Top 10 Best Messaging Apps for Smartphones

Viber is a VoIP-based messaging app developed by Viber Media and launched in 2012. It supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops, with compatibility for operating systems such as MacOS, Android, iOS, Symbian OS, Windows Phone, and Microsoft. In Vietnam, much like Zalo and Facebook, Viber is widely popular and used.

Key Features:

• Viber allows unlimited text messages, voice calls, and video calls to other Viber users. It also enables international calls to users in different countries.
• Quick and convenient sharing of photos, videos, and audio files.
• A widely used feature is group messaging, where users can select and add contacts from their phonebook to join a conversation.
• Additionally, users can send photos and location data on Viber.

Among the various chat apps available, Viber stands out with its versatility, offering an easy and rich communication experience. With support for multiple devices and operating systems, Viber is not only popular in Vietnam but also globally.

Download links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/rakuten-viber-messenger/id382617920?l=vi
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Viber&c=apps

LINE is a free communication app that allows users to connect with anyone, anywhere on devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It supports text, image, video, and audio exchanges, as well as free voice and video calls. LINE is easy to use with a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for all ages. It not only provides a versatile communication platform but also functions as a social network where you can share your status and activities with others.

Key Features:

• You can send high-quality images to friends, share contacts, locations, and even play games or conduct polls with friends or groups of up to 100 people.
• LINE also enables you to share live video with friends, making it a faster and more versatile communication tool.
• You can post and share your daily moments, interact with friends, and enjoy a mini social network where you stay connected.
• Its wide variety of unique stickers and wallpapers adds a fun, lively touch to conversations.

In conclusion, LINE is one of the best messaging apps available today, offering flexibility and a wide range of ways to share information and interact. With its intuitive design, LINE is more than just a communication tool; it’s a compact social space where users can stay connected and share life’s moments.

Download links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/line/id443904275?l=vi
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=LINE&c=apps

Telegram is a free, multi-platform messaging, video calling, and file-sharing app. With numerous servers worldwide, Telegram ensures fast and stable performance, with its data center located in Dubai. It is available on all popular operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. As of January 2021, Telegram had over 500 million active users and was the most downloaded app worldwide during that month.

Key Features:

• Telegram offers end-to-end encryption for calls and messages, ensuring complete privacy and security for users.
• Users can send unlimited text messages, voice messages, animated stickers, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents (up to 2GB per file), location data, contacts, and music—all for free.
• It supports creating groups with up to 200,000 members.
• Telegram features exclusive stickers and saves images, videos, and files in the cloud for easy access.

With these powerful features, it's no surprise that Telegram reached 500 million active users by January 2021 and became the most downloaded app globally. This solidifies Telegram as not just another messaging app, but a comprehensive and professional communication experience for smartphone users.

Download links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807?l=vi
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Telegram&c=apps

Skype is a Microsoft-owned service that offers free online communication, including calls, messaging, and information sharing, as long as you have an internet connection. You can access Skype on computers running Windows, Linux, or macOS, as well as on tablets and smartphones.

Key Features:

• Skype allows free video calls, enabling face-to-face conversations with anyone globally, as long as they have a Skype account, a webcam, and mobile devices.
• Skype also includes a Screen Sharing feature, allowing you to share your screen with friends during video calls.
• It supports group video calls with up to 24 participants.
• You can share various content via messages, such as images, contacts, locations, and schedule calls.
• Skype features exclusive and unique icons for its users.

Thanks to its versatility across multiple platforms like computers, tablets, and smartphones, Skype is an ideal choice for seamless communication. Additionally, its variety of content-sharing options and unique icons create a lively and engaging chat experience.

Download links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/skype/id304878510?l=vi
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Skype&c=apps

WeChat is a messaging app developed by Tencent and launched in 2011. Although it was a latecomer compared to major platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Weibo, WeChat quickly became a leading app in China. It offers much more than standard messaging, calls, and media sharing—integrated features for easy access to information, transactions, and shopping have made it an incredibly popular app with a fast-growing user base.

Notable Features:

• WeChat allows for private messaging and group chats with options like text, voice messages, video calls, money transfers, red envelope gifting, location sharing, and group creation with invitations.
• The app regularly updates its sticker library, making conversations more lively and fun.
• The Explore section lets you scan QR codes, play games, access “Top Stories,” and browse the latest news through the “Search” function.
• WeChat also integrates unique features like China’s digital ID system, enhancing experiences for bill payments, gaming, booking appointments, hailing taxis, renting bikes, and ordering food.

