Sometimes we have to stay connected, even if it’s just to call or text someone we care about. Over the years there has been a rush of new apps that help us be more efficient with the way we stay in contact. This blog post is a list of the best apps that help you stay connected to friends and family.
Calling and texting are the two most common communications methods that people use on a daily basis. For this reason, it is imperative to understand how to call and text. However, this is a process that takes practice, which is why this blog will focus on finding the best apps for calling and texting. If you’re in need of apps for making calls or texting, this blog will help you find the right apps for the job.
Table of Contents
best apps for international calling and texting
WORKING FROM HOME
The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Online
The Ultimate Guide to Online Learning at Home
The Ultimate Guide to Skype
Mobile messaging apps offer a superior alternative to email and text messaging thanks to built-in social networking features, enhanced security, and free video calling over Wi-Fi or data plans. Aside from established apps like Facebook Messenger, Apple’s FaceTime, and Skype, some of the best messaging apps for desktop and mobile devices are here.
01
of 10
Most Popular Messaging App: WhatsApp
WhatsApp for Android
What We Like
Group messaging supports up to 250 people.
Supports end-to-end encryption.
Send files as large as 100 MB.
No ads.
What We Don’t Like
No built-in GIF gallery.
Voice calls are not available in all countries.
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. It 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 messaging everyone individually.
Download For:
iOS
Android
Windows and macOS
02
of 10
Unlimited Group Conversations: Viber
Viber for Android
What We Like
Extensions allow sharing video and music via chat.
Send money through the app.
Includes stickers and GIFs.
What We Don’t Like
May have more features than you need.
Features ads.
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, the app also supports Communities; group conversations that can contain unlimited members.
Download For:
iOS
Android
Windows and macOS
03
of 10
Send Self-Destructing Photos: Snapchat
Snapchat for Android
What We Like
Easily send photos and short videos.
Add filters, effects, and drawings to images.
Massive user base.
What We Don’t Like
Overwhelming interface.
No easy way to save incoming images.
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.
Download For:
iOS
Android
04
of 10
Best Cross-Platform Messager: Telegram
Telegram for Android
What We Like
Change the app’s appearance with themes.
Includes lots of stickers with more as free downloads.
Reply to specific messages in a thread.
What We Don’t Like
Seems to attract lots of spam messages.
No longer supports voice calls.
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging service accessible from all of your devices. Unlike most messaging apps, it allows you to edit and delete messages even after sending them. Additionally, you can mute notifications for specific durations, send files, and share your location. It also lets you send messages that automatically delete after a designated time.
Download For:
iOS
Android
Microsoft Store
Windows and macOS
05
of 10
Best Paid Features: LINE
LINE for Android
What We Like
Send and receive money.
Huge user base.
Group calls support 200 people.
Safely store photos and other content.
What We Don’t Like
It’s a bit much if you just need a mobile messaging solution.
Calls to land lines are not free.
Use LINE for free one-on-one and group chats with your friends from anywhere. With free domestic and international voice and video calls, you can call your friends and family as often as you want. 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.
Download For:
iOS
Android
Windows and macOS
06
of 10
Best App for Video Calls: Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts for Android
What We Like
Voice and video calls support up to 10 people.
Integrates with your Google account.
Google Voice users can send texts to non-Hangouts users.
What We Don’t Like
Alert sounds cannot be customized per contact.
No built-in GIF gallery.
Google Hangouts supports text messages, phone calls, and video calls between Google account users. You can have private, one-on-one conversations and group chats with up to 150 people. The app lets you share videos, photos, stickers, and emojis. It 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.
Download For:
iOS
Android
07
of 10
Best Walkie Talkie App: Voxer
Voxer Android app
What We Like
Share files from Dropbox.
Built-in GIFs available through GIPHY.
Post status updates on your profile.
What We Don’t Like
Many features require a paid account.
No video calls or group messages.
Voxer is a walkie-talkie or push-to-talk app that delivers live voice messages. The message is instantly played through your friend’s phone speakers if the phone is turned on and the app is running or stored as a recorded message like voicemail. Voxer also supports texting, photo messaging, emoticons, and military-grade security and encryption.
