Social media has come a long way in the past few years. Today, there are apps for pretty much anything, including those like WhatsApp that let you connect with two or more people at the same time. One of the highlight features of these IM apps is that they allow large groups to talk and converse at the same time. Known as group messaging, these apps offer them by default at no cost. Given the competitive nature of the industry, there are several apps that perform a similar function.
Keeping this in mind, it’s essential to pick out the best group chat app suited for your liking. Given the crowd of apps out there, it can be quite difficult to separate the good apps from the terrible ones. So we’re going to help you out here by talking about five of the best apps that offer group messaging. It’s obvious that you might have heard of some of these apps since they’re immensely popular globally.
So let’s have a look at some of the best group messaging apps this year.
Best Group Messaging Apps
1. WhatsApp
One of the most popular apps out there and probably the best group chat app, WhatsApp Messenger has been the first choice instant messaging application for millions of users around the world. Its cross-platform nature allows for users of different mobile operating systems to come together under one app. Since its was bought by Facebook a few years ago, WhatsApp has grown exponentially in terms of marketshare, although its rise was always on the cards prior to the acquisition. Group messaging is offered here by default, and contacts are synced over phone numbers. You can sign up for WhatsApp by simply requesting a one-time password to your registered mobile number.
After this, you will find all the contacts on WhatsApp in one list directly in the app. Contacts can message you directly, or add you to groups. The admin of the group can decide who can communicate and post or lift restrictions in the process. WhatsApp Messenger is a free download on the Google Play Store.
Download it now: here
2. Telegram
Yet another popular instant messaging app, Telegram, competes directly with the likes of WhatsApp for marketshare. Although it’s nowhere nearly as well known as WhatsApp, Telegram has been around for quite some time. One of the biggest features of Telegram when it first came to the surface was the fact that all chats on the platform were end-to-end encrypted, meaning nobody can read your messages, not even Telegram. This feature has since made its way to pretty much every instant messaging app, including WhatsApp.
Telegram’s user interface is slightly different than that of WhatsApp, with the color scheme on the darker side. This can be a hit or a miss with the customers, although Telegram allows you to edit or change themes according to your liking. Groups can be created here with ease, allowing you to talk to pretty much anyone on the planet with a smartphone or a computer. Telegram is also one of the few apps that provides a robust desktop app. Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram can work with a username and password, not requiring a phone number to connect. This means you can even use the app on a standard tablet. Telegram is a free download on the Google Play Store.
Download it now: here
3. Slack
Slack is an enterprise app that is used by companies to manage workflow and communicate better with teams. It comes with data encryption, meaning that nobody, not even your boss can read your messages if you choose not to share your information. Given the nature of the app, it’s more suited for a workplace atmosphere and not particularly for individual users.
Businesses can benefit greatly from Slack by enabling certain features that other apps don’t provide. Slack is used mostly on computers and the app is updated frequently with any changes and bug fixes. The mobile app is pretty decent and syncs messages with the desktop client to offer continuity. Slack is perhaps one of the few apps out there that rose to prominence because of its group messaging features. Individual accounts are supported, but business accounts will need to pay for a subscription to unlock all the features. Slack is a free download on the Google Play Store.
Buy it now: here
4. Google Hangouts
This app is perhaps popular as a rehashed version of Google Talk, one of the early IM clients that took the internet by storm. With Hangouts, however, Google changed things around significantly. The user interface is changed, with the app now using an all-green UI. Since it syncs with your Google account, you can talk to anybody who has a Gmail or Google account using Hangouts. Creating groups is just as easy, allowing you to talk to multiple contacts at once.
Google Hangouts also comes with features like voice calling and video calling, while you can also use it in lieu of a standard phone (using Hangouts Dialer). However, you will be required to pay for a subscription to use these features. The individual and group chat features are available for free here, so you’re good to go as soon as you open the app. Hangouts is available by default on almost every Android smartphone or tablet, but if it isn’t, be sure to grab it from the Play Store.
Download it now: here
5. GroupMe
This free app is designed specifically to aid group chats. It comes with the ability to sign up using your phone number or just email. Moreover, if a contact isn’t on GroupMe, they can join the conversation over SMS, ensuring that nobody is left out of the chatter. GroupMe also comes with a web client at groupme.com, so you have the option to talk to your friends and family without ever needing your phone.
It’s a simple app, and does what it’s supposed to do. So if group messaging is what you need, we strongly suggest you try out GroupMe. The app also comes with a few exclusive emoji, adding more flavor to your chats.