{"id":20036,"date":"2023-03-23T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T10:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=20036"},"modified":"2025-10-29T19:29:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T19:29:44","slug":"messaging-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/messaging-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Messaging Apps and How to Choose the Right One for You"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Brief overview:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#messaging-app\">What is a messaging app?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#advantages-of-messaging-app\">Advantages of using a messaging app<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#essential-features-of-a-messaging-app\">4 essential features of a great messaging app<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#brief-overview\">A brief review of the best messaging apps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#10-best-messaging-apps\">10 best messaging apps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#choosing-the-best-messaging-app\">Choosing the best messaging app for your business<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Messaging apps are an integral part of our lives. They\u2019ve become yet more pervasive during global lockdowns, as we form communities online and keep up with friends and family over the internet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While we\u2019re accustomed to using messaging apps in our private lives, they\u2019re taking off in workplaces too. Separated colleagues use them for catch-ups and meetings, and some businesses are even employing them as project management tools.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"messaging-app\"><strong>What is a messaging app?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A messaging app is a platform that allows the user to send and receive messages in real-time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While traditional text messages require a mobile network, instant messaging apps function over the internet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019ve been around a while &#8211; think back to MSN and AIM. But nowadays, these apps are available across iPhone, Android, PCs, often don\u2019t require a phone number, and support some standout features beyond simple emojis.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"advantages-of-messaging-app\"><strong>Advantages of using a messaging app\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because they work through internet connections, messaging apps can be accessed from anywhere a user has access to the net &#8211; <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and given the prevalence of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wi-Fi <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and 4G, that&#8217;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s about anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than just SMS, they can be used to maintain contact over long distances with friends or colleagues, sending life updates or just silly gifs to lighten the mood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chat apps can be useful for brands, offering a brilliant place to interact with customers informally and instantly, allowing reactive customer service.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within businesses, they can boost productivity. No more useless meetings &#8211; send a quick message update!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Apple and Android phones boast great in-house messaging apps, but there are so many options that branch out from simple text messaging &#8211; and let you communicate from multiple devices, even PCs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-20039 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Businessman-using-mobile-messaing-app-in-the-office-with-feet-on-the-table-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Businessman using mobile messaging app in the office with feet on the radiator\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Businessman-using-mobile-messaing-app-in-the-office-with-feet-on-the-table-scaled.jpg 2048w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Businessman-using-mobile-messaing-app-in-the-office-with-feet-on-the-table-300x200.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Businessman-using-mobile-messaing-app-in-the-office-with-feet-on-the-table-640x427.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Businessman-using-mobile-messaing-app-in-the-office-with-feet-on-the-table-768x512.jpg 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Businessman-using-mobile-messaing-app-in-the-office-with-feet-on-the-table-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"essential-features-of-a-messaging-app\"><strong>4 essential features of a great messaging app<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to choose the right chat app, and some features distinguish the great from the average.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Seamless syncing &amp; multiple devices<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s common to use multiple devices, so a messaging app must sync seamlessly with the cloud and other apps you might be using. This allows users to switch devices easily without losing any information.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Chatbot integration<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><strong><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/the-rise-of-chatbots\/\">rise of chatbots<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in chat apps enhances the functionality and, therefore, the <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/definitive-guide-customer-experience\/\">customer experience<\/a>. For example, bots can communicate directly with your customer base at all hours, accessing company information to answer queries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Security<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, there\u2019s a focus on security &#8211; look for encrypted messaging apps so users can be sure their data is safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Other communication features<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We also love apps that offer multiple modes of communication: it\u2019s much easier to keep all communication on one platform, rather than downloading one for video calling, another for team messaging, file sharing, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"brief-overview-\"><b>A brief review of the best messaging apps<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<table id=\"tablepress-10\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-10\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Messaging Apps<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Supported Platforms<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Pricing<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Voice Chat<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">Video Chat<\/th><th class=\"column-6\">Group Chat<\/th><th class=\"column-7\">End-to-End Encryption<\/th><th class=\"column-8\">Share &amp; Receive files<\/th><th class=\"column-9\">Popular in Country<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#ringcentral\">RingCentral<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.ringcentral.com\/network-and-system-requirements\/system-requirements\/system-requirements-ringcentral-app-desktop-and-web.html#:~:text=The%20RingCentral%20app%20is%20available,mobile%20(Android%20and%20iOS).\">Desktop, web, and mobile (Android and iOS)<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Try the app for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/office\/plansandpricing.html\">free<\/a> before committing to a plan that suits your budget.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">Yes \u2013 plus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/dynamic-end-to-end-encryption\/\">dynamic end-to-end encryption.<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">Supports communication all over the world \u2013 with offices in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Singapore, China, and the Philippines.