➤ 10 Best FREE Chat Apps for Android and IOS (2024)

List of the best free chat apps

Here is a list of the most popular and impressive free chat apps:

1. Telegram.

The best solution for a secure and free online connection, without digital surveillance by government agencies.

Telegram is a free online chat application owned by a company based in Germany. It supports the highest quality encryption technology that keeps your conversation private and confidential. It has a powerful video editing tool video and photo, emojis, and customizable themes.

Features

2048 bit AES and RSA secure encryption
Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol.
Open source APIs.
Group chats with over 200,000 members.
Share videos and large documents.

Pricing

Free

Telegram is one of the fastest online messaging applications. It supports unlimited file and media sharing. Data is synchronized between different devices. This allows you to start a conversation with one device and stay connected with another.

Website: Telegram

2. Rakuten Viber.

The best solution for individuals and businesses looking for a secure connection.

Owned by the Japanese company Rakuten, Viber is one of the safest online chat applications. The application uses one of the highest quality encryptions. The app supports voice and video calls with a single click.

A nice feature of the application is the “Notes” section, which allows you to store files, notes, and links.

Features

Group chats and calls.
Stickers and GIFs.
Voice and video calls.
Mobile and desktop application.

Pricing

Free

Viber is a secure application that is recommended if you are worried about digital surveillance. You can chat freely with anyone without having to worry about federal agencies spying on your private communications.

Website: Rakuten Viber

3. Signal.

Ideal for rights defenders and journalists looking to secure their online communication to share confidential information.

Signal is a scalable and secure online messaging application. The application, developed by a California-based company, supports one of the strongest open source and peer-reviewed encryption protocols. It is recommended by security experts such as Edward Snowden, Bruce Schneier, and others for secure communication.

Features

No trackers or ads.
Voice and video communication.
Share screens, GIFs, and stickers
Group chat.

Pricing

Free

Viber does not disclose user information to government agencies. You can chat with peace of mind knowing that your communication is secure.

Website: Signal

4. WhatsApp.

The best way for individuals and businesses to communicate and collaborate for free.

WhatsApp is the most popular chat application with billions of users. The application, which is owned by Facebook, contains a lot of interesting features. Users can share videos, images, and emojis. Businesses can also create an online catalog to promote their products to users.

Features

Supports Android, iPhone, macOS, and Windows
Business APIs.
End-to-end encryption.
Location sharing.

Pricing

Free

WhatsApp isn't the safest or fastest messaging app. The video call function is not optimized. You'll notice lots of lags with a slow internet connection. Communication is not entirely secure as there are reports of message monitoring by Facebook and government agencies.

Website: WhatsApp

5. Facebook Messenger.

The best solution for chatting online and connecting with your favorite businesses to find great deals.

Facebook Messenger is a free application that allows you to connect with your Facebook, Instagram, Oculus, and Portal contacts. You can watch videos, movies, and TV shows with your friends using the live video chat feature. Users can express their emotions using selfie stickers, message effects, and AR effects.

Features

Custom colors and themes.
Selfie and AR effects.
Fingerprint identification.
Supports PayPal, credit cards, and prepaid cards.
Online store.

Pricing

Free

Facebook Messenger is a free online chat application. You can do a lot more than just chat using this app. It supports digital payments and online purchases, unlike many other messaging applications. But the application is not completely private because Facebook uses the data for online retargeting advertising.

Website: Facebook Messenger

6. Discord.

The best way for school clubs, player groups, and the arts community to collaborate with others for free.

Discord is a free online chat application that runs on Windows.

Owned by a California-based company, the application supports voice and group discussions. Users can create inviting channels for private communications only. It also supports screen sharing and game streaming.

Features

Create guest-only locations.
Low latency for voice and video calls.
Game transmission.
Screen sharing.

Pricing

Free

Discord is a good application for spending time with friends. This app is great for teens and young adults who want to have fun connecting with each other. The downside of the application is that it does not support a secure connection.

Website: Discord

7. WeChat.

Ideal for individuals and residents of China and other Far Eastern countries.

WeChat is a free application owned by Tencent, a company based in China. It's one of the most popular chat apps on the web, with over a billion connections.

The app is the biggest messaging app in China. It supports digital yuan payment for Chinese users. Users can communicate with others using text, voice, and video messages.

Features

Video and voice calls.
SMS.
Digital payments (China only)

Pricing

Free

Communications using WeChat may not be secure. There are rumours that the Chinese government is using online chat to spy on users. But there has been no concrete evidence of government surveillance.

Website: WeChat

8. Skype.

The best way to make free video calls and text messages on mobile and desktop devices.

Skype is the most popular free video chat application. The app supports a wide range of devices including online, tablets, smartphones, HDTVs, Xbox, and even Alexa. You can start a meeting with others with just one click.

Features

Text, voice, and video chat.
Supports calls to landlines and mobile phones.
Host meetings for up to 100 users.
Live streaming.
Screen sharing.

Pricing

Free

Skype is one of the best team collaboration apps out there. The free chat app has no limits on the length of meetings. The application is ideal for communications between individuals and corporate teams.

Website: Skype

9. Slack.

The best solution for individuals and businesses for a secure connection.

Slack is a free productivity app that supports voice and video connections. You can communicate with others using emojis, voice messages, and text messages. The application allows you to create organized workspaces.

Features

1:1 voice and video calls.
Integration with a third party application.
Stores up to 10,000 message histories.

Pricing

Basic: free
Pro: $6.67 per month
Business+: $12.5 per month
Business grid: Custom pricing

Slack is a free application for 1:1 voice and video communication. You need to subscribe to a paid plan if you want to take advantage of the group communication feature.

Website: Slack

RECOMMENDED READING: The best Slack alternatives

10. Snapchat.

The best way for individuals to showcase their creative talent and win rewards.

Snapchat is a creative application for mobile devices. You can develop followers with your creative content, just like on TikTok. Creative content creators can also win cash rewards for their top-performing content. Currently, the app is available in a limited number of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, India, and Mexico.

Features

Spotlight
Stories
Online maps
Filters and lenses

Pricing

Free

Snapchat is a good online chat that allows people to spend time with their online friends. The application is supported by ads that may seem intrusive to many people. The application does not support a secure connection.

Website: Snapchat

FAQs

What is the best free chat app?

The best chat app depends on your needs. If you're looking for the most secure chat app, choose Signal or Telegram. WhatsApp is the most convenient application. The best free chat apps for businesses are Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Viber is a great application for students and teachers who want to exchange documents securely.

How do I chat with a stranger on WhatsApp?

To communicate with people living abroad, you need to enter the country code and then the phone number.

How do I install an email application?

You need to download the online email application. You need to visit the online chat site to install the chat application on your desktop. Mobile chat apps are available on Google Play and iStore.

Can I have Messenger without Facebook?

You'll need to create a free Facebook account to chat with the Messenger app. However, you can deactivate your Facebook account and continue chatting with the Messenger app.

Are Messenger messages private?

Not all instant messenger messages are private. You should choose a chat app with end-to-end encryption to ensure that your chat stays private.

Conclusion

Viber, Signal, Telegram, Wickr, Tox, and Threema are the best free chat apps for chatting safely without having to worry about digital surveillance by government agencies. Discord is the recommended application for players and artists to connect.

The best free chat app for content creators is Snapchat. The best free chat apps for businesses that want to offer voice customer service are Voxer. Recommended free apps for enterprise teams are Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. If you've signed up for Google Workplace, consider using Google Chat for team collaboration.