With its excellent features and convenience, WeChat is not only a top app in China but also a symbol of innovation and convenience in the mobile app world. It is more than just a messaging platform—it's a companion app that opens up new experiences and sets the standard for future mobile chat apps.

Download Links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/wechat/id414478124?l=vi
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=WeChat&c=apps

Snapchat is an image-based messaging app developed by a group of Stanford University students. With this app, users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a selected list of recipients. These images and videos are called "Snaps." The unique feature of Snapchat is that the messages disappear 10 seconds after being viewed by the recipient, and after 24 hours, all content is deleted from the user's profile.

Key Features:

• Messages and data self-destruct, providing enhanced privacy and security.
• The camera allows users to apply real-time effects and sounds, change their voice in videos, and more.
• A large and vibrant user community.
• Send messages to an unlimited number of recipients.

Beyond just a messaging app, Snapchat is a creative platform that offers a personalized, artistic experience, making it a unique and fun tool for smartphone users.

Download Links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/snapchat/id447188370
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Snapchat&c=apps

KakaoTalk is one of the most widely used messaging apps in South Korea and several other Asian countries. The developers aim to turn KakaoTalk into a global communication tool, offering support for 15 languages and being available in over 200 countries with more than 140 million active users.

Key Features:

• Free messaging and voice calls are the app's core feature, allowing users to communicate with anyone, anywhere, as long as they're connected to the internet, without additional charges.
• The app also includes useful features like message storage, which lets users save important information for later.
• Share multimedia files, including videos, images, and links, with ease.
• Creating groups and inviting members through user accounts or phone numbers is simple. Users can also initiate group calls and quickly share data with others in a secure manner.

With KakaoTalk, it's not just about chatting but also about connecting, sharing, and working efficiently. For those seeking a multifunctional, professional, and convenient messaging app, KakaoTalk is the top choice for your smartphone.

Download Links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kakaotalk/id362057947
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=KakaoTalk&c=apps

Facebook Messenger is a fast messaging app developed by Facebook, which operates using the MQTT protocol – a network protocol for transferring messages between devices. Originally launched in 2011, Messenger was first a chat feature within Facebook, but was later separated into a standalone app, allowing users to send text, images, voice messages, and more, across multiple platforms including web, mobile, and desktop.

Key Features:

• Send text messages, make voice and video calls to friends.
• Reply to messages and forward them between chat threads.
• React to messages with emojis.
• Customize chat themes, colors, and nicknames directly within the chat.
• Capture photos and videos with a variety of creative effects.
• Enhance security with app lock features, including fingerprint and Face ID authentication.

With these outstanding features, Facebook Messenger truly stands as one of the best chat apps on smartphones, meeting the needs of users in all situations.

Download Links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/messenger/id454638411?l=vi
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Messenger&c=apps

Zalo is an OTT (Over-the-Top) messaging and calling app, allowing users to communicate with others via mobile and desktop platforms. Developed by VNG, a Vietnamese tech company, Zalo was launched in 2012 and has since become extremely popular. It enables free messaging and calling (Zalo-to-Zalo) for users with an internet connection. With a variety of features, Zalo is ideal for keeping in touch with family, friends, and colleagues.

Key Features:

• Send free messages, including text, images, stickers, emojis, and drawings.
• Make free voice and video calls.
• Connect with others by adding them via phone number, username, user ID, or location-based suggestions.
• Share status updates and moments through posts.
• Transfer large files between users and devices quickly.

With its easy-to-use connection options and multimedia capabilities, Zalo is more than just a messaging app—it's a social platform for sharing life moments, images, and status updates with others.

Download Links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/zalo/id579523206
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Zalo&c=apps

In addition to Facebook Messenger and Zalo, WhatsApp is one of the most popular free messaging and calling apps worldwide. This app has become one of the leading text and voice messaging platforms, enabling users to easily communicate on both mobile devices and computers. WhatsApp allows users to send text and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, locations, and other media.

Key Features:

• WhatsApp integrates end-to-end encryption for enhanced security, ensuring messages stay private and are not accessible to unauthorized parties.
• It supports calls and messages with friends and family, regardless of their location, including international calls, all without additional charges.
• WhatsApp is completely free to install and use, with no hidden fees.
• The app automatically backs up your messages periodically, or you can manually initiate backups as needed.

With its automatic backup feature and wide range of tools, WhatsApp is more than just a messaging app—it’s a powerful communication bridge, making it one of the best chat apps on smartphones. Download it now to explore its full potential and send messages seamlessly.

Download Links:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?l=vi
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Whatsapp&c=apps