As well, Going by the numbers (over one billion users), WeChat is the most loved messaging app in China. Although the messaging app isn’t equally popular elsewhere globally, it does have a substantial presence in several countries. So, Owned by Tencent – one of Asia’s largest companies by market cap – WeChat offers a considerable chat experience.
What’s more, it also provides cool mini-games, a way to explore exciting articles, and a fast mobile payment method. However, just like other Chinese apps, it scores low on the security and privacy fronts. A recent report by CitizenLabs found that WeChat does content surveillance even on non-Chinese users. This is a considerable concern, and if it makes you uncomfortable, here are ten best WeChat Alternatives you can use in 2021 to replace it.
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Best WeChat Alternatives for Android & iPhone
If you are Finding a perfect replacement for an app like WeChat that cater to various tastes is a little tricky. Thus, we have lined up a variety of messaging application that can make a good match with Tencent’s offering & even score higher on multiple fronts. Moreover, the apps that excel in specific departments like a group video call, secure messaging, or tracking news have made their way into our lineup. Therefore, irrespective of where your priority lies, choosing an app that can meet your needs shouldn’t be a big deal. So, With that said, it’s time to explore the top apps like WeChat for iPhone and Android!
Skype
While there is no shortage of video-calling apps in the market, very few can match the repertoire of Skype. Suppose the high video quality is what you are after, I would recommend you try out Skype. Aside from letting you communicate using video/audio calls, the app also enables you to chat using instant messages. So, As compared to WeChat, Skype sports a cleaner user-interface. It is better optimized and runs smoothly across platforms including iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows.
Well, Packed with a vast library of GIFs, Skype lets you send a variety of GIFs. Also, you can annotate images and even share fun-loving emoticons. Besides, it also enables you to call landline and send SMS messages anywhere in the world at a comparatively affordable price. Suppose you want to communicate with non-Skype users or contacts who are not online, you will require to use Skype Credit or Skype subscriptions. Though, Do note that Skype subscriptions start at $2.99 a month for the US, and they may vary by destination.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Does WhatsApp require any introduction or for that matter any explanation as to why it has topped this roundup? So, With over 2 billion users in 180 countries, the Facebook-owned app is the most popular messaging app in the world. Well, According to the latest statistics, over 2 billion voice and video calls are made on WhatsApp every day. As well, these numbers go on to show the dominating presence of the messaging app. Thus, if you are looking for a WeChat alternative that can not just make a good match in terms of features but beat it on the popularity front, look no further than WhatsApp.
App Like WeChat, WhatsApp also supports multimedia, allowing you to communicate using images, videos, docs, and voice messages. Therefore, irrespective of what sort of medium you find convenient to stay in touch with your friends & loved ones, the app can let you communicate without problems. So, Comparatively, WhatsApp is more reliable in terms of video and audio calls than the ability to run smoothly even on a poor internet connection.
Although, As for group video calling, WhatsApp allows up to 8 participants to engage in a video call as compared to WeChat’s 9. So, In most cases, you may find this number quite sufficient. Besides, you can use WhatsApp Web to stay connected with your buddies while working on your computer. One of my ideal features of this application is the Status that allows users to set an image or video as Status 24 hours. Not to mention the capability to delete the mistakenly sent message that often saves us from facing colossal embarrassment. In Long story short, WhatsApp is a top-notch alternative to WeChat. Plus, if you want to use it, you should read our WhatsApp tips article to get the most out of it.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Messenger
Suppose you have set your sight on finding the most feature-packed replacement of WeChat, I recommend you give serious consideration to Messenger. Most Probably the best part about this messaging app is the integration with Facebook. Well, Knowing how popular Facebook (about 2 billion users) is, most of your friends and loved ones may already use the social networking app. Thus, you can easily stay in touch with them.
This app lets you communicate in various ways. So, Be it a text message, voice message, audio call, or video call, and it has got you fully covered. Courtesy the recent update, and Messenger can even let you kickstart a video-conferencing with up to 45 people, which is far more than WeChat’s nine members. That’s not all, and Messenger also provides a pretty fast and comparatively secure way of making payment. So, I love that Facebook is focusing on de-cluttering the Messenger app, making it one of the best WeChat alternatives on the market.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Telegram
Although Telegram is nowhere near as popular as WhatsApp or as versatile as WeChat, it’s probably one of the most secure messaging apps. Well, Not for nothing, many compare this messaging app with Apple’s famed Messages app mainly due to its capability to offer high-end safeguards to the personal messages. So, For additional security, the application encrypts all of your data, including chats & media with the combination of 2048-bit RSA encryption, 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, plus Diffie–Hellman secures key exchange.
Apart from offering the top-notch shield to your data, the app also provides a more intuitive messaging experience than WeChat. This clutter-free UI helps it run faster, unlike WeChat that’s often complained of being sluggish. So, Another feature that makes it stand out is letting you create a group chat with up to 200, 000 members. Comparatively, WeChat allows users to create a group chat with just 500 members. That’s not all, and Telegram has many tricks up its sleeves. This would be best if you read the linked article to learn them all.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Signal
You can install Signal if the latest article on WeChat has opened your eyes and you no longer trust large businesses in your private message. The Signal is an end-to-end encrypted message network used by journalists all over the world. Signal – The company cannot read your messages, however. The service is so safe. To protect your messages, the app uses its open-source signal protocol. Your privacy is in safe hands.
