- Related: Best 5 Android Apps to Make Free Calls to US Landline & Mobile Number If you have a chat app that supports Windows or MAC, you can send a message to their device and PC that can use to share photos, videos, or links you like.
- Best messaging apps for Mac If you're looking for a better way to connect all of your chat apps on Mac, like GTalk, Facebook Messenger, and Twitter, you've come to the right place.
Say goodbye to email and hello to messaging. Mobile messaging apps are more popular than ever as they add social networking features, improve security, and compete to meet the demand for free mobile calling and texting services.
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Established mobile apps like Facebook Messenger, Apple's FaceTime and Messages, and internet calling services like Skype, still dominate, but they have a pack of promising competitors. Almost all mobile messaging apps offer some form of free voice or video calling, and free mobile texting, over both Wi-Fi and the user's data plan.
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What We Like
- You can start a video or phone call.
- Group messaging supports up to 250 people.
- Supports end-to-end encryption.
- Lets you send files as large as 100 MB.
- Ad-free.
The enormously popular WhatsApp is a mobile text messaging app designed for smartphone users and tablets that lets you send text messages and make calls over the internet.
WhatsApp is really easy to understand and there isn't lots of 'fluff' to make it overwhelming like some apps. You can even set a status for all your contacts to see without having to message everyone.
WhatsApp also lets you share your location with recipients. You can view the other person's location without leaving the app because the map is built-in to WhatsApp.
In addition to having full voice calls, WhatsApp also supports sending voice recordings, which are little snippets of your voice that you can use in place of texting.
File sharing is another component of this messaging app. You can share files from your phone and computer.
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Viber
What We Like
- Short audio and video clips can be sent along with text.
- You can make both video and audio calls.
- Implements end-to-end encryption .
- Includes stickers and GIFs.
- Extensions let you share things like video and music right in the chat window.
- You can send money through the app.
What We Don't Like
- It's a bit much if all you're looking for is a simple messaging application.
is another free messaging app that works between phones, tablets, and computers. Anyone and everyone with the Viber app, regardless of their location, can text and call each other for free.
Some unique features in Viber include the ability to like and reply to messages in group conversations, use built-in stickers and GIFs, and the option to send short video messages.
Viber also has a feature called Communities which are group conversations that can contain unlimited members.
Some other features in this free mobile messaging app include the option to make cheap calls to non-Viber phones, a built-in QR code scanner, the ability to share your GPS location in conversations, and public chat channels that you can join.
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Snapchat
What We Like
- Makes it easy to send photos and short videos.
- You can make phone calls and video calls.
- Regular text messaging is supported.
- Great for storing private photos.
- Images can contain filters, effects, and drawings.
- Huge user-base.
What We Don't Like
- The overall design of the app can make it confusing to use.
- No easy option to save regular incoming images.
Snapchat differs from most mobile communication apps in that it specializes in sending multimedia messages with a particular feature: they disappear.
Anything you send will self-destruct after a predetermined (by you) amount of time. The short-lived nature of Snapchat messages has made the app controversial yet popular.
Messages are sent through Snapchat in a variety of ways. You can send a regular picture message with or without text, that expires after so many seconds or when the recipient is finished viewing it.
There's also a way to send text messages without sending pictures. When you do this, the recipient can save the text inside the chat box, else it will disappear after leaving that window. Also within the chat box is a way to send photos so that the other user can save those, too.
Like some of these other mobile messaging apps, Snapchat can also read QR codes. Just tap and hold any QR code from the camera view to open the website or image behind the code.
Snapchat uses what's called Snapcash to send and receive money from your phone.
Personalized cartoon avatars are also available in this messaging app that make it fun for friends to identify you.
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Telegram
What We Like
- Supports not only text messaging but also audio calls.
- Themes let you change the way the app looks.
- Includes lots of stickers, with more as free downloads.
- You can reply to specific messages in a thread.
- Supports short voice messages.
What We Don't Like
- Seems to attract lots of spam messages.
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging service that promises fast and secure messages. It's accessible from all of your devices at the same time and supports some killer features.
Unlike most messaging apps, Telegram can both edit and delete messages even after you've sent them.
Telegram also has a Secret Chat feature that lets you send timed messages so that after they're sent, and once the time limit is reached, the messages are automatically deleted.
You can also mute notifications for a specific number of minutes, send files from the app or website, and share your location.
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LINE
What We Like
- Allows for sending and receiving money.
- Huge user base.
- Group calling supports 200 people.
- Safely store content within the app's Keep feature.
What We Don't Like
- It's a bit much if all you're after is a mobile messaging solution.
is a text messaging and voice calling app that adds a social entertainment layer with its networking and gaming features.
Use LINE for free one-on-one and group chats with any of your friends anywhere. Call your friends and family as often as you want with free voice and video calls available domestically and internationally.
The LINE app also includes a collection of quirky and charming cartoon characters and stickers designed to make communications more fun.
The core communication features are all free, but LINE offers premium stickers, themes, and games for a fee. LINE Out purchases let you talk to anyone anywhere, even if they don't use the LINE app.
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Google Hangouts
What We Like
- Voice and video calls support up to 10 people.
- Integrates with your Google account.
- Google Voice users can send texts to non-Hangouts users.
What We Don't Like
- Alert sounds cannot be customized per contact.
- No built-in GIF gallery.
is a messaging app from Google. It supports text messages, phone calls, and video calls between any other Google Hangouts user.
You can have private, one-on-one conversations as well as group chats for up to 150 people. The app lets you share videos, photos, stickers, and emoji.
Google Hangouts also lets you share your location with others directly from the app, suppress all notifications for any conversation, favorite a conversation to have easier access to it, and archive messages to declutter the conversation view.
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Voxer
What We Like
- Voice messaging is quick and easy.
- Files can be shared from Dropbox.
- GIFs are built in, available through GIPHY.
- Status updates can be posted on your profile.
What We Don't Like
- Lots of features are only available after payment.
Voxer is known as a walkie-talkie, or push-to-talk app because it delivers voice messages live. The recipient — an individual or a group — can listen immediately or listen later. The message is either instantly played through your friend's phone speakers if the phone is turned on and the app is running, or it's stored as a recorded message like voicemail.
Voxer also supports texting, photo messaging, and emoticons, as well as military-grade security and encryption.
Location sharing is another features in Voxer that lets you send your current location, or check in to a nearby location, directly from the chat window.
You can also make notes to yourself, star and share messages, and enable what's called Extreme notifications to get repeated alerts and louder sounds.
Voxer Pro is the only way to get some features, like unlimited message storage, admin controlled chats, message recall, Extreme notifications, chat broadcasting, hands-free walkie-talkie mode, and more.
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HeyTell
What We Like
- You don't need to create a user account.
- All the options and features are self-explanatory.
- Stores a history of past messages.
- Messages you've sent can be shared over other apps like email.
What We Don't Like
- Unable to cancel a message while it's in progress.
HeyTell is another push-to-talk app that allows instant voice messaging. The app presents you with a
button that you tap to speak a message to a recipient.
A push notification tells the recipient when a voice message is received, after which it will play when the open the app. Or, if the recipient has the app open at the time of the message, it will play for them automatically.
One thing that sets this messaging app apart from most others is that you don't have to make a user account to get started. Just enter your name and start adding contacts by their phone number or email address; they just have to tap the link to add you as a contact.
The app is free, but there are in-app premium options for advanced features like ringtones, a voice changer, message expiration, and more.
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Talkatone
What We Like
- Works like a normal phone number.
- Includes free calling, texting, and picture messaging.
- Has a GIF gallery built in.
- Your phone number can be changed at any time.
What We Don't Like
- Can only get numbers from Canada or the U.S..
- International calling isn't free (however, it is when calling other Talkatone users).
- Your number will expire if not used within a 30 day period.
- Includes ads.
Talkatone offers free voice calling and text messaging over Wi-Fi or data plans. It essentially turns your tablet into a phone even if it doesn't have a cellular plan, and lets you use your phone without affecting any texting or calling limitations.
Best App For Texting On Computer
The app can call not only other Talkatone users but even regular phones, like landlines and other cell phones that don't have the app. When you sign up, you get a real phone number for free.
This messaging app works much like your regular phone's calling and texting features. You can change ringtones, hide texts from showing in notifications, change your voicemail greeting, block numbers, access your phone's contacts, and more.
If you want to use Talkatone to call internationally, you can either complete in-app offers to get free calling credits, or purchase credits.
Talkatone Plus can be purchased within the app for $3.99 /month to get more features. With it, you'll get a number that doesn't expire even if you quit using it after 30 days, call forwarding, voicemail transcriptions, and more.
You can also remove ads within the app for $1.99 /month, and get unlimited international calling for $12.99 /month.
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Silent Phone
What We Like
- Centered around encryption and privacy.
- Lets you send documents, videos, and images (up to 100 MB).
- A real phone number isn't required.
Silent Phone is an app that features voice, video, and text messaging. Calls and texts between Silent Phone users are encrypted end-to-end on mobile devices.
Silent Phone supports one-to-one video chat, multi-party voice conferencing for up to six participants, and voice memos. The built-in Burn feature lets you set an auto-destruct time for your text messages, from one minute to three months.
To make calls to phones not using the Silent Phone app, you can subscribe to Silent World.
Note taking apps are more useful than you might think. Taking notes the traditional way with pen and paper works just fine for some, but if you have a smartphone or tablet, using an app specifically designed for note taking can truly change the way you get things done.
Whether your note taking style demands minimal design and slick gesture-based functions, or advanced organization and cataloging of various forms of media, chances are there's a notes app out there that's right for you.
Here are 10 of the absolute best you should consider trying out.
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Evernote: Organize All Your Notes Into Categorized Notebooks
What We Like
- Available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
- Use on the web; browser extensions available.
- Excellent search function for notes.
What We Don't Like
- Free basic plan is limited in features.
- Monthly cost for premium plan is pricey.
Practically everyone who has ever looked into trying a note-taking app has almost certainly come across Evernote—the app that comes in right at the top of the note-taking world. This incredibly powerful tool is built for creating notes and organizing them into notebooks, which can be synced across as many as two devices. All free users also get 60 MB of space for uploading files to the cloud.
A few of the most unique features of Evernote include the ability to clip web pages and images, search for text inside images and use it as a collaborative tool to share and work on notes with other users. Plus or Premium subscriptions will get you more storage, the opportunity to use more than two devices and access to more advanced features.
- iOS
- Android
- Mac
- Windows
- Web
of 10
Simplenote: Note Taking for the Minimalist
What We Like
- Design is minimalist and simple.
- Syncs to all your devices.
- Works with most popular platforms and devices.
What We Don't Like
- May be too simple for some users.
- Text notes only; no images or other media.
- No text formatting.
Evernote is great for note takers who need all the extra storage and fancier features, but if you're looking for a stripped down notes app with a clean and minimal interface, Simplenote could be the app for you. Built for speed and efficiency, you can create as many notes as you like and keep them all organized with just the basic organizational features you really need–like tags and search.
Simplenote can be used to collaborate with others and all notes are automatically synced across your account whenever changes are made to them. There's also a nifty slider feature that allows you to go back in time to previous versions of your notes, which are always automatically saved before you make any changes to them.
- iOS
- Android
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Web
of 10
Google Keep: Use Cards to Make Note Taking Fun and Colorful
What We Like
- Organize with customizable labels.
- Set time and location-based reminders.
- Free and well-integrated with the Google tech ecosystem.
What We Don't Like
- No desktop app; notes are available on the web.
- Maximum of 50 labels; no hierarchical label organization.
- Web clipper only saves URLs.
- No text formatting.
For a note-taking app that takes a more visual approach, Google Keep's card-based notes are perfect for people who want to see all their ideas, lists, images and audio clips in one place. You can color-code your notes or add other attributes to them so that they're easy to find and share your notes with others who need to access and edit them. Like Evernote and Simplenote, any changes made by you or other users you share your notes are automatically synced across all platforms.
To help you remember when you need to refer to your notes, you can set up time-based or location-based reminders so that you remember to do something at a specific place or at a specific time. And as an added bonus for when typing is too inconvenient, the app's voice memo feature lets you record yourself a message for a quick note in audio format.
- iOS
- Android
- Google Chrome Web Browser
- Web
of 10
OneNote: Combine the Power of Microsoft With Your Notes
What We Like
- Compatible with Google Chrome, Apple Watch, and web browsers.
- Syncs well across all your devices.
- Lots of options for note formatting and design.
What We Don't Like
- No quick customizable tagging for simple organization.
- Notebook, section, and page structure is inefficient to navigate.
- Search functionality isn't as slick as Evernote or Google Keep.
Owned by Microsoft, OneNote is a note-taking app you'll definitely want to consider diving into if you regularly use the suite of Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint since the app is fully integrated with them. You can type, write, or draw using the free form of a pen and use powerful organization tools like pinning to easily find what you're looking for later.
Use OneNote to collaborate with others and access your most updated versions of your notes from any device. Perhaps two of its most unique features is the ability to capture an image of a whiteboard or slideshow presentation with automatic cropping and built-in audio recording so you don't have use an entirely different recording app.
- iOS
- Apple Watch
- Mac
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Windows
- Google Chrome Web Browser
- Web
of 10
Notebook: A Stunningly Visual Note Taking Experience
What We Like
- Design is bright and appealing.
- Text, checklist, photo, audio, sketch, and file cards.
- Supports Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web access.
- Customize notebook covers, use your own images.
What We Don't Like
- Needs more art for notebook covers.
- Not geared toward collaborative note-taking.
If you like the idea of Google Keep's card-like interface, then maybe you'll like Zoho's Notebook app too. Create a checklist card for your grocery items, a card for a story you're working on with inline images included throughout the text, a sketch card for some doodling or even an audio card of your voice.