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#facebook\">Facebook Messenger<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Android, iOS, Windows 10<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free other than data usage costs<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">Most popular in the USA, Canada and Australia, but used all over the world except in countries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia<br \/>\nWhere Facebook has been banned.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#viber\">Viber<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free for simple voice or video messaging, then payable premium features for landline calling or calling non-viber users.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">Most countries in eastern Europe including Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#telegram\">Telegram<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free, other than the cost of using data instead of WiFi<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">Spain, Brazil, India<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#wechat\">Wechat<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Android, iOS, Windows, macOS<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free, except when using data when not connected to WiFi.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">China and Mongolia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#kik\">Kik<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">iOS and Android<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free to download, and free to use if you\u2019re connected to WiFi<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">Canada and the USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#skype\">Skype<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free version available but with limitations.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">USA, UK, Iceland, India, Moldova, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#whatsapp\">WhatsApp<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free, other than when using data instead of WiFi<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">All around the world except for a select few who banned it in some capacity:<br \/>\nChina, North Korea, Syria, Qatar and the UAE<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#groupme\">GroupMe<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Android, iOS, and Windows,<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free except if you\u2019re using data instead of WiFi<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">Mostly used in the USA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"#slack\">Slack<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web.<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Free version of Slack available but has some limitations in terms of features.<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-7\">No<\/td><td class=\"column-8\">Yes<\/td><td class=\"column-9\">Used worldwide in more than 150 countries. <a href=\"https:\/\/techjury.net\/blog\/slack-statistics\/#gref\">Top cities to use Slack<\/a> are New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-10 from cache --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is an encrypted messaging app?<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An encrypted messaging app is an instant messaging platform that uses end-to-end encryption to protect the privacy of your messages. End-to-end encryption is a protocol that means third parties can\u2019t access or intercept your data whilst messages are in transit from one user device to another. For business users, it\u2019s becoming increasingly important to use a messaging app with end-to-end encryption, or even better,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/dynamic-end-to-end-encryption\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dynamic encryption<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for an added layer of flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"10-best-messaging-apps\"><strong>10 best messaging apps<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"ringcentral\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 1. RingCentral<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OK, we might be biased &#8211; but RingCentral offers one of the best options out there for comprehensive <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/teams\/overview.html\">business messaging<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Even more than just text messaging, RingCentral provides a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/office\/unified-communications.html\">unified communication solution<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can create dedicated threads for specific projects, allowing participants to track progress and keeping all relevant files and information in one place &#8211; no more scrambling to remember whether you talked about something over email, messenger, or text!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can produce schedules and agendas in-thread, so everybody knows what they should be working on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you work with clients, you can invite them to join group chats with you too. This makes it incredibly easy to keep them updated on the project you\u2019re working on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can choose to use the platform for internal communications or as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/contact-centre\/overview.html\">contact centre solution<\/a> for external chats with customers &#8211; video chats host up to 200 participants, making it ideal for both purposes. And what\u2019s more, you can access it from a smartphone (across iOS and Android), browser, or <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/download.html\">desktop app <\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; so you can log on wherever you are.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on which <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/office\/plansandpricing.html\">plan<\/a><\/strong> you choose, you have access to many valuable features &#8211; preventing the need to switch between multiple platforms. The most popular plan &#8211; Premium &#8211; offers the messaging feature with video calling, phone, integrations with your favourite CRM software, and a developer platform that lets you create custom applications to integrate communications yet further into your key business processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also boasts automatic call recording, voicemail-to-text, and auto-attendant services to allow you to focus on providing <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/blog\/excellent-customer-service\/\">excellent customer service<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, the top-class <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/trust-centre.html#security\"><strong>security features<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; including fraud analytics and TLS and SRTP encryption between all endpoints &#8211; mean that your data is safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Team messaging comes as part of the free Essential plan, but the<\/span> varying plans\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mean you can choose the options that work best for your company.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15942 size-full\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/how-does-ringcentral-support-paas.jpg\" alt=\"The RingCentral\u2019s app interface\" width=\"1020\" height=\"746\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/how-does-ringcentral-support-paas.jpg 1020w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/how-does-ringcentral-support-paas-300x219.jpg 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/how-does-ringcentral-support-paas-640x468.jpg 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/how-does-ringcentral-support-paas-768x562.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"facebook\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 2. Facebook Messenger<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facebook\u2019s popularity means that in-house Facebook Messenger is a solid choice for social media. You can message anybody in your network, so you can chat with acquaintances, despite not having one another\u2019s phone number.