So, here is the list of the top 10 free chat apps. Our research involved analyzing every app based on security features, maximum possible group chat size, availability on different platforms, and more.
Best FREE Chat Apps
1) Telegram – Best for creating large group chats
Telegram is one of the best free chat apps with a cross-platform, cloud-based, freemium IM service. You can personalize your chatting experience utilizing the variety of themes available in Telegram. It also enables you to delete your messages automatically with the help of self-destructing messages feature. This free chat app allows you to share your current location with your family and friends. You can use its chat locking feature to lock your chat so that nobody accesses your chat except you. You can also edit messages even after it has already been sent.
Features:
Supports advanced encryption technology to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of your chat. The Auto-Night Mode feature automatically toggles dark mode based on the time of the day. Connects to a proxy server so that it can be used in locations where it is blocked without using a VPN It features an open API and open-source code available to its users for free. End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: Yes Number of Users: 700 Million Security Features: AES and 2048-bit RSA, and E2EE Maximum Group Chat Size: 200,000
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Integration: HaasOnline, AltSignals, Element, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: Yes Pricing: Free Link: https://telegram.org/
2) Whatsapp – Best for business communication
WhatsApp is a centralized instant messaging service used on mobile devices. This free chat app offers a robust search tool to find any message easily. You can use WhatsApp to monitor all your data consumption statistics of your chats effortlessly. WhatsApp offers robust security features to ensure complete privacy and security for sharing content with full End-to-End Encryption for It allows you to share your current location with friends or family using its sharing feature. It has a configurable chat box wallpaper that lets you choose to alter a unique background for each conversation. You can use it to call your distant relatives and friends free of cost.
Features:
Communicate on any device by syncing all of your chats across devices Helps businesses provide customer support, e-commerce, and other services via WhatsApp Business. Ability to send a picture or video that can only be viewed once. Option to choose any image from the gallery’s collection as the chat screen’s background. End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 2 billion Security Features: AES-256, 2FA, and E2EE Maximum Group Chat Size: 512
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, KaiOS, Windows, macOS, and Web. Integration: Freshdesk, MightyCall, Clickatell, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: Yes Pricing: Free Link: https://www.whatsapp.com/
3) Discord – Best for building a social community
Discord is a platform for creating and chatting with a big social media community. You can create highly customizable online servers with bots to meet your needs. This free chat app allows you to connect with external networks like Reddit, Steam, etc. You can use easy-to-share invite links to join public Discord channels to communicate via chat and voice channels. Bot creators can communicate with the Discord API and maintain their bots using the discord.js tool. Developers can easily integrate their games with services with the help of the development kit feature. This free chat app improves audio output with its powerful voice processing feature.
Feature:
The server folder feature makes groups more manageable by organizing the server list. Hundreds of Discord bots are accessible, each created by the community and designed to play a specific server role. Developer mode makes obtaining each user’s message and server’s distinct multi-digit ID easy. Users can purchase a carefully selected selection of games through the service’s games storefront beta. End-to-End Encryptions: No Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Voice/Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 300 Million Security Features: 2FA, Google Authenticator, and Authy Maximum Group Chat Size: 20
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Integration: Desktop.com, Jobicy, Routee, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: Yes Pricing: Free Link: https://discord.com/
4) Messenger – Best for Socializing with your friends
Messenger is a free chat app to discover new people, start new friendships, and do official work. Businesses can use this free chat app to provide customer support, do marketing, communicate with clients, and more. The face and fingerprint unlocking feature offers proper security for its users. Its personalized stickers help to make your conversation with your friends more enjoyable. You can send and receive money securely by linking your PayPal account and debit card. Its custom reaction feature will allow you to express various reactions throughout a conversation.
Features:
This free chat app allows having Watch Party for watching films, shows, and more with friends on video calls. Messenger Rooms feature gives users a location to gather remotely, like Zoom. Offers Secret Conversation, which establishes end-to-end encryption using the Signal Protocol. On Android devices, users can use it to receive both SMS and instant messages. End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 1.3 billion Security Features: 2FA, E2EE, AES-CBC, and HMAC-SHA256 Maximum Group Chat Size: 250
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Web. Integration: Chat Plugin, Slack, Any.do, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: Yes Pricing: Free Link: https://www.messenger.com/
5) Signal – Best for having private communications
Signal is one of the best free chat apps for security and privacy. Its incognito typing feature ensures you can have private conversations without using 3rd party apps to access your texts. This free chat app provides image editing tools to add text and highlight particular parts of images, and more. You can put a timer on your messages for disappearing with the help of its disappearing messages feature. It prevents unauthorized access to your chats by providing screen lock security. You can independently verify your contact’s identities and the accuracy of the data channel.
Features:
Pin chat feature put on the top of the home screen any important chats and groups. Additional privacy protection is provided by the app’s capability to restrict screenshots. Note to Self-feature helps keep notes and real messages separate. Users can free up space with the use of a storage management tool. End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 40 million Security Features: 2FA, E2EE, Curve25519, AES-256, and HMAC-SHA256 Maximum Group Chat Size: 1000
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Integration: Element, Toolbox, FlowQuote, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: No Pricing: Free Link: https://signal.org/en/
6) WeChat – Best for using multiple mini-apps
WeChat is one of the popular mobile chat apps that offers various services apart from chatting. It allows companies to launch paid blogs and provides consumers with different content levels. The Shake feature makes it quick and easy to find new people nearby you. You can share recently saved or other user profiles, discounts, lucky money presents, etc., with your friends. This free voice and video chat app can browse your social network’s content with the help of its search engine feature. It provides basic mini-apps for your needs ensuring you don’t need to install separate apps for each use case. You can create official accounts that can be used as a platform for services like pre-registering medical procedures, renewing visas, or using credit cards.
