In today’s fast-paced world, communication platforms have become essential. Everyone wants the best chatting apps to stay connected with their loved ones. As technology advances, the ways we communicate with family, friends, and others continue to evolve, offering more convenience and versatility.
In India, over 400 million users are actively engaging with messaging apps daily, a number that’s projected to keep rising. Whether you’re catching up with family, organizing a group hangout, or sending a quick voice note, messaging platforms have become a vital part of everyday life.
Let us take a look at the 7 Best Chatting Apps in India that are perfect for staying connected, wherever you are!
Best Online Chatting Apps in India 2024
Online chatting apps work as a communication bridge between the sender and the receiver. The apps help users interact through messages followed by other features. Let’s explore more about the best free chat apps.
1. Whatsapp
WhatsApp is one of the most popular chatting apps in India, known for its simplicity and ease of use. It lets you send text messages, voice notes, photos, and videos to your contacts instantly. You can also make voice and video calls, either one-on-one or in groups, which is great for staying connected with friends and family.
WhatsApp also offers features like creating group chats, sharing your live location, and sending documents. The best part is that it works on Wi-Fi or mobile data, so you can chat from almost anywhere!
Features
- WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption and privacy control options, such as Who can see your About, profile photo, and last seen.
- WhatsApp has a feature for disappearing messages. Users can set a timer to have their messages disappear automatically.
- Users can experience group video or voice calls, including up to 8 people.
- The app helps users see the activity status of their contacts, such as when typing online and offline.
- Users can check the delivery status of their messages sent, delivered, and read.
- Business users can avail of various features like automatic greeting messages, prompt replies, and catalogs.
- Users can follow different public channels and create their own through one of the best chatting apps.
- The app offers various stickers, GIFs, and emojis to the users.
- The Meta AI feature available in WhatsApp helps users enhance their chats and knowledge.
- Users can update their status using the status feature of WhatsApp.
Drawbacks
- Users reported that WhatsApp is addictive and distracts them a ton.
- Some users complain that WhatsApp backup lacks encryption and is prone to misinformation.
- Users reported that WhatsApp never works offline and requires an internet connection.
App Available on- Android and iOS
2. Telegram
Telegram is one of the best free chat apps that allows users to communicate with other users through messages, video calls, and more. You can send messages, photos, videos, and large files quickly and easily. One of its standout features is the ability to create large group chats with up to 200,000 members, making it great for communities and organizations.
It also offers channels where you can broadcast messages to a large audience. Telegram focuses on privacy with secret chats and end-to-end encryption. Plus, it’s cloud-based, so you can access your chats from multiple devices without losing any data!
Features
- The best chatting app allows users to make group calls on an intuitive interface.
- Users can sync the data using the multi-platform app.
- Users can share photos, files, and videos through one of the best chatting apps.
Drawbacks
- There is no end-to-end encryption enabled by default in the app.
- The users reported a risk to their data using Telegram as it offers cloud-based storage.
Apps Available on- Android and iOS
3. Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is one of the widely used free chatting apps that connects you with friends and family on Facebook. You can send text messages, voice notes, photos, and videos, as well as make voice and video calls for free. It also allows you to create group chats, making it easy to keep in touch with multiple people at once.
It has fun features like sending stickers, GIFs, and even playing games with friends within the app. It’s user-friendly and works across different devices, so you can stay connected whether you’re on your phone or computer.
Features
- The app allows users to enjoy text messaging, video and voice calls, file sharing, group chats, sticker and emoji sharing, and more.
- The best chatting app can be accessed on multiple devices like web, mobile, and desktop.
- The app’s integrations and bots allow users to interact with services, third-party apps, and businesses.
Drawbacks
- Users complain that the app has optional end-to-end encryption.
- Users reported that there is a limit on message forwarding. Users can forward messages to only 5 chats at a time.
- The app lacks privacy as Facebook monitors messages and uses them to offer services. Facebook also imposes limitations to protect users.
App Available on- Android and iOS
4. Skype
Skype is the best live video chat app and a platform that allows users to have video conferencing and instant messaging and communicate with groups and individuals. Installing the best video chat app, users can experience high-definition video calls, voice calls, text-based messaging, screen sharing, and file sharing.
Skype is great for both personal and professional use, as it supports group video calls with up to 100 participants. You can also make international calls to landlines and mobile phones at low rates. Skype works on multiple devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers, making it easy to stay connected with loved ones anywhere in the world.
Features
- Skype can be accessed on multiple mobile, desktop, and web devices.
- Users can engage in video calls, voice calls, and messaging.
- The best video chat app offers call recording options for the users.
- Skype offers real-time captions and subtitles for accessibility.
- The app integrates with Microsoft services, including Outlook, Office and other Microsoft tools.
Drawbacks
- Users reported that Skype has a limit on group calls. Users can connect with only 50 participants simultaneously in a group call.
