What are the best messaging apps for iOS?

Pro
End to end encryption in all messages and calls based on Signal protocol.

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Pro
Straightforward interface

The interface is very simple, fast and easy to use. WhatsApp does a great job of focusing on the basics behind messaging. The app is simple to use, fast & very polished. You can start using it as soon as the app has been downloaded - it does not require setting anything up or registering. You...

Pro
Hugely popular

WhatsApp reported 800 million users in April, 2015. Your friends are most likely already using WhatsApp, so it's easy to get setup.

Con
Not a multi device app

No support for the iPad, the app has support for possibly all Android tablets but only the iPhone on the iOS platform can install WhatsApp.

score 9 · Answer 2

#2

iMessage

The built-in iOS Messages app

Pro
Friends don't need to "sign up"

You can just message them using their existing phone number or Apple ID and they will get your message.

Pro
Clean UI

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Con
Not cross-platform

iMessage is not available on anything but Apple devices.

score 13 · Answer 3

#3

Telegram

Pro
Beautiful UI

Very customizable with a lot of clean looking options.

Pro
Desktop app without need of mobile device

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Con
Only "Secret Chat" messages are encrypted end to end

The only way to get end to end encryption using Telegram is to use the Secret Chat function, anything through the service is not encrypted.

Con
MTProto encryption protocol may not be secure

Reasons are outlined here

score 13 · Answer 4

#4

Hangouts

Google Hangouts is an instant messaging and video chat platform.

Pro
Group video support

If you have signed in your Google account, Hangouts allows making video calls with up to 10 people or one-on-one if you haven't. There are business, education and government solutions that increase the participant count to for video calls to 15 and offers support. Additionally, you can switch...

Pro
No need to create a separate account if you use any other Google service

Hangouts uses Google account credentials. If you use any other Google service, then you already have an account set up.

Con
Lack of end to end encryption

Communications are encrypted between client and Google servers but not from sending client to receiving client. This means that there is still a possibility for someone other than the receiver to read your message if they have access to internal Google servers. But it allows also lightweight chat...

Con
Doesn't support sending voice notes or video recordings

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score 12 · Answer 5

#5

Messenger

Messenger is an instant messaging service and software application which provides text and voice communication.

Pro
Uses Facebook friends to create a contacts list

Allows communicating with anyone who's a friend on Facebook.

Pro
Great UI

User interface of the application is clean, intuitive and easy to overview.

Con
Lack of privacy

Messenger is owned by Facebook. Based on their privacy policy, this means that any information you provide (including messages sent) are used by Facebook to profile you and sell access to your data to advertisers.

Comments

1

Con
Lack of end-to-end encryption

Secret (end-to-end encrypted) chats are only supported in one-to-one messages, and are not enabled by default, and the encryption has not been verified independently.

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score 7 · Answer 6

#6

Snapchat

Snapchat is a photo, video and text messaging application that deletes messages after they've been viewed.

Pro
Allows sharing photos, videos and texts that self-destruct

All Snapchat communications disappear after they've been viewed. It creates more interesting conversation when you don't have to worry about consequences as much. Additionally you can doodle on photos.

Pro
Includes news

Snapchat includes a Discover page (accessed by two swipes from the right side) where curated list of news and entertainment outlets can put up news from their sites.

Con
Security concerns

In 2013, Snapchat was hacked. As a result phone numbers and usernames of 4.6 million users were published online. That happened after concerns were raised by a security firm weeks before that Snapchat dismissed. Other security concerns were pointed out to Snapchat throughout 2014 including ways th...

Con
Non-intuitive UI

The UI space is well used but you'll likely miss a few messages until you understand of the UI works; it's not like the average mobile apps.

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score 6 · Answer 7

#7

Skype

Skype is a freemium voice-over-IP service and instant messaging client.

Pro
Combines cellular and data messaging

You can buy Skype Credit or sign up for a subscription to make calls and send SMS at a reduced price.

Pro
Video calls

One-to-one Skype-to-Skype video calls can be made over Wi-Fi or cellular networks. You can also join ongoing group video calls with audio only, but cannot initiate group video from your iOS device.

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Know any negative aspects of this option?

score 5 · Answer 8

#8

Viber

Viber is a proprietary cross-platform IM & VoIP application.

Pro
Desktop apps allow texting, calling and enable transfering calls

Viber has native apps for both Windows and Mac that allow you to send and receive messages from your desktop. You can also use the desktop to make and receive calls. Synchronizes between all devices you are using Viber on. Allows transferring calls between devices.

Pro
See who of your contacts is using Viber quickly

Viber is tied to your phone number so it can quickly see who else in your contacts list is using the application.

Con
Has multiple a security vulnerabilities

EFF gave Viber's security 1 out of 7 points in November, 2014. It deducted points because the provider is capable of reading encrypted messages, there's no way to verify contacts identities, past communications are not secure if encryption keys are stolen, the code is not open to independe...