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this comes with a downside: it\u2019s a lot less slick when you try to message someone outside your network and downright impossible if someone doesn\u2019t have Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if they do have a profile? They might not want their work colleague or boss to have access to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given growing privacy concerns &#8211; and a social media malaise in general &#8211; it\u2019s not unusual to find that people have stepped away from Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maybe it\u2019s best to leave Facebook Messenger for socialising!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"viber\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 3. Viber<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Available in 41 languages, Viber has earned its global reputation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its offering has remained similar since its launch in 2012: group chats, video and voice calls are offered for free, and, like Skype, Viber offers the ability to call people who <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">don\u2019t<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> use the app for a fee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, there are secret chats: messages that self-destruct after some time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to filesharing and workplace interaction, though, Viber has its downsides. Unlike RingCentral, you can\u2019t <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>backup files<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to Google Drive or Dropbox, leading to lost information and resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One downside is that, while free, you will notice ads popping up. This won\u2019t be a big deal when using Viber socially, but it can be distracting when working &#8211; and off-putting to customers interacting with your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20040\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20040\" style=\"width: 473px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20040\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/viber-messaging-app.png\" alt=\"viber-messaging-app-784\" width=\"473\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/viber-messaging-app.png 473w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/viber-messaging-app-282x300.png 282w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20040\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viber.com\/en\/features\/\">Image source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"telegram\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 4. Telegram<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telegram prides itself on user privacy and, like RingCentral, is heavy on security features.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Featuring message encryption and messages that self-destruct, Telegram has become a gathering point for the security-conscious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of how companies use their data, so this kind of privacy is crucial and sets the bar high for other messaging services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, its focus on privacy means that it\u2019s hosted some undesirable broadcasts in the past. It might, therefore, not be the best idea to associate a business with such a controversial app.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"wechat\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 5. WeChat<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A prominent Chinese social app, WeChat boasts features that make connecting easy. It\u2019s used by many as simply a messaging app and offers the ability to \u2018meet\u2019 those nearby to chat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security concerns: the University of Toronto ran an experiment that suggests the Chinese government is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/citizenlab.ca\/2020\/05\/we-chat-they-watch\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>monitoring foreign content<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and metadata to censor material within China further.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last year, the US government requested that US-based companies stop using the app altogether to fear unwittingly sharing confidential information. Consequently, if you have any US clients or contacts, they might be unwilling to use the app entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20041\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20041\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20041\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wechat-messaging-app.png\" alt=\"wechat-messaging-app-554\" width=\"620\" height=\"1245\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wechat-messaging-app.png 620w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wechat-messaging-app-149x300.png 149w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/wechat-messaging-app-510x1024.png 510w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20041\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wechat.com\/\">Image source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"kik\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 6. Kik<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your marketing targets young people, Kik is not a bad way to go. According to the platform, the majority of their users are between 13-24.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where Snapchat, with the same demo, limits itself to images and QR codes, Kik is a more comprehensive messaging app.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vibrant stickers and emojis add some fun to the experience, while chatbots offer the ability to play games in group chats, deliver news, or even get fashion tips.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because it\u2019s designed for socialising, there isn\u2019t a heavy focus on backing up messages or documents. Everything is stored on your device &#8211; so you\u2019re one dropped phone away from losing useful information if you use it at work.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"skype\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 7. Skype<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite having been around for years, Skype\u2019s messaging features have been largely overlooked as they widely promote their video calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, it offers some good features: group chats, availability across devices, the ability to share files and pictures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a business app, it falls short: stickers and gifs don\u2019t make up for the lack of <\/span><strong><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/collaboration-software\/\">project management and scheduling tools<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leaving Skype to fall by the wayside for business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, it\u2019s free &#8211; which makes it a good option for those on a tight budget or just trying out messaging apps.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20042\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20042\" style=\"width: 477px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20042\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/skype-app-message.png\" alt=\"skype-app-message-364\" width=\"477\" height=\"792\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/skype-app-message.png 477w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/skype-app-message-181x300.png 181w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20042\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skype.com\/en\/features\/\">Image source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"whatsapp\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 8. WhatsApp<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Topping the list of <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/258749\/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps\/\">most popular messaging apps<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> globally, you\u2019ll be hard-pressed to find anybody who hasn\u2019t used WhatsApp before.