We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. You can learn about most of the app's features from our guide on how to use WhatsApp, but be sure to keep the app updated to add new features and safeguard against attacks.ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. Like Messenger, WhatsApp include video chat features, with 50 people able to join a call.

The app has continuously added new features to its toolkit, such as emoji, and fully encrypted messaging between WhatsApp users. Users who've stuck with WhatsApp can send text, photos, voice and short video messages to their WhatsApp contacts. Some of those users have flocked to other apps, though, after WhatsApp changed its policy on personal data, forcing you to share more data with Facebook.

But WhatsApp retains a passionate user base who consider this the best chat app for their needs. WhatsApp may be part of the Facebook family, and it may be adding many Messenger features as Facebook looks to unify its messaging offerings.

Download Facebook Messenger: Android (opens in new tab), iOS (opens in new tab).

And Facebook has continually updated Messenger's look, with an emphasis lately on making things more streamlined. Users sign in via Facebook and can send other users the usual chat messages, as well as voice messages and voice and video calls to other Messenger users, with extra features like GIF support and photo and location sharing. Messenger users can now chat with people on Instagram without having to fire up that app.Įven with the constant influx of features, Facebook Messenger works as it did before. Last year, for example, launched Facebook Messenger Rooms, a video chat feature that will support up to 50 people. And there's a good reason people stick with the service: Not only does Messenger draw on Facebook's extensive reach, allowing you to message all your friends on the social network, Facebook continues to add features. While Facebook's attitude toward user data has turned off some users, Facebook Messenger remains a popular choice among the best chat apps.

Messaging app