10 Best Hangouts Alternatives You Should Try

At launch Google Hangouts was lauded as the messaging app of the futurity, providing users with an all-in-i package that supported SMS, IM, vocalism calls, video calls, and on top of that, it worked on almost all platforms. Coming from the stables of one of the biggest tech companies in the world Hangouts definitely showed promise, which is why users flocked to the messaging app. Hangouts' popularity as well grew due to the fact that it was integrated inside a couple of Google products, including Gmail and Google+ (RIP), and it also came pre-installed on a number of Android devices. All the same, Hangouts went total enterprise terminal year, aiming to become a Slack alternative, leaving behind a ton of users looking for other Hangouts alternatives.

Best Hangouts Alternatives You Should Try

i. WhatsApp

Allow's kick off the list with the nigh obvious alternative to hangout there is. Facebook-endemic WhatsApp is the nigh widely used instant messaging app out there and for good reason. The app offers everything you'd expect from a good instant messenger, including text, vocalization and video support, media transfers, and group chats. On meridian of that, the app besides supports vocalisation messages, which really come up in handy if you lot don't feel like typing out a text and are too lazy to brand a telephone call.

WhatsApp has even introduced a payments characteristic in the Indian market, which ways that you'll easily be able to transfer money to people in your contact list using the app. Other than that, the app includes a great location sharing feature, that I tend to apply quite often when I accept to share my current location with friends or family, and if you're looking for some social media-like features in your messenger, WhatsApp also has an Instagram Stories-like characteristic that allows you to postal service temporary statuses on your profile that you contacts can view. Over all, if you're looking for an app similar Hangouts for personal utilize, WhatsApp is definitely something you should consider.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web

Toll: Free

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ii. Discord

Discord is another app y'all can try out as a Hangouts replacement. While the app is primarily targeted at gamers, Discord packs in some amazing features that make it the best chat app/messenger I've tried till appointment. The app features voice chat capabilities, along with real-fourth dimension messaging, push notifications, easy invites and group conversation support. You can even share media like videos, images and GIFs on the platform, with additional features like communities that you tin can join and interact with others who share the same interests as you.

For all the gamers out there, not merely does Discord evidence who's online in your friends listing, it besides shows which game they're playing, which could actually come in handy if you're on the spotter for people to play with. What'southward really smashing about Discord, nevertheless, is that it is available on multiple platforms and features cross-platform support, which ways that you can stay continued, irrespective of the device you're using. The service also offers a couple of other cool features, including bots that allow you lot to raise your server or play music in the background. Sure, it doesn't include SMS functionality, but who uses that these days anyway?

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web

Price: Gratis

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3. Telegram

In case Discord is too gamer-y for you, merely yous still want a characteristic rich instant messaging app that is similar to Hangouts, then y'all should consider checking out Telegram. The app not only includes the usual features that you lot'd observe in any other instant messaging app, including text and voice support and media transfers, it also includes some unique features like 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, 2049-bit RSA encryption, and Diffie-Hellman secure fundamental exchange, which make it i of the most secure messaging apps out there.

Telegram also includes a agglomeration of other useful features, allowing users to create group chats with upwards to 100,000 members, ready up bots for specific tasks, utilise extensive photo/video editing tools, and send cocky-destructing hugger-mugger chats. With all of that in two, you'd expect Telegram to exist quite expensive, but information technology's absolutely free to use and it doesn't fifty-fifty feature whatever ads. For a more than in-depth await at all the cool things Telegram has to offer, you tin bank check out our post on cool Telegram messenger tricks.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Spider web

Price: Costless

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4. Signal

Bespeak is another nifty instant messaging app that you lot tin can employ to fill the void left by Hangouts. The app also features most of the usual features found on other instant messaging apps, including text, voice and video support, group chat support and media transfer support. What'due south unique almost Bespeak, however, is that information technology allows users to transport traditional SMS letters, which none of the aforementioned apps offer.

Betoken besides lays a lot of accent on user privacy, offering encrypted group conversation which non only encrypts the letters sent in the grouping, only also ensures that the Signal server never has access to any of the group metadata.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Price: Free

Download

five. Wire

Privacy witting individuals looking for a Hangouts alternative should besides check out Wire – a secure instant messenger which is directed at businesses and professionals. Although the app offers all of the usual features you'd expect from an instant messenger, information technology'due south a chip more than professional person looking than Hangouts and has some cool features to assist improve your squad'due south productivity. Wire allows you lot to communicate with your team via both private and group conversations, and fifty-fifty supports file transfers which is crucial for an office setting.

