There’s all this talk about the new WhatsApp Privacy Update in town and to be very clear, the talks clearly indicate that people are not liking the new WhatsApp Privacy Update. A lot of people are even searching for some other WhatsApp alternatives.
In this article, we are going to list down some of the best WhatsApp alternatives that you can use or at least start using and get your hands on some other IM app so that you aren’t completely dependent on WhatsApp.
What’s the Whole Thing with the New WhatsApp Privacy Update?
You see WhatsApp has been under the radar ever since it’s bought by Facebook. To make it clear, WhatsApp has always shared data with Facebook, but they are rude about it this time.
WhatsApp users got in-app notifications a few days ago about the new privacy update and it simply said that this new privacy update will come into play from 8, February 2021 and those who do not like it can simply delete their WhatsApp account. Quite rude, right? Coz earlier users had the option to not share some data with Facebook.
Now let us see what data WhatsApp actually collects:
- Phone Model
- OS
- Battery Status
- WhatsApp Usage
- Payments and Transactions
- Status Updates
- Profile Pictures
- IP Address
- About Info
- Group Details
- Time Zone
- Signal Strength
That’s a lot, right? Well, a lot of other app does collect the same data too but the thing is that WhatsApp has been implementing a lot of changes, some good, and some bad. And because it has this monopoly in our country, we are totally dependent on it for messaging. Being overly dependent on an app isn’t good and you should always have some substitutes for the app and that is why we are bringing you the best WhatsApp alternatives.
Best WhatsApp Alternatives
Signal
Signal is one of the best WhatsApp alternatives as it is very strongly encrypted, and it is available for both Android and iOS. The messenger app is very simple to use and fun. It has voice and video calling like WhatsApp, additionally, you can also run it on your computer.
- End-to-end Encryption
- Voice and Video Calling
- Cross-Platform Support
- Open Source and Free
- No data is saved
- No support for animated emoticons.
Telegram
In India, Telegram is easily the biggest competitor of WhatsApp. In terms of features, it is just mind-blowing, and it has all the features like WhatsApp and even better ones too except it does not have video calling.
Read: WhatsApp vs Telegram | Best IM Available
- Channels/Bots,
- Send Long Files Easily
- Custom proxy using client apps
- Multi-device support
- Groups and Channels with huge members capability
- Encryption is turned off by default and needs to be turned on.
Discord
Discord has evolved a lot from just being a platform for gaming streamers. Discord has so many features and you can add bots to manage pretty much everything, it also has a DM feature. You can do voice calls, video calls, send images, and do a lot more.
- Integrations from YouTube, Spotify, and other Platforms
- Streaming Features
- Different servers for different purposes (can be created by users)
- No limit on the number of members per server
- Not so User Friendly
Skype
Microsoft’s Skype is one of the best business-oriented chatting apps that are available right now. If voice and video calling is your thing, this is a must-have app for you. So go ahead and try Skype if you haven’t already.
- Easy for People in Business,
- Great in design and UX
- Tons of features like Video Conferencing up to 100 people
- Great Voice and Video Calling Quality
- As a personal chatting app, it needs improvement.
Viber
Viber is another app that is pretty much like WhatsApp in terms of features. It has end-to-end encryption, voice, and video calls. Its Viber Out feature lets you make international calls even to non-Viber users at very ordinary rates.
- Cross-Platform Support,
- Viber Out Feature.
- No option for Call Blocking.
Hike
The hike is one of the fastest-growing Indian messaging apps. You get a hidden mode, Live filters, a Timeline feature, Hike Direct, and a lot of other cool features as well.
- Stickers,
- Hidden Mode,
- Hike Direct.
- Security Issues.
Line
Line is another great messaging app and has a lot of features similar to Hike. You get the voice calling feature and some other cool features like Timeline, the option to follow popular companies/brands.
- Timeline Feature,
- Voice Calling.
- Sloppy to use.
Wire
Wire is also one of the safest and best WhatsApp alternatives on the list, It has comes with a free personal account and business plans as well. You get options like group screen sharing, multimedia files sharing, audio filtering.
- Secure,
- Can be used on 8 devices at once.
- Paid App
Snapchat
Snapchat is another great alternative for WhatsApp. You have a DM feature and you can do all sorts of gimmicks with your friends using Snapchat. It is more of a social media app and if you are just looking to chat with someone, this should work.
- Very Interactive,
- Options to Customize Images
- Non-Professional,
- Can’t Send Documents.
Closing Phrase
This was the list of the best WhatsApp alternatives that are available in town. Do try them, find the one that suits you and try to convince your contacts to use it too so that in the time of crisis you are not stranded.
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