Who even uses a phone to call in 2021 when there’s a bunch of incredible messengers? There you can not only text but send voice messages, communicate in group chats, enjoy secret conversations with self-destructing notes, send photos and videos, and (if you really have to) call not only one person but a group of friends or colleagues!
Modern messaging apps evolve faster than new TikTok trends appear. So which services are on the top right now? Why are those so popular? Why do a lot of entrepreneurs wonder how to make a messaging app that will be the next breakthrough? Let’s try and figure it out!
What about statistics?
Any top list that isn’t supported by facts is subjective. Especially when the topic of conversation is as illusory as “the best messaging apps.” For some people in 2021, the greatest of them all is still Google Hangouts, and there’s nothing we can do about it. So in this article, we’ll use a report by Statista to name the best of the best.
All of the apps in this chart have the biggest number of monthly active users as of July 2021, so the chart isn’t just the author’s wishes and dreams. It’s statistics.
Top 5 most popular messaging apps
Without further ado, let’s dive into the list!
#1 WhatsApp
Let’s start with the numbers: WhatsApp has two billion active monthly users. Even China’s most popular messaging app has less than that. So what’s the secret to WhatsApp’s success?
It’s a combination of factors. First of all, the app’s affordability combined with an incredible international pool of users. WhatsApp is known and loved all over the world, not just in the US.
The app’s interface is sleek and clear. Settings are robust but easy to understand. There are many customization options (sounds, backgrounds, themes, etc.), the user can block unwanted contacts in seconds.
But WhatsApp isn’t only about text messages. Audio and video calls via the app are an excellent way for many people to save some money as it’s free, and all you need to make a call is an Internet connection.
It’s improbable that WhatsApp will lose its leading positions on the messaging market as it’s simple yet functional, and too many of the users got accustomed to it. So the magic of brand loyalty is in full force.
#2 Facebook Messenger
Some may wonder what Facebook Messenger does in this list and how it manages to stay the second most popular messaging app globally. But with more than 1,3 billion active users every month, it does.
The average age of Facebook users is 40 years. Old habits die hard, and even if you had switched from Facebook to Insta, TikTok, or LinkedIn a long time ago, you’re most likely to have relatives or friends that are not going to leave Facebook any time soon. The chances are those people still send you messages (or photos, or stickers) via Facebook Messenger, and you reply. That’s how this app earned silver in the messaging apps popularity contest.
You can make audio and video calls via Messenger. You can send text messages, images, or videos, but that’s pretty much it. Does the app have robust functionality? Not really. Is it comfortable to use? Doubtfully. Will it remain popular because of the great number of loyal users? Most likely!
#3 WeChat
WeChat might not be the first Chinese messaging app to appear on the market, but it is the most popular in the country. The numbers are astonishing: the penetration rate exceeds 90%, and the number of monthly active users is over 1 billion (1,242 million to be exact).
The WeChat phenomenon is relatively easy to explain. Even in 2021, the Chinese market remains relatively closed. People are used to choosing the apps created in China by people who know everything about the context and national spirit.
But it’s not only about that! WeChat is exceptionally versatile. The app allows you not only to message others but book tickets, make payments, take care of the hotel reservations, find other users nearby just by shaking your phone, play games, and even access your COVID vaccination results! The list is nearly endless.
However, if you want to try WeChat and do not live in China, you might be disappointed. The thing is, the app has two versions: national and international. The international WeChat is pretty much the same as WhatsApp as all of the fantastic features mentioned above are available only for users in China.
#4 QQ
QQ is the oldest Chinese messaging app that was “inspired” by ICQ. It’s not as popular as WeChat (606 million active users every month) but still a must-have in China.
This app is used not only to exchange instant messages, but it’s also as a Chinese e-mail alternative. People communicate (including personal and business matters), transfer files, meet new people (even if you don’t speak Chinese).
Besides that, you can play games (including multiplayer mode), listen to music, watch live streams, and more! However, it’s worth mentioning that unlike most apps on this list, QQ is way more feature-packed on desktop, not mobile version (even though both are popular).
#5 Telegram
Telegram is on the rise. This messenger is a lot like WhatsApp (same individual and group chats, same calls, audio, and video), but it also has a number of features that make it unique.
Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram is available not only via a mobile device but desktop as well. The size of the files you may send via the app is not strictly limited. The users may willingly show or hide their phone numbers. It is possible to schedule a message, pin multiple messages, and much more.
Despite all that, Telegram isn’t that popular outside Europe. It’s not easy to compete with moguls like WhatsApp. But considering the fact that this messaging app has some tricks up its sleeve and isn’t just “another copy of WhatsApp”, Telegram is most likely to become a force to be reckoned with within the next few years.
