Top WeChat Alternatives
- Telegram
- iMessage
- Messenger
- Signal
- Jitsi
- Line
- Skype
- Viber
How many of you still remember using text messages with a 160-character limit, paying SMS charges, living with doubt of deliverability, and the problem is keeping track of chat? I bet, for some this might be nostalgic but for millennials using messaging apps like WeChat, WhatsApp this might be a joke.
But with WeChat messaging app being banned, what will they do now?
Simple, we will look for an alternate chat app. We understand this, hence to make the task easy here, we will enlist the trusted and best alternatives to the WeChat messaging app.
Best Messaging Apps and WeChat Alternatives
With a monthly user base of more than 1 billion, WeChat is China’s most popular messaging app. Released in 2011 the app became the world’s largest standalone mobile app in 2018. Users use it as a messaging, social media, and even a lifestyle platform. Still, people look for WeChat’s alternatives, and there is nothing wrong with that.
So, without any delay, let’s know the best and top WeChat alternatives that are not Chinese.
The first app that we hand-picked is an app that doesn’t need any introduction. Owned by Facebook, WhatsApp is a well-known messaging and chat app. With over 2 billion active users, this chat app dominates the global market. So, if you are looking for an alternative to WeChat that no only has similar features but is also secure, WhatsApp is the answer. Using it you can make a video call, group calls to up to 8 people, send GIFs and do a lot more. One of my favorite features of this app is allowing users to set videos or images for 24 hours as a status.
List of The Best WeChat Alternatives That Are Not Chinese
1. WhatsApp – Best Messaging and Video Call App
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?mt=8
2. Telegram – Secure Messaging App
Although not as popular as WeChat and WhatsApp, this chat messaging app is the most secure. With 400 monthly active users, Telegram stands strong in comparison with iMessage. To offer additional securely this trusted security messaging app brings together 256-bit symmetric AES encryption and 2048-bit RSA encryption. Aside from offering data security using this WeChat alternative, you can create a group chat with up to 200,000 members.
Simple and easy to use interface
Used by more than 1.5 billion users globally
Can use WhatsApp from the desktop via Firefox, Chrome, and Opera browsers
End-to-end encryption to offer security to the user
Support GIF and Emojis
WhatsApp automatically finds contacts and adds them to the WhatsApp contact list.
State-of-art signal protocol is used
16 MB size limit on file sharing
To send messages via WhatsApp Web, you need to have an active internet connection on the phone
No cloud syncing and active phone number is must
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.telegram.messenger&hl=en_IN
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807
3. iMessage – Apple’s Secure Messaging App
Available for only Apple devices, this messaging app works well as an Apple’s trusted app, and it offers data security. iMessage is a seamless chat app that includes features like Memoji, Animoji, and effects. Using it, you can manage messages via gestures. This makes iMessage simple to use and a great alternative to WeChat for iOS users.
Allows large file sharing (up to 1.5 GB) and image compression
Free of cost messaging app
Banned in China
Can easily send videos and photos without compression
Unlimited number of files can be stored forever on the cloud
Unable to use it as default messaging app
Backend software is not open source
Cannot activate and use Telegram via email
4. Messenger – Feature-rich Chat App
Looking for a feature-rich, WeChat alternative? Good news your search has come to an end. Messenger integrated with Facebook works as a social networking app and a chat app. Using this app, you can stay in touch with your friends easily. Also, the recent Messenger update allows users to host a video call with up to 50 people. This is more than WeChat’s 9-member limit, and it also allows making payment. All this makes Messenger a strong contender as a WeChat alternative.
Free and unlimited messages over data connection and Wi-Fi
No need to install as it comes as a preinstalled app
iMessage apps and games are available
Minimalistic and clear UI
Supports voice messages
End-to-end encryption
Available in iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac
Can be used only on Apple devices
Sometimes unreliable
If an iMessage fails to deliver it is sent as regular SMS allowing it to send unencrypted
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.facebook.orca
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id454638411
5. Signal – Open Source & Secure Messaging App
If WeChat is blocked for you and you no longer trust Chinese apps, use Signal, an end-to-end encrypted chat app. The service is so secure that even the company behind the Signal cannot read them. Using Signal, you can send text messages, attach files and photos, create groups, and make video and voice calls. The app does not show any ads and is the safest WeChat alternative for you.