You will have a nice GUI, and all the chat functions you would expect from a great message app while talking about the features. SMS can be submitted, files and images attached, groups can be formed, and call videos and voices made. The services do not monitor your use, and there are no advertisements. The company is operated by a non-profit company and is still free to use. This doesn’t get better than this if you want a stable messaging network. It is the best secure alternative to WeChat that you can use.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Viber
Viber (more than a billion users) is a fully-equipped replacement for WeChat in terms of versatility and popularity. This runs on a variety of platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. It is run by the Japanese multinational corporation Rakuten. So, whatever network you are on, you can use the app to connect with your kin. The app helps you to talk with friends in a variety of ways with multimedia support, including text, sticker, GIF, picture and video.
You can talk with up to 250 members according to your needs and keep in contact with everyone you care about. Apart from the group chat, the ability to operate comfortably even on poor internet connections is better than WeChat in relation to the video/audio calling. Like Snapchat, you can also send a missing message but can set the self-destruction timer. But Viber has always attracted me to build a Viber group of limitless members, above all else. It’s perfect for the like to stay in the loop.
Install: iOS and Android (Free, offers in-app purchases)
Snapchat
Snapchat was a fantastic social networking tool for many years. And if you want to add lots of fun to social networking, this might be the best way to go. You have the right, yes! Yeah! In terms of making interactions enjoyable, Snapchat scores far higher than WeChat. The app comes with an intelligent camera to allow you to capture and share cool snaps with friends quickly. You can also give your photos the required look based on specific topics with loads of beautifully crafted filters available.
Not all, Snapchat has many lenses and fun effects. This is not all. The lense and results will come into play when you want your snaps to quickly steal your focus. Like WeChat, Snapchat lets you hear brief news, original shows and stories from the crowd. I found that the collection of information and accounts by Snapchat was better structured and more trustworthy compared to WeChat. I love the snap map, not to mention, which makes it easier to see where friends stand up and see where they are. And I’ve also drawn attention to the opportunity to play games with friends. Oh, that’s just the iceberg edge, because Snapchat has many tricks!
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Line
The line is one of the most regarded social networking applications, with over 600 million users worldwide. For more than one cause, therefore, it merits to be graded as a noted WeChat substitute. First of all, it has all the necessary resources to connect in many ways, such as speech, video and messages. Second, you can make group calls and keep in contact with friends with up to 200 people.
Thirdly, the app possibly has the largest sticker library. In addition to being in large quantities, they are offered in a wide range. And you can give various stickers to your buddy on the basis of your mood or particular subject to keep the message perspective alive. Also, a great alternative to WeChat is an international phone and fixed-line calls at reasonably low rates. When you always call your international friends and want to connect with them cost-effectively, Line should be your guide. The line should be your leader.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Kik
Kik is as fantastic for offering a fun messaging experience as any messaging apps there. It can also shame several of its best-known rivals in some places. You don’t need to go through a long registration process to get started. As it has multimedia support such as WeChat, you can chat with the desired medium in comfort.
Like most of their predecessors, KiK can also build a chat group that keeps your friends in contact. However, unlike most of his competitors, it helps you to chat one by one in groups, which are ideal when you don’t want to chat about the trivial messages to anyone inside the group. Kik also has a large set of notes that can help you express your feelings in a funny manner. If you look for memes in an opponent of WeChat, KiK could be a much better option. This isn’t everything, and there are still interesting games to refresh your mind if you feel bored.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Take a moment to wonder why I have Twitter in this roundup! Before you begin Since WeChat is not only a simple messaging app but also a forum where users can find different posts, a platform that does a similar thing is worth suggesting. And Twitter is by far the best bet for that reason. If you want to find a replacement for WeChat, you can try the microblog application if it helps you to look at different topics and keep yourself in touch with what is happening worldwide.
Additionally, to keeping you in the loop with all recent events, thanks to Twitter’s Direct Messaging feature, you can contact through text messages and pictures. It can be a very easy tool for messaging, but it is far more safe and clean than WeChat. In short, Twitter should be seen as a better alternative to WeChat to track news and exchange thoughts with friends and followers.
Install: iOS and Android (Free)
Bonus: iMessage
Due mainly to the deep integration with iDevices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac and Apple’s trusted privacy policy, iMessage Presents a seamless messaging experience. So, Packed with a wide range of cool features like Animoji, Memoji, and messaging effects, the app is entertaining to use. Though Add to that a massive iMessage App Store to let users download and install iMessage games & apps, as well as the most secure mobile payment system called Apple Pay, and it stands out as an excellent substitute for WeChat.
One of my favourite features of Apple’s Messaging app is managing messages using pretty, smooth gestures. It makes managing messages dead simple. Also, the ability to hide alerts from those who keep sending annoying messages has always been one of my top picks. Well, The only downside of iMessage (as you already know) is that it is designed to play within the Apple ecosystem. However, if you can live inside this local but exceptionally safe ecosystem, you would relish every bit of the blue bubbles!
Comes Built In
Also, Check :
Top WeChat Alternatives for iPhone & Android
Those are the best applications that can compete with WeChat. A range of applications will leave Tencent’s offer behind with a wide variety of features and popularity. By the way, which of the above apps will be your substitute? We will be pleased to know your preference in the following comments. Spill some beans about the apps in this lineup that merit mention.
