you share the workload with your team. This is the best texting platform for responding to urgent inquiries because of its two-way SMS chat service.

It also offers scheduling and automation, which is great for bulk messaging from your computer.

Here are some pros and cons of TextMagic:

Pros of TextMagic

• Effective for business communication.
• Bulk SMS messaging.
• Automation features.
• Available on multiple platforms, including web, mobile, and email-to-SMS.
• Analytics and reporting tools.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons of TextMagic

• Focused on business use and less suitable for personal messaging.
• Expensive premium features.
• Limited multimedia messaging capabilities.

Here is also a comparison between these texting apps:

Conclusion

Texting apps are among the most useful tools for both individuals and businesses. Choosing the right tool among lots of messaging applications can be a bit difficult.

You need to consider many factors like security, privacy, texting features, cross-platform availability, etc. We list the 14 top worldwide texting apps in 2024 to help you select the best one according to your needs.

WP SMS is one of the most useful texting apps for SMS marketing and helps you send text messages from your website’s dashboard. If you need more information about SMS marketing campaigns, you can contact us.

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