

(Or learn how to build your own Android app.) While some apps are primarily designed for privacy and security, others emphasize broader communication by offering additional features such as audio and video calling. The type of app you select may depend on your unique needs or preferences. However, with thousands of them out there, you can be spoilt of choices when choosing the best. For android users, there are plenty of third-party messaging apps that allow you to keep in touch with anyone, anywhere. Apple’s iMessage continuity is the gold standard in device-to-device switching, but Signal gets the lion’s share of that usefulness thanks to this Chrome extension, which can be securely linked to your smartphone to mirror all the messages you’re sending.If you enjoy communicating via text messages, the default app in your device can’t give you the quality of service you deserve.

The biggest advantage that iMessage has for Mac users and that Facebook Messenger has for everyone is that they’re both easily usable when you’re not at your phone. It’s the only effectively secure over-the-top messaging service at the moment - although there are secure elements in Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp, Facebook relies on you to enable its Secret Conversations manually and Whatsapp stores message records on its servers. And that’s because Signal is the best messaging service out there - here is why.Įveryone should be using Signal already. In trying to cut down the number of ways I talk to all my different friends and acquaintances and coworkers, though, I’ve convinced two of my most regularly used group chats - one on Facebook Messenger, and one on iMessage - to move over to Signal. If you’ve picked up a new phone recently, chances are you have a couple of instant messaging clients installed on it.