Features:
Built-in wallet provides effortless payments anywhere and everywhere. You can use Bluetooth to share contacts with local neighbors. Businesses can use the WeChat Store to interact with customers and provide customer support. WeChat Work tool is designed specifically for internal company communication. Allows users to recall and remove information that was sent within 2 minutes of a chat. End-to-End Encryptions: No Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 1.24 billion Security Features: AES-256 and 2FA Maximum Group Chat Size: 100
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Web Integration: Freshdesk, UseResponse, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: No Pricing: Free Link: https://www.wechat.com/
7) Snapchat – Best for creating social content
Snapchat is a multimedia instant messaging app that is best for making snaps(Short images or videos). It is built to have pictures and texts accessible only for a short time. You can locate new friends by selecting a location on a map through the Snap Map feature. Its Discover feature helps you to explore new public user accounts around you. You can use the post-view emoji option to show various emojis to people after they have seen their photographs.
Features:
Users can share their most recent Snap in a story format that lasts almost 24 hours. The face filter feature enables users to alter the look of their faces. Builds digital advertising in the app with the help of the ads feature, which enhances marketing. Priority story replies feature to increase the visibility of user comments to celebrities and influencers. End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: No Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 332 Million Security Features: 2FA, AES-CBC, E2EE, SSL, and TSL Maximum Group Chat Size: 100
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, and Web Integration: Triple Whale, Improvado, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: No Pricing: Free Link: https://www.snapchat.com/
8) Viber – Best for Creating custom stickers
Viber is a social media platform known for communicating with customizable stickers. You can conceal your internet presence for at least 24 hours. It is one of the free chat apps that allows you to browse the media you sent or received on the app. This free chat app has public communities of brands and celebrities that you can join to discover and chat with like-minded people. Using its Open secret chat option, you can switch between typical and secret chats. The doodling feature allows you to edit and display your creativity with photographs.
Features:
Creating custom stickers allows users to customize existing stickers and create new ones Provides feature to switch between multiple conversations effortlessly Open conversation gallery features to find pictures and videos of users when they were chatting with their friends End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 260 Million Security Features: 2FA, E2EE, and Salsa20 Maximum Group Chat Size: 250
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Integration: iPaper, UseResponse, XCALLY, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: No Pricing: Free Link: https://www.viber.com/en/
9) LINE – Best for Chatting with non-Line users
LINE is one of the best free chat apps with robust features to find, discover, and chat with people. You can quickly find and chat with the nearby person through the “Shake to Add” feature. With the home tab feature, you can rapidly access stickers, services, and many other things. It automatically blocks unwanted individuals and businesses from adding you to their group chats. It provides a wide range of content you can enjoy through LINE TV for on-demand videos, LINE Manga, and LINE Webtoon for digital comics. The LINE OUT feature helps you to connect with the people who don’t use the LINE app. It provides many features, such as LINE Pay for payments, LINE Today for news feeds, etc.
Features:
You can create messages that vanish after a predetermined period. Allows businesses, news organizations, and newspapers to offer an official channel for their content. Users can contact medical specialists in an emergency with the help of the Line Health Care service. Official Account users have the option to make publicly accessible offer coupons. End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 224 Million Security Features: 2FA, E2EE, and AES Maximum Group Chat Size: 500
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Integration: Salesforce, Hubspot CRM, XNSPY, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: No Pricing: Free Link: https://line.me/en/
10) Skype – Best for video call meetings
Skype is a unique video and voice chat app run by Skype Technologies, a Microsoft subsidiary. It provides a real-time translation feature to translate languages with friends and clients during chat, calls, and video messaging. It allows you to take calls placed to a nearby Skype phone number by regular phone subscribers on your computers. Meet Now feature lets you start a video call and chat without creating an account. This free app provides advanced messaging features that instantly allow you to react to conversations. The Whiteboard feature provides you with many drawing tools such as a laser pointer, pen, highlighter, eraser, etc.
Features:
Keeps users’ past instant messages on their local computer and in the cloud at Skype for 30 days. Skype To Go number features allow users to call foreign phone numbers from any landline or mobile device. Live subtitles feature allows users to read the text of what other meeting participants are saying on screen. End-to-End Encryptions: Yes Send/Accept Files: Yes Group Chat: Yes Video Chat: Yes Number of Users: 4 Billion Security Features: AES-256, 2048-bit RSA, and E2EE Maximum Group Chat Size: 600
Key Specs:
Platform Supported: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Integration: Pexip, Kudos, OnePageCRM, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: Yes Pricing: Free Link: https://www.skype.com/en/
FAQs
❓ What are the best Free Chat Apps?
Here are the best Free Chat Apps are:
Telegram Whatsapp Discord Messenger Signal
🏅 What to look for while choosing a chatting app?
Here are some Important things that you must check in a chatting app:
Platform Support: ideal messaging apps must be available on many platforms because today’s individuals use different kinds of devices with other operating systems Security Features: Privacy is essential for anyone who uses a chat app. So, a chat app must have security like E2EE, 2FA, AES, RSA, etc. File Sharing Options: Best chatting must share Files like PDF, Mp3 files, Videos, Images, etc. Multi-Device Syncing: It is one of the essential features that chat apps must have because it gives users the flexibility to use their account on multiple- devices anytime.
⚡ Why are Free Chat Apps beneficial?
Free messaging apps allow you to communicate easily with others, share files, create social groups, and much more. These apps play a significant role in people’s lives in building a social media community because these free chat apps are readily available to anyone.