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With group chat features and end-to-end encryption, it\u2019s not hard to see why WhatsApp is such a frontrunner in the social messaging sphere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, privacy concerns over increased data sharing with parent company Facebook mean that several thousands of people are ditching WhatsApp.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because of its popularity as a social app, there are inevitably active users within your company who use WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends and family.\u00a0 People are, understandably, often keen to keep their work and home lives separate, though &#8211; so using WhatsApp to communicate about work matters can feel intrusive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20043\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20043\" style=\"width: 636px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20043\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/whatsapp-app.png\" alt=\"whatsapp-app-998\" width=\"636\" height=\"1198\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/whatsapp-app.png 636w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/whatsapp-app-159x300.png 159w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/whatsapp-app-544x1024.png 544w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20043\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/features\/\">Image source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"groupme\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 9. GroupMe<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A basic instant messaging app, GroupMe is a good option for being confused by bells and whistles. It even offers the ability to group chat with people who don\u2019t have smartphones, relying on their phone\u2019s SMS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can easily send gifs, stickers, and emojis alongside your text messages, and any pictures sent are saved in an in-chat gallery so that you can find them again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It allows file sharing up to 50MB &#8211; which might not be enough if you need to send an in-depth presentation to colleagues, but plenty for cat pictures! RingCentral offers unlimited storage with its Ultimate plan and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1GB per user included in its Premium plan (with additional add-on storage purchasable).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"slack\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 10. Slack<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slack has seen success as a business tool. It\u2019s intuitive, so anyone who\u2019s not digitally savvy should be able to keep up, and it\u2019s supported for both desktop and smartphone use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slack also supports integrations with project management apps &#8211; but doesn\u2019t provide those features itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its services are rather limited, though &#8211; it only offers calls of up to 15 participants (even on the most flexible plan).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And while you can save individual files to programs like Dropbox, there\u2019s no <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/\"><strong>automatic archiving option<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, unlike the one in RingCentral\u2019s Premium and Ultimate plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20044\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20044\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-20044\" src=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/slack-app.png\" alt=\"slack-app-879\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1030\" srcset=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/slack-app.png 1600w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/slack-app-300x193.png 300w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/slack-app-640x412.png 640w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/slack-app-768x494.png 768w, \/gb\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/slack-app-1536x989.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20044\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/slack.com\/intl\/en-gb\/features\">Image source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"choosing-the-best-messaging-app\"><strong>Choosing the best messaging app for your business<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on your organisation, there are different things to consider when choosing the best messaging app for your business. We\u2019ll explore some key considerations below.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Consider the budget<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might be happy with a basic app in exchange for a free messaging service, or you could opt for a program that offers various tiers of paid features. Either way, you\u2019ll need to know how much budget is at your disposal.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Unified communication features<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which communication channels are your employees already using? To <\/span><a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/how-get-more-communications-budget\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>get more from your communications budget<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you should employ a unified communications provider that allows you to access all the necessary features within one app &#8211; like video calls, messaging, and project management. It can even save you money if you\u2019d otherwise have been paying for multiple apps and boost your efficiency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Ease of use<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whichever app you choose, it must be easy to use for the people actually using it. Are they all digital natives, or might they be a little confused by complicated terms and unnecessary frills?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Accessible on multiple devices<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An app supported on multiple devices means that your team will be able to join the conversation wherever they are.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 Secure messaging<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security is a massive deal for businesses. You don\u2019t want competitors to have access to your business\u2019s plans and internal workings, and it\u2019s important for consumers that the brands they interact with are secure and trustworthy. This is particularly crucial if you\u2019re going to be engaging with customers within the messenger app.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you aim to replace meetings or improve your customer service, messaging apps are here to stay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing the right one for your business means you\u2019ll be able to take advantage of the features that work for you, whether that\u2019s chatbots or project scheduling tools.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you need more information on RingCentral\u2019s messaging features, <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/gb\/en\/whyringcentral\/contactus.html\">get in touch<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brief overview: What is a messaging app? Advantages of using a messaging app 4 essential features of a great messaging app A brief review of the best messaging apps 10 &hellip; <a href=\"\/gb\/en\/blog\/messaging-apps\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;10 Best Messaging Apps and How to Choose the Right One for You&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":244,"featured_media":20038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-use-case.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>10 Best Secure Messaging Apps and How to Choose the Right One for You | RingCentral UK Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Depending on your organisation, there are different things to consider when choosing the best messaging app for your business. 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