Ultimate Guide: Everything You Need to Know about the 5 Biggest Messenger Apps

Can you imagine trying to arrange a get-together with some friends without using a messaging app? I know I can’t! How else am I supposed to let them know I’m running late (again!)? All jokes aside, messaging apps have become such an integral part of our social life that a large part of our daily conversations takes place on one of these apps.

One of the reasons why messaging apps are so popular is not only the fact that they’re convenient and easy-to-use, but that today’s most popular messaging apps come with a heap of handy features, like group chat, conference calls, video calls, file sharing, booking services, in-built games, and many others.

Between 2015 and 2016, global mobile messaging grew by 31.6%, and in early 2016 there were 1.4 billion registered users. It is predicted that by 2018, the worldwide number of messaging app users will reach an unprecedented 2 billion, which means that 80% of smartphone users will be also using one of these apps.

Since the messaging app market has grown phenomenally over the last decade, app developers are constantly trying to come up with new ways to keep their old customers happy and bring in new ones. There are currently 5 messaging apps that seem to be doing the best job at this: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Line, and WeChat.

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re already using at least one of these apps and know quite a lot about their features. But do you know which app allows you to book a doctor’s appointment or which one is the most popular in places like Sri Lanka or Iran? Keep reading to find out the answers to these and many other interesting questions about the world’s top 5 most popular messaging apps.

Messaging Apps around the World

Have you ever wondered in which countries is your favorite app the most popular? Here’s a quick breakdown:

• WhatsApp is huge in South America (particularly Brazil), Mexico, India, Russia, all around Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
• Facebook Messenger is the most popular app in Australia, Canada, USA, England, and France.
• Viber has most users in Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Iraq, Libya, and Sri Lanka.
• Line is the market leader in Japan.
• WeChat is hugely popular in China, Iran and Japan.

Languages & Interesting Features

App developers never sleep. How else could we explain the fact that all these popular messaging apps are constantly being updated with new features? One of the more interesting features added last year to WhatsApp, which supports 53 languages, is a new camera option that allows you to draw on photos and videos.

The globally popular Facebook Messenger has the highest number of languages available. It currently supports 70, while new ones are being added often. Facebook also recently announced that users would be able to send money with their messaging app. The bad news is that the service is currently available only for users in the USA. If the feature proves popular, however, we’re sure the rest of the world will soon be able to transfer money through their favorite messaging app.

One of the cool little features on Viber – besides its offer of 32 languages -- is their share button that allows you to share contacts without having to type them out. Viber also has alocation sharing option that’s on by default, but that you can easily disable if you wish to.

Japan’s Line supports 40 languages and comes with plenty of interesting features, including the account page where you can create your own home page, PR page, and research page, as well as plenty of games to pass time when you’re not chatting.

As for China’s most popular messaging app WeChat, it seems there’s nothing you can’t do with this feature-heavy app. It not only lets comes in 52 different languages, but It also lets you book doctor appointments, pay your electricity bills and traffic fines, and book transportation services.

Top 5 Messaging Apps: The Ultimate Guide

For more interesting things about WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Line, and WeChat,  check out this cool graphical guide from skilled.co and learn plenty more about the top 5 most popular messaging apps in the world