Is There a Texting App That Requires a Pasword Entered.each Time.you Read a Text

Keeping in touch with friends and family unit has never been easier. If y'all have an net connection, you tin ship a message to anyone, anywhere, free of charge.

With endless free texting apps for Android and iPhone, you need to decide your priorities to figure out which one to choose. Some services are designed purely with security and user privacy in mind, while others emphasize broader communication in the form of audio and video calling. Some messaging apps closely resemble social networks, while others provide a platform on which to do things like play games and settle tabs.

Hither nosotros'll present our picks for the vii best texting apps—all of which are free—and assistance you determine which one'south correct for you.

What Makes a Great Texting App?

How we evaluate and examination apps

All of our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. We spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it'south intended to be used and evaluating information technology against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from whatever app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier web log.

In our quest to discover the all-time way to stay in touch on, nosotros've put almost 30 different apps and services to the test. The most bones requirement is that all apps are able to transport text and multimedia letters in the grade of photos and videos to an private or grouping conversation. The messages must also be free to ship.

Become more than app tips from Zapier

For this roundup, we've only considered services have both iOS and Android apps so you tin connect with anyone on any device. Desktop apps and web access is a nice-to-have, only non a requirement for inclusion. Other nice features include vox and video calling, filters, mobile payments, games, and other interactive experiences.

We've given priority to services with fantabulous security practices. All services on this listing implement some form of stop-to-end encryption, which means not fifty-fifty the service provider can read bulletin contents. Some services go a step further by putting security at the center of the product, incorporating boosted safeguards like decentralized networks and self-destructing messages.

Texting apps use an internet connection to send and receive letters. This is different from SMS, which uses your carrier'southward own protocols to send and receive letters anywhere with a cellular connection (even a weak one, with no data). While SMS messages cost money—either on a per-message basis or included with your cellular plan—the messages sent through data-only texting apps will all be free (even if the app itself is not).

The vii Best Texting Apps

• WhatsApp for a remainder among features, security, and convenience

• Viber for public group chats

• Telegram for speed

• Betoken for simplicity

• Wickr Me for security

• Facebook Messenger for doing more than than just chatting

• Tox for a decentralized chat service

WhatsApp (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Web)

Best texting app for a balance amid features, security, and convenience

WhatsApp is the undisputed ruler of gratis mobile messaging in the W. Launched in 2009 as a way to send letters over a data connection rather than SMS, WhatsApp was somewhen acquired by Facebook in 2014. Since then, the service has grown both its feature set and user base, exceeding a billion daily users in 2017.

The app is a simple messaging customer that supports basic text chat, also as photos, videos, and voice messaging. You lot tin can as well send files to other users on WhatsApp as long equally they're under 100MB. Chats have the form of one-on-one interactions with other WhatsApp users or grouping chats of up to 256 participants.

In April 2016, the company rectified i of the longstanding criticisms of the service by adding end-to-stop encryption. All messages sent over modernistic versions of WhatsApp are at present secured, including file transfers. Encrypted messages are removed from WhatsApp's servers in one case they're delivered.

WhatsApp has a distinctive look and experience. Its signature double tick adjacent to each message indicates that a message has been sent (one checkmark) and delivered (two checkmarks). When the two ticks turn blue, you know that the recipient has read your message too. You lot tin can further customize your feel past changing the chat wallpaper under the app'due south settings, renaming groups, and setting custom alerts on a per-chat basis.

WhatsApp users can place free voice and video calls to other users of the service. Grouping calls can be made with up to four people, and all advice is secured with the same end-to-end encryption. You can also download WhatsApp desktop apps for Windows and Mac, or access the service via a browser at spider web.whatsapp.com.

WhatsApp Price: Costless

Viber (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows)

All-time texting app for public group chats

Viber is another great all-around entry to the messaging space, with large user bases in India, the U.S., Russian federation, and Brazil. The app fuses text and media messaging with a free vox and video call service that tin even be extended to users who aren't currently using Viber.

Talk to individuals or create a group chat with up to 250 participants, where you can share instant voice and video messages without having to make a phone call. It's perfect for when you're too busy to talk and also lazy to type. While many other apps include simple voice messaging (like WhatsApp, above), Viber makes it only as easy to send a video message for a more personal touch on. Plus, GIFs and stickers are built into your chats to assistance liven up conversations.

End-to-end encryption is standard on all Viber communications. Yous tin get a pace farther and exchange private keys with certain contacts to maintain security (and you'll exist notified if their details change too). To do this, you'll need to tap Free Viber Call, talk to the person in question, and verify their identity; then both parties will tap the lock icon on the call screen. After that, y'all'll run across each other'southward individual keys and can choose to Trust this contact.

In addition to free voice and video calling to other Viber users, a service called Viber Out lets you call any mobile or landline in the world. Y'all'll have to pay for the privilege, and what fees you lot pay depend on where yous're trying to phone call. It's similar Skype, except with improve security practices.

Viber uses an understated, minimal blueprint with an optional Dark Mode bachelor nether the app's Advent menu. Chats and calls are delegated to divide tabs, with Viber's non-essential features (like the Sticker Market) placed on a divide 3rd tab. If a conversation gets also rowdy, you can swipe left and choose to Mute or Snooze it. If yous have an important conversation you'd like to go on handy, you tin can Pin it.

You lot don't even really need friends to brand the about of Viber. Check out Viber communities—substantially large group chats with strangers—or start your own to meet new people. These public chats can have an unlimited number of members and feature robust controls for admins to moderate their chats. These controls permit you manage who's in the group and who can mail, too as changing the customs'south look and experience with a new background and group description.

Viber Cost: Free

Telegram (iOS, Android, Web, Mac, Windows, Linux)

The best texting app for speed

Telegram is 1 of the original secure messaging apps that puts security at the center of the app. You lot can use information technology to send text messages, photos, videos, and files to other Telegram users, you tin can create group chats with a whopping 200,000 participants, and your conversations are stored in the cloud and attainable from any Telegram client.

Telegram's "Secret Chats" encrypt letters on both ends: Merely start a new message then choose New secret chat from the menu. You can also set self-destruct timers for any secret letters you send so that they won't hang around in one case they've served their purpose. Undercover chats aren't stored in the cloud similar regular chats. Only even your regular chats in Telegram are encrypted, stored on the server, then decrypted when they're downloaded. This gives you the pick of choosing between highly secure messaging and a more user-friendly, slightly less secure option. Y'all can use both interchangeably, as you see fit.

By distributing their servers throughout the world, Telegram claims to be the fastest conversation service—and it certainly passed our tests. Different many competing services, Telegram doesn't cater to phonation or video calling. This is strictly a messaging app—one that looks and feels very similar to WhatsApp, right downwardly to the busy decorative backgrounds that you can change under the Appearance menu. It'southward basically a WhatsApp clone in all merely its security practices.

Finally, Telegram has an open API, which ways users are free to build their own unofficial apps for utilize with the service. This has given birth to projects like Unigram, a Windows ten-optimized third-party client, and a control line version of Telegram for Linux users.

Telegram Price: Free

Signal (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux)

All-time texting app for simplicity

Signal is one of the most unremarkable-looking texting apps. It features a single screen for all of your chats and a single etch button. At that place's petty in the fashion of customization bachelor. It's frequently recommended equally a WhatsApp alternative: While chatting, you'll fifty-fifty notice WhatsApp-style double ticks to denote message status. Signal also includes free one-on-i voice and video calling to other Indicate users. These chats are encrypted just like other messages sent via the app.

You can ship text, photos, videos, documents, and phonation messages to private or group conversations, only unlike with WhatsApp, there's no limit on the number of people y'all can add to a group. The app uses end-to-end encryption to secure all messages sent via the service, with the option of setting expiration dates for each conversation. Once your messages expire, they're no longer recoverable. At that place'south as well a handy "Notation to Self" contact for you to shop your thoughts.

You can download a desktop app for Windows, Mac, and Linux to bring the full suite of Signal features to your computer too. And on Android, Signal can even replace your stock SMS app. This allows you lot to transport Signal messages and regular SMS letters to non-Signal users from a single interface. (This doesn't work for iOS users on account of how messaging works in the Apple tree ecosystem.)

Bespeak Toll: Free

Wickr Me (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux)

All-time texting app for security

If security is of main importance to you lot, in that location's certainly no shortage of conversation apps to choose from. Simply Wickr Me might be the about secure app of its kind, thanks to a few features not seen in Telegram, Signal, or elsewhere.

The app is a standard messaging app for individuals or groups of upward to 10 people. You can ship text, video, images, and files of less than 10MB securely and privately. Cease-to-end encryption is standard, with all new correspondence sent with a new key. (Wickr Me includes limited vocalization calling between ii users, which is also encrypted on both ends.) All letters expire up to half-dozen days later on beingness delivered, and a feature called Shredder overwrites your deleted letters to make data recovery next to impossible.

Y'all don't fifty-fifty need a phone number or email accost to become started with Wickr Me, which ways no identifying information is tied to your business relationship. Instead, you lot must register a username and make a note of your password somewhere secure (if yous lose the password, there'due south no recovery choice). And every bit if Wickr Me wasn't already secure enough, the app includes Wickr Open Admission, a born VPN y'all can enable if you want.

Wickr's secure roots are evident from the moment you start using it. All chats are locked by default, which means that yous have to tap on a message to reveal its contents. You can also opt to require your countersign each time yous open the app. While chatting, yous have quick access to both the "Burn on read" timer and the "Expiration timer" aslope the chat box, just in case you need to adjust them on the wing.

Wickr Me Price: Free

Facebook Messenger (iOS, Android, Spider web)

Best texting app for doing more than just chatting

Contrary to pop belief, y'all don't need a Facebook business relationship to use Facebook Messenger. The company simply requires you to sign up with a phone number to talk to anyone else using the service. If you do already have a Facebook account, you can jump straight in and message any of your Facebook friends (and other Facebook users) who've signed up for Messenger.

The app includes all the basic messaging features you'd expect—and some you probably won't. Send texts to individuals or groups of up to 150 people, and react to messages with stickers, GIFs, and emoji. Yous can send voice messages, photos, and videos, or capture your own media using Messenger Camera and its fun Snapchat-like filters. You can fifty-fifty create polls to rapidly become a grouping opinion on an idea.

Simply Messenger isn't just a chat service. Tap the four-dots icon in any message to meet a list of activities you can start. These include playing games, watching videos together, sharing music, and—in some territories (at present the The states, United kingdom, and France)—sending money via PayPal.

Past default, Facebook has no finish-to-end encryption. But if you tap on your contact'due south name in any conversation and select Go to Secret Conversation, you'll enable encryption on both ends. Practice this for every conversation, and you've enabled end-to-end encryption for all correspondence.

All images sent through Messenger are scanned for signs of kid corruption, and Facebook has used message scanning in the past to quell sensationalist letters designed to incite harm or unrest. The company claims they do not browse your private conversations for advertising purposes.

Messenger has its flaws, simply ultimately, it's a well-designed app that's pleasant to apply. The app places your agile chats and available contacts on two separate tabs, each just a tap away. Big, assuming fonts and flecks of Facebook's bright blue coloring make it piece of cake to find your fashion around. You can even kickoff a chat and tap the "Wave" button to get a conversation started without typing at all.

Facebook Messenger keeps you connected with vocalization and video calls to individuals or groups. Web access means you can keep chatting even on desktop. For older, underpowered devices and areas of poor connectivity, users tin download Messenger Low-cal, which only includes the about basic features.

Facebook Messenger Cost: Free

Tox (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux)

Best texting app for a decentralized chat service

Tox isn't a unmarried app; rather, it's a messaging service that's run and maintained by the people who use it. Using an open source development model, Tox was designed with user privacy in heed. There are apps available for but about every platform: They're not "official" apps but user-contributed projects.

The service supports basic i-on-one and group text messaging, photo and video messaging, and file sharing. All communications are encrypted on both ends, and there are no key servers that tin be close down. That means in that location are no servers that can be raided, and the distributed approach removes the potential for server downtime.

There are a variety of clients you can utilize, depending on your hardware. On iOS, in that location'due south an app called Antidote for Tox, which provides bones access to the service. On Android, an app called Antox does the same. For desktop platforms, you've got a choice of qTox and uTox. You tin check out the official wiki to learn more nigh the different types of clients.

Since these projects are contributed by the community for complimentary, progress can be dull at times. Dissimilar projects will have dissimilar feature implementations, so not all Tox features volition work with all Tox clients. Simply the basics, like text chat, media messaging, and file sharing are well-implemented, despite the shortcomings.

Keep in mind that Tox is nether abiding evolution. The fragmented nature of the approach to apps tin cause issues with how the service works. With that in listen, if you've been pining for a free, decentralized chat service, then this is the one.

Tox Price: Gratuitous (open up source)

What Almost iMessage and Android Messages?

Both Apple and Google have proprietary messaging solutions: You know them as iMessage and Android Messages, and they cater solely to users on their native platforms. Both are used equally a default method of sending SMS messages on their respective platforms, but they as well serve every bit information-based messaging apps.

iMessage is arguably the better messenger of the two. Information technology'south encrypted end-to-finish, which means not even Apple can read your message contents. It has unique features similar animoji, animated emoji that use the TrueDepth photographic camera on the front of the latest iPhones. It'south a platform on which you can play games, brand payments, find and share GIFs and stickers, and generally have a lot more fun than simply sending messages back and forth.

Unlike iMessage, Android Letters uses an open ecosystem. Information technology wants to be the only messaging app on your Android device, replacing your SMS app with something more time to come proof. Unfortunately, in its bid to ditch the SMS protocol (and supersede it with Rich Advice Services, or RCS), Google has non mandated end-to-end encryption.

Your decision to employ iMessage or Android Messages largely depends on who you spend the virtually time chatting with. iMessage is secure and accessible from most Apple devices, so it's a bully choice if you can use it. By comparison, Android Messages lacks even basic safeguards, then we'd recommend using something else (like WhatsApp) if security is a concern.

Which Texting App Should You Choose?

You don't always take a choice of which texting app to utilize when talking to friends and family, since it depends on what app they're using. Pick the app that'south most convenient for yous while likewise satisfying your security and privacy concerns. Explain to your contacts why you favor one service over another, and maybe they'll leap ship with you lot.

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