Featuring some of the smoothest and most intuitive gesture-based functions, you can organize your notes into notebooks, reorder them, copy them, group them together or flick through them to easily find what you're looking for. Notebook is totally free and syncs everything across your account automatically so you always have your notes no matter which device you're using.
- iOS
- Mac
- Android
- Windows
- Web
of 10
Dropbox Paper: A Collaborate Note Taking App for Your Whole Team
What We Like
- Strong features for collaboration.
- Clean and uncluttered look.
- Add a variety of media; not just links.
What We Don't Like
- More complex than a simple note-taking app.
- Paper documents are separate from Dropbox folders.
- Takes time to get used to.
If you already use Dropbox to store files in the cloud, you'll probably want to check out Dropbox Paper. It's a note-taking app that acts as a 'flexible workspace' built to prevent distraction while helping people work together. This app was built for collaboration, allowing users to chat with each other in real time while editing any document.
Don't be fooled by its minimal design–Dropbox Paper has lots of advanced features tucked away that are easy to access and intuitive to use once you're familiar with the app. Use it to create new documents, edit existing ones, see all your team activity in one organized list, post and reply to comments, prioritize documents and so much more.
- iOS
- Android
- Web
of 10
Best App For Texting From A Tablet
Squid: The Best App for Taking Digital Handwritten Notes
What We Like
- Designed for handwritten notes; use your finger or a stylus.
- PDF markup is easy.
What We Don't Like
- Not available for Mac or iOS devices.
- Not easy to sync with other devices.
Squid takes the old-fashioned pen and paper and modernizes it with digital features designed to enhance the note-taking experience. Just use your finger or stylus to handwrite notes just like you would on paper. Similar to Google Keep and Notebook, all your most recent notes will be displayed in a card-like interface for easy access.
Every note will have a toolbar at the top, which allows you to customize your ink, duplicate what you've written, resize it, erase mistakes, zoom in or out and so much more. The notes app also allows you to insert PDF files for markup so you can highlight text and insert new pages wherever you want.
- Android
- Chromebook
- Kindle Fire
- Windows
- Windows Phone
of 10
Bear: The Most Flexible Note Taking App
What We Like
- Import notes from other apps.
- Simple, easy-to-use design.
- Export to a variety of formats, including PDF and JPEG.
- Supports Markdown.
What We Don't Like
- Only available for Mac and iOS devices.
- Requires a paid plan to sync devices.
Bear is one of the most beautifully designed and flexible note taking apps currently available for Apple devices. Made for both quick notes and in-depth essays with advanced markup for options to insert images, links and more, you can enable the app's 'focus mode' to help you concentrate during longer periods of writing or note taking.
You can customize the theme and typography to fit your style, use a wide variety of editing tools to optimize your notes, quickly add to-dos to any individual note, tag any note with a specific hashtag and so much more. The core version of this notes app is free, but pro subscriptions are available if you'd like to take your writing or note taking to the next level with Bear.
- iOS
- Mac
of 10
Notability: Creative Note Taking for the Apple Fan
What We Like
- Good text formatting options.
- Text wrapping with images.
- Works well with Apple Pencil.
What We Don't Like
- Only for iOS devices.
- No free version available.
For the Apple fanboy or fangirl who loves to write by hand, draw, sketch or doodle, Notability is a must-have notes app for its incredible suite of advanced note taking tools. Combine your handwritten or drawn work with typed text, photos and videos and zoom in anywhere on your note when you need a closer look.
Notability also lets you do some pretty amazing things with PDF files, allowing you to add annotations on them anywhere, fill them out, sign them and send them off. Unlike many of the other apps in this list, Notability isn't free, but it's at least affordable.
- iOS
of 10
Notes: Basic, Minimal and Possibly All You Need As an Apple User
What We Like
- Handwrite notes and sketch with Apple Pencil.
- Organize notes with folders.
- Pin notes to the top of the list.
- Scan documents using device camera.
What We Don't Like
- Only on iOS devices and Macs.
- Basic note-taking features.
- Only simple text formatting.
Apple's very own Notes app is uncomplicated and super intuitive to use, yet still just as powerful as you need it to be for all your note-taking needs. The app's features include just the minimum essentials and all the notes you create within the app are neatly organized in the left sidebar. Although you can't organize your notes with hashtags, notebooks or categories, you can easily search through them by using the handy search field at the top to help you quickly find whatever you need.
Create a checklist, insert photos, customize your text's formatting or even add another Notes user to share your list with so they can view and add information to it. Although it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that many other competing note-taking apps bring to the table, Notes is one of the few that really stands out for getting the job done in the simplest and quickest way possible.
- iOS
- Mac