Con
Potential spyware

Viber communication's aren't end-to-end encrypted. The company has access to the key that the communication's are encrypted with.

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score 2 · Answer 9

#9

WeChat

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Pro
Can be used as a Walkie Talkie

WeChat has push-to-talk functionality that can be used both one-on-one and in groups.

Pro
Friends can be added by scanning a QR code

WeChat generates a QR code for each user that other can be scanned to add them as a friend.

Con
Conversations and chat groups aren't ported to new devices

Messages are stored on each device, so shifting to a new device means losing all the previous conversations, as well as an inability to post in previous chat groups until someone else posts there and you're alerted of a new message.

Con
Notifications get muted after inactivity

New message notifications stop getting pushed if the application isn't opened for some extended period of time (seems to be around a week or so)

Comments

5

score 2 · Answer 10

#10

Line

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Pro
Enormous, constantly updated stamp collection

Since many brands use stamps for promotional purposes, everything from movies to food brands to Taylor Swift have released stamp collections.

Pro
Photo filter and editing capabilities

Users have in-app editing tools, as well as Line's separate camera application, which has additional tools.

Con
Account is locked to the Phone Number & Device

The entire account is locked to the phone number, which cannot be changed. If the application is installed on a new device with the same phone number, the previous account data will be wiped.

Con
Users have been concentrated in Japan

Of the 360+ million registered users, the top country is Japan (50 million). Thailand and Indonesia are 2nd and 3rd with 33 and 30 million, respectively, with very small market penetration in the US (10 million, 11th place).

score 2 · Answer 11

#11

Vine Messages

Pro
Can communicate outside of Vine

You can send messages to people outside of Vine.

Pro
Video tools

Vine can capture a video for you and has a grid to help line up shots.

Con
Can't share images or videos from camera roll

Con
No group messaging

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score 1 · Answer 12

#12

Wire

Pro
Slick and elegant design

Pro
Protected by Swiss privacy laws

Same privacy laws that keep banks private.

Comments

3

Con
Lacks audience

View Details See 1 more Pro

score 1 · Answer 13

#13

Allo

Pro
Persists history

Your chat history is persisted by default (you can send incognito end-to-end encrypted self-destructing messages instead if you so desire).

Pro
Allows self-destructing messages

You can send messages that will be removed from both parties after a defined period of time.

Con
Not yet released (should release in summer 2016)

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score 1 · Answer 14

#14

StealthChat

Pro
Offers 3 types of encryption

The app claims to be the only communication app that encrypts data in transit, on disk and on screen. Encryption in transit is used to make sure no-one can listen in on your conversations even if the traffic is going through their servers, encryption on disk is used to make sure that even if someo...

Pro
Can send self-destructing messages

Messages can be set to self-destruct after a set time.

Con
Lacks group chat

Con
Code is not verified

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score 1 · Answer 15

#15

Nimbuzz Messenger

Nimbuzz is a proprietary cross-platform instant messaging aggregator and social media platform.

Pro
Regular calls

You can buy Nimbuzz Credit and make calls at a reduced price.

Pro
Chat rooms

Nimbuzz has public chat rooms that can be created or accessed by anyone.

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score 1 · Answer 16

#16

Instagram Direct

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Pro
Video & photo messages

Photos have to be cropped to be square.

Pro
Filters

That can be applied to photos and videos.

Con
Walled garden

Can't communicate with people outside of Instagram.

score 1 · Answer 17

#17

Trillian

Pro
In-house server support

You can set up a dedicated server to hold your communications. Great for businesses that want to build their own infrastructure.

Pro
Multiple networks in one place

Among them Yahoo!, Facebook, Skype, Google, AIM, ICQ, XMPP, MSN. You can have multiple accounts associated with each service.

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Answer 18

#18

Bolt

View Details See 2 more Pros & Cons

Pro
One-to-one conversations increase chance of feedback

Limiting conversations to only two parties increases the likelihood of getting a response.

Pro
One tap photo and video sharing

Tap a contact to take a picture, tap and hold a contact to record video. Tapping the screen will allow you to add text to photos and videos just taken.

Con
Only available in select countries

Bolt is limited to New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.

Con
No groups

Bolt only allows one-to-one communications.

Answer 19

#19

Verbs

If you want a simple app that does the core IM experience incredibly well with a beautiful UI Verbs is for you. Verbs has a universal app for both iPad and iPhone and can be pur...

Pro
Can send chat logs via email

Pro
Minimalist approach and a beautiful interface

Verbs distinguishes itself from the competition with a minimalist approach to IM and a beautiful interface.

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Answer 20

#20

IMO

IMO is a IM app for both iPad and iPhone that sports a fast and simple interface, voice messaging and support for the majority of clients. IMO is the highest rated app in the App

Pro
Beautiful user interface

Although IMO has a comparable, and in some cases superior, feature set when compared to the competition its key selling point is its interface. IMO also has a fully functional website that you can use for chat while on your desktop or laptop. This really puts IMO ahead of the competition as you c...

Pro
Video call support