You can also make notes to yourself, star and share messages, and enable Extreme notifications to get repeated alerts and louder sounds. Voxer Pro is the only way to get features like unlimited message storage, admin-controlled chats, message recall, Extreme notifications, chat broadcasting, hands-free walkie-talkie mode, and more.
Download For:
iOS
Android
08
of 10
No User Account Required: HeyTell
HeyTell Android messaging app
What We Like
You don’t need to create a user account.
All the options and features are self-explanatory.
Stores a history of past messages.
Messages you’ve sent can be shared over other apps like email.
What We Don’t Like
No option to cancel a message while it’s in progress.
Must pay to unlock extra features.
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 plays when they open the app. If the recipient has the app open at the time of the message, it plays 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. HeyTell is free, but there are in-app premium options for advanced features like ringtones, a voice changer, message expiration, etc.
Download For:
iOS
Android
Windows
09
of 10
Custom Phone Numbers: Talkatone
Talkatone Android messaging app
What We Like
Works like a normal phone number.
Includes free calling, texting, and picture messaging.
Has a GIF gallery built in.
Your phone number can be changed at any time.
What We Don’t Like
Can only get numbers from Canada or the U.S.
International calls are not free for non-Talkatone users.
Your number expires if not used within a 30 day period.
Includes ads.
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. You can purchase Talkatone Plus to unlock more features like call forwarding and voicemail transcriptions. You can also remove ads and get unlimited international calls monthly.
Download For:
iOS
Android
10
of 10
Most Secure Messaging App: Silent Phone
Silent Phone for Android
What We Like
Centered around encryption and privacy.
Send documents, videos, and images up to 100 MB.
A real phone number isn’t required.
What We Don’t Like
Paid subscription required.
Quickly drains phone battery.
Silent Phone supports one-on-one video chat, multi-party voice conferencing for up to six participants, voice memos, etc. Calls and texts between Silent Phone users are encrypted end-to-end on mobile devices, making the app ideal for businesses that handle sensitive data. The built-in Burn feature lets you set an auto-destruct time for messages from one minute to three months for further security. You can subscribe to Silent World to make calls to users without a Silent Phone account.
Download For:
iOS
Android
Why Use a Messaging App?
There are a few reasons you may want to use a messaging app instead of traditional text messaging. For example, you don’t have to pay extra fees to chat with people in other countries, and you don’t even have to give out your phone number in most cases. Messaging apps are beneficial for contacting co-workers outside of regular work hours since you can send documents and make video calls. For distributed workforces, messaging apps allow employees in different time zones to conduct meetings and keep in touch throughout the workday.
Was this page helpful?
More from Lifewire
An illustration of women talking on the phone on opposite sides of the globe.
10 Best Free Internet Phone Calls Apps
Instant Messaging
10 Instant Messaging Apps You Should Have
Woman sitting in beanbag chair using cell phone.
The 5 Best Apps to Make Free International Calls (2022)
A woman on a video conferencing app displayed via a tablet
The 8 Best Free Skype Alternatives of 2022
Women casually talking into her phone
The 6 Best Walkie Talkie Apps of 2022
A mobile phone in a refrigerator.
8 Apps to Help You Track Phones or Their Owners
A woman in a group video chat on her smartphone.
The 11 Best Group Video Call Apps for Friends, Family and Teams
A smartphone with several apps for accessing second phone numbers displayed.
The 9 Best Second Phone Number Apps of 2022
Parent group chatting with two grandparents
How to Group FaceTime on iOS and Mac
A couple using an iPad
How to Make Free Calls on Your iPad
An email message displayed in a web browser
10 Best Free Email Accounts for 2022
Typing on laptop
How to Send a Text From a Computer to a Phone
Screenshots of YouMail app.
Best Visual Voicemail Apps of 2022
Facebook Messenger: Everything You Need to Know
Hangouts on iPhone X screen on a yellow background depicting usage of the free calling app
Free iOS Calling Apps: Call Friends and Family for Free Anywhere
Light box with vacation slides
The 10 Best Slideshow Apps of 2022
Lifewire
Tech for Humans
Follow Us
Subscribe to our newsletter and get tech’s top stories in 30 seconds.
Email Address
enter email
SUBMIT
News
Best Products
Mobile Phones
Computers
About Us
Advertise
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Careers
Editorial Guidelines
Contact
Terms of Use
California Privacy Notice
TRUSTe
Lifewire is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines