Comparison of mobile chatting applications

Chatting applications available for free or at nominal charge in comparison to SMS tariffs have grown exponentially in the messaging market. These apps have share of both texting and social networking, making easy transfer of videos, music, photographs, voice/video calls over simple data plans of your internet. Here, we introduce to you our analysis of options with regards to Chatting Applications that are available free or on nominal charges and are popular in the marketplace:

Whatsapp:

Available for all major OS, this app is the world’s most popular Chatting application. With over 300 million people using it, it became most engaging apps in 2012 (Neilsen India consumer rankings). This app uses 3G or WI-fi to send and receive messages, pictures, audios etc. It allows group chats and doesn’t cost you extra if you go for international messages. It’s simplicity attracted older strata of consumers too. This app is free of cost for the first year for most of the OS and cost $0.99/year after that. It supports a wide range of phone. Our Verdict: It is one of the Must have Chatting application.

Blackberry Messenger (BBM):

Recently launched for IOS and Android, BBM is the original mobile chatting application that was restricted to blackberry users till 3 days ago. This app in comparison to other chat apps are fairly basic in comparison. Users can chat individually or in a group and receive a specific profile, it comes out as merely a way to unite people than showing results of latest technology. Our Verdict: BBM was a game changer few years ago, but nowadays it is rather average in comparison with other chatting applications.

Google Hangout:

Available foriOS , Android and desktop, it includes video & voice calling and Instant messaging (IMs). Even though text service is quite basic, it is advantageous for those people who wants to do group video calls for free. But as a coin has two sides, Google Hangout had its own share of negatives too which includes no support for online SMS yet. Our Verdict: If you are comfortable with google talk, download it to be in touch with your friends and family who own google account.

Facebook messenger:

Facebook is not unknown in this world. Available for all major OS and desktop, this chatting application is a version of Facebook messaging service. It includes chat, group chat, photo, video, sticker sharing. If your friends don’t have this app, they will receive your chats as Facebook message. Its major disadvantage include lack of video calls and games and is fairly behind other chat apps. Our Verdict: keep it as a secondary app as almost everyone you know is on Facebook.

Line:

A message service born in Japan (Korean firm) with available on major OS and desktop/tablet to 150 million users, Line offers more than messaging basics. This chatting application can be used for text messages, group chats. Sharing of photos/videos and even to play games. It is available for a fee but stickers, games and messages to favorite brands cost users extra. It supports more than 40 apps but is extremely complex for new users. Our Verdict: One of the excellent choice available for free.

We Chat:

This China made chatting application available on all major OS has been compared to Facebook and Line as it is a fair mix of text message and social networking app. It provides multimedia, group chat, voice/video calls and opt account with brands. It also includes discovery features which is becoming a new way to meet and date new people. Our Verdict: Same as of Line.

ChatOn:

Although produced by Samsung, Chat On is now available on most of the OS and desktop. Apart from usual services, it also features translation service. Korean, English, Mandarin, Japanese, French etc. can be translated into English and Vice Versa but can be confusing for new users. Our Verdict: Must have Chatting application.

Summary:

What Chatting Application do you use? And what is your opinion on the best chatting application? Do let us know.

Author: Vibhiti Bhargava