The best WhatsApp alternatives as of September 2026 are Signal for privacy (end-to-end encryption on by default), Telegram for very large groups and channels, Facebook Messenger for Facebook users, Viber for cheap international calls, and LINE or KakaoTalk where friends already use them. Skype no longer exists: Microsoft retired it on May 5, 2025.
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp has been free since January 2016, when it dropped its $1 annual fee, so cost is no longer a reason to switch.
- Signal encrypts every chat end to end by default; Telegram, Viber and Facebook Messenger each handle encryption differently, and WeChat does not use end-to-end encryption.
- Telegram groups hold up to 200,000 members, against WhatsApp’s 1,024.
- Skype (retired May 2025) and LiveProfile are no longer available, and WeChat has been banned in India since June 2020.
- The best choice is usually the app your contacts already use.
Note (September 2026): Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025, and WeChat has been blocked in India since June 2020, so check that an app is still available where you live before switching.
If you are looking for WhatsApp alternative apps, then you are on right place. Nowadays, there are number of users who are using the popular messaging App WhatsApp. WhatsApp is compatible with various platforms like android, windows and also in iOS. WhatsApp once charged some users about $1 a year, but on January 18, 2016 co-founder Jan Koum announced that WhatsApp would stop charging the annual subscription fee, so WhatsApp is free on Android and iOS. WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, had 3 billion monthly active users as of May 2025.
If you don’t like using WhatsApp, then you can use some other messaging Apps or WhatsApp alternatives. Below are 10 WhatsApp alternatives first listed in 2017, each updated with its status as of September 2026, followed by newer options such as Signal and a side-by-side comparison.
Top 10 WhatsApp Alternative Apps for Your Smartphone
Down below I will lists the top 10 WhatsApp alternative messaging Apps, so if you are not comfortable using WhatsApp then it’s time to switch a new messaging App.
1) Facebook Messenger
The Facebook messenger is a very popular messaging App which allows you to communicate with your friends across the World. This App can be used on various platforms like android, iOS and, until Meta dropped BlackBerry support in 2016, Blackberry as well. As of September 2026 Messenger runs on Android, iOS and Wear OS: Meta shut the Windows and macOS desktop apps on December 15, 2025 and closed the messenger.com website in April 2026, redirecting computer users to facebook.com/messages. So if you are having problem with WhatsApp then Facebook messenger would be great for you.
Download FB Messenger (Android)
2) Viber
Viber is a close WhatsApp alternative. To identify the users, Viber also uses mobile contact which is similar to WhatsApp. As soon as you installed this App, connect your Smartphone with the internet and start chatting with your friends. This App will let you chat with friends, make voice calls, attach images, etc. Viber is supportable on various OS such as iOS, Windows, Android and, in the past, Blackberry and Java phones. Viber has been owned by Japan’s Rakuten Group since 2014 and now offers apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux; calls to ordinary phone numbers use its paid Viber Out service.
3) IMO
IMO App would be a great choice for you as it has similar features of WhatsApp. This App lets you text messages, attach files, voice calls and the best thing about IMO is you can also make video calls, what you need is just an internet connection. imo is developed by PageBites, a subsidiary of Singularity IM, and supports group video and voice calls with up to 20 participants.
4) LINE
LINE App is very identical to WhatsApp. For connection with other LINE users, this App will register your phone number in its data base. Just connect your device to the internet and start having continuous chatting with your friends. LINE also lets you call friends who use LINE. LINE is operated by Japan’s LY Corporation, co-owned by SoftBank Group and Naver, and is used mainly in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia.
5) Telegram
In Telegram App you will see some extra features which you will not find in WhatsApp. Telegram groups can hold up to 200,000 members, far more than the 1,024-member limit WhatsApp introduced in November 2022, and Telegram also offers one-way broadcast channels for sending text messages, files, photos and more. You can also send self-destructing messages in Telegram’s optional Secret Chats, which are end-to-end encrypted; ordinary Telegram chats are not end-to-end encrypted by default.
6) Skype
For using Skype you will have to approve contacts similar to WhatsApp before sending messages. This App will also allow you to call for free. Skype is no longer a WhatsApp alternative: Microsoft retired Skype on May 5, 2025 and moved users to the free version of Microsoft Teams, and the Skype download buttons below may no longer work.
7) KakaoTalk Messenger
This messenger uses your mobile number to create an account. You will get 4 digit verification codes for registering this App. It also goes through your contacts similar to WhatsApp, to find other KakaoTalk users. Here also, you can create group chats, send images, send files, etc. KakaoTalk, made by Kakao Corp. and launched on March 18, 2010, has captured around 90 percent of the messaging market in South Korea and also offers payments through Kakao Pay.
8) LiveProfile
To start LiveProfile App, you will need to enter your email ID and your account will be registered automatically. Now add your phone number so that other users can find you. Through this App, you can send text message, send pictures, videos, etc. LiveProfile used to run on android, iOS and Blackberry, but no LiveProfile app could be found in the Google Play Store in September 2026, and BlackBerry OS support ended on January 4, 2022, so treat LiveProfile as no longer available.
9) Kik Messenger
Kik Messenger is also a very popular App where they will use your email ID to register your new account. This App is very simple to use and it does do tasks similar to WhatsApp. This App allows the users to text messages to individuals or groups. Kik once ran on Blackberry and Windows phone too, but as of September 2026 Kik supports iOS, iPadOS and Android. Kik has been owned by MediaLab since October 2019, does not require a phone number, is for users aged 13 and over, and does not use end-to-end encryption.