- End-to-end encryption is missing in the app.
- Users complain about having a mandatory Microsoft account to access Skype.
- Users reported the freezing up of Skype accounts and video disturbances.
- Users reported that the app could be more user-friendly.
App Available on- Android and iOS
5. Viber
Viber is one of the best chatting apps, followed by a Voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) app that allows users to communicate with groups and individuals. One of its key features is end-to-end encryption, which keeps your conversations private and secure. You can also create group chats and make group video calls with up to 20 people. Viber offers fun extras like stickers and GIFs to make your chats more lively.
Additionally, it has a feature called Viber Out, which lets you make low-cost international calls to people who don’t use the app. It’s a great option for staying in touch with friends and family, both locally and internationally.
Features
- The best chatting app is end-to-end encrypted and secure for users.
- Users can access Viber through mobile, desktop, and web.
- There are fun stickers and emojis available within the app.
- Users can follow public accounts, figures and brands through the Viber app.
Drawbacks
- Users reported that there is no cloud storage available within the app.
- Users complain about the ads that appear after the video calls.
- Users reported that the app becomes unusable after updates.
- The users complain about the restriction on file sharing in the Viber app.
- Some users reported that they cannot participate in public chats and only watch them.
App Available on- Android and iOS
6. Snapchat
Snapchat is the best chatting app in India that offers users a platform to send and receive “ephemeral” content, meaning the content disappears after it is viewed or after a set time. Users can share videos, photos or snaps, text messages, and stories through the best chatting app
Besides chatting, it offers features like Stories, where you can share updates with friends for 24 hours, and Snap Map, which lets you see where your friends are on a map. It’s a playful way to stay connected with friends while sharing moments in a creative way!
Features
- The app offers disappearing snaps features that allow the snaps or other content to disappear automatically after being viewed.
- The stories are available for friends to be seen for 24 hours.
- The app offers AR or Augmented Reality effects for the snaps.
- Snapchat offers a ” Discover ” feature that allows users to view content from creators, brands, and publishers.
Drawbacks
- Users reported that Snapchat’s selfie filters can cause mental issues, including self-shaming, anxiety, and body image concerns.
- Users complain about Snapchat’s disappearing features that can result in cyberbullying.
- Some users complain that the app can easily connect them to strangers.
- The users reported about the risk of data privacy in the app.
- The users complain that the app can allow strangers to access the user’s location.
App Available on- Android and iOS
7. Signal
Signal is the best chatting app for users to experience free, end-to-end encrypted, open-source messaging. The best app allows users to send and receive text messages, files and media, group messages, and voice and video calls. It is well-known for its excellent privacy and security.
Signal also offers disappearing messages, which automatically delete after a set time. It’s simple to use and has no ads or trackers, making it a great choice for those who prioritize security while staying connected with friends and family.
Features
- The app is completely secure, as the sender and receiver can only view and read the content sent and received.
- The voice and video calls follow secrecy.
- The app’s code is verifiable and transparent to the users.
- The app doesn’t contain ads, and it doesn’t collect any user data.
- The app is available for multiple platforms like desktop and mobile devices.
- The users can set messages to delete after a set time.
- The best chatting app helps users by preventing screenshots of messages.
- The users can control group permissions and memberships.
Drawbacks
- Users reported that the app has a smaller user base than other chatting apps.
- Users complain that the app has a limited file size and doesn’t support large transfers.
- Users reported that iOS has no web version.
App Available on- Android and iOS
Conclusion
In a world where staying connected is more important than ever, these 7 best chatting apps—WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Viber, Snapchat, and Signal—offer a range of features to keep you in touch with your loved ones.
Whether you prioritize privacy, video calls, group chats, or fun messaging options, there’s an app for everyone. Each app brings something unique to the table, making it easier to find one that suits your needs.
So, pick the one that works best for you and never miss a moment with your family and friends!
Recommended Articles
Best Shopify Apps to Skyrocket Your Online Store
Best Yoga Apps for a Holistic Fitness Journey
FAQs: Best Chatting Apps
Q. Which app is best for secret chatting?
A. Signal is the best for secret chatting due to its strong end-to-end encryption and privacy-focused features, ensuring your conversations remain private.
Q. Who is the best chat app?
A. WhatsApp is widely considered the best chat app due to its large user base, ease of use, and versatile features like text messaging, voice and video calls, and media sharing.
Q. Which app is safe for private chat?
A. Signal is highly recommended for private chats as it offers robust encryption and privacy protections, keeping your messages secure from unauthorized access.
Q. Which app is free for chatting?
A. WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber all offer free chatting services, allowing you to send messages, make calls, and share media without any cost.
Q. What is the most popular chatting app?
A. WhatsApp is the most popular chatting app globally, with over 2 billion users, making it a top choice for messaging and staying connected.
