Best free international texting app
Best free international texting app
Looking at
Whatsapp
Heywire
Viber
I text a lot to Canada and need a good free texting app.
I am concerned that Facebook bought whatsapp.
Primary interested in Canada- would be an extra if the other user would not also
need to use the app but could use their current texting mode.
If not possible, still an option.
What do you guys find the best and the least intrusive?
(ie not asking for voluminous personal detail).
Heywire
Viber
I text a lot to Canada and need a good free texting app.
I am concerned that Facebook bought whatsapp.
Primary interested in Canada- would be an extra if the other user would not also
need to use the app but could use their current texting mode.
If not possible, still an option.
What do you guys find the best and the least intrusive?
(ie not asking for voluminous personal detail).
Re: Best free international texting app
I don't know what is the best.
I text my parents in Canada on I-Message which is free on the apple platform.
I also use whatsapp for people who are not using a iPhone. works well and has no complaints.
I text my parents in Canada on I-Message which is free on the apple platform.
I also use whatsapp for people who are not using a iPhone. works well and has no complaints.
Re: Best free international texting app
I use both whatsapp and viber. Viber mainly for wifi calls - no complaints. I've got some friends in asia who turned me on to whatsapp, apparently it's the go-to messaging app in much of asia, and I'm a fan of that too.
Re: Best free international texting app
Everyone I want to talk to is on iMessage, but it seems that WhatsApp has the messaging market cornered in Asia and Africa.
Re: Best free international texting app
This thread is now in the Personal Consumer Issues forum (texting app).
Re: Best free international texting app
I don't text much and use iMessage when I do, but I have read that WeChat (微信 - WeiXin) is quite popular in Asia. It comes in an English version, if that worries you.
http://www.wechat.com/en/
http://www.wechat.com/en/
Re: Best free international texting app
This is a little dated, but WhatsApp doesn't have the market cornered, unless you think 300 million is 10 times as much as 236 million.
Tencent-owned WeChat is best known for being WhatsApp’s competitor — it was recently revealed that WeChat and Weixin hit a combined new high of 235.8 million monthly active users, and chalked up 100 million registered user accounts outside China.
In comparison, WhatsApp recently revealed that it has surpassed 300 million monthly active users.
Re: Best free international texting app
Don't forget Line, especially if you like cute stickers in your messages. (Line is Japan's most popular texting app)
http://line.me/en/
Here is a top 10 worldwide. If you are Canadian, why are you not using KIK?
http://readwrite.com/2014/03/06/10-bigg ... xkOoB1yIeR
http://line.me/en/
Here is a top 10 worldwide. If you are Canadian, why are you not using KIK?
http://readwrite.com/2014/03/06/10-bigg ... xkOoB1yIeR
Re: Best free international texting app
Why not ask your friends and family in Canada what they use? I use iMessages because that's what my family uses, even the 10 and 8 year old granddaughters. (The 5 year old has an iPod touch, but doesn't have an apple account)
Re: Best free international texting app
Depending on your cell phone plan, international texts can be included as part of an unlimited texting plan. We have T Mobile and their coverage area is quite extensive. I have no idea which text app we use though.
Double check with your provider since it was not covered on our prior plan and the per text fee was pretty high unless on a plan.
lafder
Double check with your provider since it was not covered on our prior plan and the per text fee was pretty high unless on a plan.
lafder
Re: Best free international texting app
+1sscritic wrote:I don't text much and use iMessage when I do, but I have read that WeChat (微信 - WeiXin) is quite popular in Asia. It comes in an English version, if that worries you.
http://www.wechat.com/en/
WeChat works great and has some fun extras
Re: Best free international texting app
The best is what the majority of your contacts use.
This graph shows which IM is #1 in each country.
http://wikibrains.com/map/537b4380e4b05 ... 6gbUZRdX94
If you can choose any, then telegram is a new one and the most secure.
This graph shows which IM is #1 in each country.
http://wikibrains.com/map/537b4380e4b05 ... 6gbUZRdX94
If you can choose any, then telegram is a new one and the most secure.
Re: Best free international texting app
The answer for Canada is Facebook Messenger, but the OP statedacegolfer wrote:The best is what the majority of your contacts use.
This graph shows which IM is #1 in each country.
http://wikibrains.com/map/537b4380e4b05 ... 6gbUZRdX94
If you can choose any, then telegram is a new one and the most secure.
Using Facebook Messenger isn't going to get him away from Facebook's desire to know everything about him and share everything he does on the internet, even when signed out of Facebook, with advertisers.I am concerned that Facebook bought whatsapp.
- Sunny Sarkar
- Posts: 2443
- Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:02 am
- Location: Flower Mound, TX
- Contact:
Re: Best free international texting app
Both WhatsApp and Viber do the job - as long as the other side is also on the same app. Viber is free (ad supported), while WhatsApp is almost free (99c/yr, first year free).
"Buy-and-hold, long-term, all-market-index strategies, implemented at rock-bottom cost, are the surest of all routes to the accumulation of wealth" - John C. Bogle
Re: Best free international texting app
Once again, what is confusing about this?
If you like whatsapp, tell the OP why he has no reason to fear Facebook. I do fear Facebook, and google too for that matter, but google is more central to my life. I can do without Facebook, but not without google.I am concerned that Facebook bought whatsapp.
Re: Best free international texting app
Good point. I didn't check what's #1 in Canada. If he's against facebook, then as I mentioned, I recommend telegram. https://telegram.org/ It's arguably the most secure IM now and a lot of techies moved to, when facebook bought whatsapp. Unfortunately, it's not popular among average users.sscritic wrote:The answer for Canada is Facebook Messenger, but the OP statedacegolfer wrote:The best is what the majority of your contacts use.
This graph shows which IM is #1 in each country.
http://wikibrains.com/map/537b4380e4b05 ... 6gbUZRdX94
If you can choose any, then telegram is a new one and the most secure.Using Facebook Messenger isn't going to get him away from Facebook's desire to know everything about him and share everything he does on the internet, even when signed out of Facebook, with advertisers.I am concerned that Facebook bought whatsapp.
Re: Best free international texting app
sscritic wrote:Don't forget Line, especially if you like cute stickers in your messages. (Line is Japan's most popular texting app)
http://line.me/en/
Here is a top 10 worldwide. If you are Canadian, why are you not using KIK?
http://readwrite.com/2014/03/06/10-bigg ... xkOoB1yIeR
wife says +1 for line (Thailand)..
-
- Posts: 1405
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:31 am
Re: Best free international texting app
When I first read about Line, I recommended it for my 9 year old granddaughter by way of her mother. Her mother said no way: way too much cuteness, she texts enough already.midareff wrote:wife says +1 for line (Thailand)..sscritic wrote:Don't forget Line, especially if you like cute stickers in your messages. (Line is Japan's most popular texting app)
http://line.me/en/
Re: Best free international texting app
That's the company; the service is KakaoTalkfareastwarriors wrote:Kakao
http://www.kakao.com/services/8
KakaoTalk Messenger
By Kakao Corp.
Re: Best free international texting app
So Rob5TCP, are you Japanese Canadian, Chinese Canadian, or Korean Canadian?
-
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:36 am
Re: Best free international texting app
Whats app!
Re: Best free international texting app
I have family throughout US and brother in Spain. WhatsApp has worked well for us as a group chat no matter if we are at our respective homes or traveling domestically or abroad. Recently started using Telegram for a local chat and it seems to work just as well. Can't comment on how it works internationally.