The app has a dedicated conference call push, using which y'all can make group vocalism and video calls with your squad only as you did on Hangouts, and it fifty-fifty allows users to invite business partners and customers to the platform through unique guest rooms. Wire even supports self-destruct messages, in instance you need to proceed some conversations completely individual, and it has a unique device fingerprinting feature which y'all tin utilise if you're really serious about privacy.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Spider web

Price: Free for personal use; Starts at EUR iv per user per month for enterprise users

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6. LINE

If you're looking for an instant messaging app that also fulfills your social media needs and then you should have a look at LINE. Much like whatsoever other app on this listing, and similar to Hangouts, LINE offers text messaging, voice call and video call support, along with media transfer and group conversation features, but the app'due south social media features really set it autonomously. The app has a Facebook-like timeline on which yous can share messages, photos, videos and locations with your friends and you lot can even connect with celebrities on the platform.

Just like Hangouts, LINE also has a neat selection of stickers, with some of them reaching such levels of popularity that they have their own range of customized third-political party gear like Bluetooth speakers. The app also has a personal storage space in which you can continue your letters, photos, videos, etc. and it likewise features app recommendations that introduce users to a broad diverseness of popular entertainment and lifestyle apps on the platform.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web

Price: Free

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7. Viber Messenger

The Viber Messenger is also a bully Hangouts substitute that you tin cheque out, which features pretty much everything you'd find in Hangouts, or any mod instant messaging app. Just like Hangouts, Viber has text support, a voice and video calling feature, back up for group chats with upwards to 250 people per group, along with a wide range of stickers that you can utilise to spruce up your conversation.

What sets Viber Messenger apart from other apps on this list are its instant video letters which let you to send brusk video clips to your friends, a hidden chat feature that allows users to hide chats from the home page, and a damage control feature which allows users to delete text or vocalization letters even after they're sent. Try out Viber Messenger in case any of these unique features pique your interest.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome Bone

Toll: Free

Download

8. Messenger

Facebook's Messenger is also a feature packed Hangouts replacement that y'all can use. One of the big things nigh Hangouts was that about people were already on the platform since it was continued to their Google accounts, and that'south exactly what makes Messenger a good choice — a vast number of people are already on Facebook, so you tin can easily connect with them using Messenger. The app features multi-platform support, assuasive users to connect with each other no matter which device they're using and it supports all the usual instant messaging features that people commonly utilise.

Messenger differentiates itself from competitors past offering a feature packed video calling feature and a decent camera app, which include a bunch of absurd overlays that you tin can use to liven up your photos/video. Messenger as well has quite a big hub for games, assuasive users to play with friends and compare scores with all of their Facebook friends. Another swell feature worth noting is that Messenger also allows users to directly connect with businesses, which can really come in handy if you want to make reservations or get real-time client service. The app besides has a wide choice of bots that are capable of all kinds of things to make life easier for users.

Supported platforms: Android, iOS, Web

Toll: Free

Download/Use

ix. Kik

Kik is another app that you can employ to stay connected to friends and family unit. The app includes all of the usual features that y'all'd find in Hangouts, including text back up, grouping video chats, media transfers, etc., merely the way it allows y'all to connect with people without sharing your phone number differentiates it from the rest.

All yous need to connect with people on Kik is create a unique username which you can share with people and since there's no phone numbers involved, you tin safely connect with people you don't really know, just share similar interests with. Kik is similar to Hangouts and is swell for those of you who don't feel comfortable sharing your phone number with random people yous meet on the internet. Kik also has a decent option of bots that you tin can use and the platform also has a wide selection of public groups that you lot can join where you lot'll run across similar-minded individuals.

Supported platforms: Android, iOS

Price: Free

Download

10. Skype

Last, just not the least, is Microsoft's own instant messaging app – Skype. The app needs no introduction, considering it'south been around for quite a while now, and it still remains a compelling option for several reasons. The app is simple to apply, features all of the common instant messaging features, including support for grouping video calls (up to 24 people!), media transfer, vox calls, and it's available on most all platforms.

What differentiates Skype from other apps on this listing is that it includes support for SMS messages and it has a handy screen sharing feature that allows you to share your screen with friends and family. The app even allows you to make calls to mobile numbers and landlines, just this feature isn't free to use. While I believe y'all might have already tried out Skype earlier, in case you haven't, the app does deserve a shot.

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox One, Amazon Alexa devices

Price: Free

Download

Endeavor Out These Hangouts Alternatives

That rounds up our list of the alternatives you should try. I personally use WhatsApp, Google Allo and Discord quite frequently, and while Discord is definitely my favorite, I tend to use WhatsApp most often because of the fact that information technology's more than pop and nearly of the people effectually me are using it already. Take y'all tried whatsoever of these Hangouts substitutes earlier? Which one exercise you prefer and why? Permit us know in the comments department below. And in case one of your favorites hasn't made it to the list, make sure you share it in the comments department and we'll add it to the listing.

Source: https://beebom.com/best-hangouts-alternatives/

Posted by: mayorhong1968.blogspot.com

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