Sharing Facebook posts is easy
Intuitive and clean UI
Read receipt feature
Friends suggestions are based on the contact list
Can communicate with anyone who is a friend on Facebook
Notifies when a new message is received
Send GIFs, photos, etc.
As Facebook owns it, there is no data privacy
No end-to-end encryption
Can sell users personal information
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thoughtcrime.securesms&hl=en_IN
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/signal-private-messenger/id874139669
6. Jitsi Meet – Well-Known Messaging App
Popular as a video conferencing app this another WeChat alternative allows making video calls with a complete team. Not only this, but Jitsi Meet is also fully encrypted. Using it, you can share desktop, invite users, edit documents send or receive documents, and emoji. Further, it is a great alternative to Zoom.
Uses end to end encryption to offer privacy for every message
Free and open source
Encrypted group chat
Allows sharing different media types
Supports emoji, pictures, videos, audio, contacts, GIF, and location sharing
Can mirror messages from the phone via Signal Desktop Chrome extension
User can send messages to self and can sync to the desktop
Need to give a phone number and contacts access permission
Can be registered to one mobile device at a time
Since the servers are hosted in the US, Signal might share data when asked by security agencies
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.jitsi.meet
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jitsi-meet/id1165103905
7. Line – Popular Social Networking App
With 600 million users, Line is a popular social networking app. Equipped with all essential tools that help communicate this substitute to WeChat is impressive. You can make a group call with up to 200 people using it, and it has the biggest library of stickers. All this makes it a better alternative to WeChat, and the ability to make international calls to landlines and smartphones at lesser rates is fantastic.
Secure messaging app
Ease to use
The customizable and feature-rich messaging solution
The perfect app for remote everyday use
Great Zoom alternative
Open-source project
Secure video conferencing solution
Changing audio settings is complex
Doesn’t work well with Firefox
Audio delay in a while
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.naver.line.android&hl=en_IN
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/line/id443904275
8. Skype – Best Video Calling App
You can find several video calling apps on the market, but none can match Skype. Recently, Zoom became quite popular as a video conferencing app but couldn’t match Skype. Apart from making phone/video calls using Skype, you can chat and send instant messages to your friends. In addition to this, you can share images, schedule a call, send emojis, etc. while using Skype. This makes it one of the top WeChat alternatives.
An integrated social network like Facebook’s timeline
Photo filtering and editing tools
Updates stamp collection
Mostly used by celebrities and public figures
In-app editing tools
Makes following public figure easy
Clean and net UI
Easy to use
The primary user base is from Japan followed by Thailand, Indonesian, and others
Account locked to the phone number
Can be used on only one device with the same number
https://go.skype.com/skype.download.for.phone.android
https://go.skype.com/skype.download.for.phone.iphone
9. Viber – Best Voice Calling App
In terms of popularity and versatility, Viber is excellent. With over 1 billion users, Viber stands strong against WeChat. Operated by Rakuten, the Japanese company this messaging app supports multimedia like WeChat and allows users to chat with friends via GIF, video, sticker, and text. Further, you can make the group chat with up to 250 members and stay in the loop with likeminded people.
Share Screen
Easy to connect
Allows making international phone calls
Cross-platform can be used on Windows, Mac, Android & Linux.
Show complete desktop or selected part of the screen
Hassle-free installation
Free group video call
Crashes often on Windows and Android
Poor screen sharing quality
Cannot be used as a professional team chat
https://app.adjust.com/4x0ajn?campaign=download&adgroup=en&creative=1
https://app.adjust.com/oh4wnf?campaign=download&adgroup=en&creative=1
With this, we come to the end of your list of best WeChat alternatives. You can pick anyone based on your choice. Systweak does not promote any app. So, it’s your choice you can pick any from the list of trusted WeChat alternatives. Also, please let us know which one you used and why in the comments section.
Free to use the messaging app and best WeChat alternative
Clean interface
Supports voice calls
Compared with Skype the sound quality is great
Available for both Mac and Windows
See contacts using Viber and connect with them
Includes Android Wear Support
Doesn’t sync well with phone and PC clients
Not an open-source software
No web login available