10) WeChat
WeChat is also one of the best alternatives App of WhatsApp. WeChat is developed by China’s Tencent and was reported to have more than 1.2 billion users as of January 2022. For registration you need to provide your phone number similar to WhatsApp. This App has many features like video chat, voice call, shares pictures, etc. However, WeChat does not use end-to-end encryption, and the Government of India banned WeChat along with 58 other Chinese apps in June 2020.
Now it’s time for you to switch your WhatsApp. You can use any of these Cool WhatsApp alternatives on your Smartphone and get a new experience. Do not feel any inconvenient to give your comment below. 🙂
How Do the Best WhatsApp Alternatives Compare?
The table below compares WhatsApp with the alternatives in this article, using the status and features published by each service or summarized on Wikipedia as of September 2026.
| App | Owner | End-to-end encryption | Status (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms | Yes, all chats since April 2016 | Active, free, groups up to 1,024 | |
| Signal | Signal Foundation (nonprofit) | Yes, all chats by default | Active, free and open source |
| Telegram | Telegram (Dubai) | Only in optional Secret Chats | Active, groups up to 200,000 |
| Facebook Messenger | Meta Platforms | Default rollout began in 2023 | Active on mobile; desktop apps closed December 2025 |
| Viber | Rakuten Group | Added in 2016; hidden chats | Active; paid Viber Out calls |
| LINE | LY Corporation | Not covered here | Active, mainly in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia |
| KakaoTalk | Kakao Corp. | Not covered here | Active, dominant in South Korea |
| imo | PageBites (Singularity IM) | Encrypted group calls | Active |
| Kik | MediaLab | No | Active; iOS and Android only |
| Tencent | No | Active; banned in India since June 2020 | |
| Skype | Microsoft | Not applicable | Retired May 5, 2025 (replaced by Teams Free) |
| LiveProfile | Not verified | Not applicable | Not found in Google Play; treat as unavailable |
Is Signal a Good WhatsApp Alternative?
Signal is the WhatsApp alternative most often chosen for privacy. Signal is run by the nonprofit Signal Foundation and its subsidiary Signal Messenger LLC, and all communication between Signal users is automatically end-to-end encrypted.
Signal is free and open source, and runs on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. Signal still needs a phone number to register, but usernames added in March 2024 let users hide that number. Signal supports one-to-one and group voice and video calls with up to 75 participants, and disappearing-message timers from five seconds to one week.
Which WhatsApp Alternative Is Most Private?
For private messaging, the key question is whether an app uses end-to-end encryption by default, meaning only the sender and recipient can read a message. Signal and WhatsApp do this for every chat. Viber added end-to-end encryption in 2016 and also offers hidden chats. Telegram encrypts end to end only in Secret Chats, so a normal Telegram chat or group is not end-to-end encrypted.
Kik and WeChat do not use end-to-end encryption, and according to Wikipedia’s summary of reporting on WeChat, activity may be monitored and shared with Chinese authorities on request. Readers who want privacy first should start with Signal.
How to Choose a WhatsApp Alternative
- Check where your contacts are. A messenger is only useful if the people you talk to use it; LINE is used by over 70% of Japan’s population and KakaoTalk dominates in South Korea.
- Decide how much privacy you need. Choose an app with end-to-end encryption on by default if that matters.
- Check group size. Telegram suits communities of thousands; WhatsApp groups stop at 1,024 members.
- Check availability. Confirm the app is still offered in your country and on your device; WeChat is banned in India and Skype has closed.
- Look at calling costs. App-to-app calls are free on these services, but calls to ordinary phone numbers, such as Viber Out, are paid and prices vary.
What to Do Before Leaving WhatsApp
Before switching, back up any WhatsApp chats you want to keep and tell your contacts which app you are moving to. If you are only changing phones rather than apps, see these guides on how to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone and how to move WhatsApp from iPhone to Android.
Many people keep WhatsApp installed alongside a second app. If you stay, the guide to using WhatsApp Web on a computer and these WhatsApp tricks and tips cover features that are easy to miss. For video calling specifically, see these tips for choosing a video chat app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to WhatsApp?
Signal is the best WhatsApp alternative for privacy because every chat is end-to-end encrypted by default and the app is free and run by a nonprofit. Telegram is the better choice for very large groups and channels.
Is WhatsApp still paid?
No. WhatsApp announced on January 18, 2016 that it would no longer charge its $1 annual subscription fee, and WhatsApp has been free on Android and iOS since.
Is Telegram safer than WhatsApp?
Not by default. WhatsApp encrypts every chat end to end, while Telegram does so only in optional one-to-one Secret Chats; ordinary Telegram chats and groups are not end-to-end encrypted.
Can I still use Skype instead of WhatsApp?
No. Microsoft retired Skype on May 5, 2025 and directs former Skype users to the free version of Microsoft Teams.
How many people can join a group on WhatsApp alternatives?
As of September 2026, Telegram groups support up to 200,000 members and WhatsApp groups up to 1,024, while Signal group calls support up to 75 participants.
Is WeChat available in India?
No. The Government of India banned WeChat along with 58 other Chinese apps in June 2020, citing data and privacy issues.
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5 Comments
Hi Sunil,
Yes Viber and WeChat is also good, you should try Hike too.
Thanks for informing, We will update Hike messenger soon into this list. 🙂
Hello,
Viber is my favorite WhatsApp alternative in the list mentioned above. However, WECHAT is my second favorite which I am using from a long time.
When listing WhatsApp alternatives, you should include ones that are _more_ secure than WhatsApp. Most of the ones you mention are actually _less_ secure than WhatsApp. Next time, add Threema, Signal, and Wickr.
Add hike messenger too it’s the best!