8 Mobile Messaging Apps To Keep Your Eyes On

...Or your thumbs.

Nowadays mobile messaging apps come loaded with various social networking features that complement free voice calling and free mobile SMS texting by using Wi-Fi or a smartphone's cellular data (especially useful when going abroad). If you're stressing about which one to download, you'll be happy to know that all the popular ones are free, so go use them all!

1. WhatsApp: "Simple. Personal. Real Time Messaging."

whatsapp.com

WhatsApp's exceedingly high user engagement existed even before Facebook bought the app for $19 billion earlier in 2014. This American app's success comes from its several messaging capabilities, ranging from regular text messaging, picture messaging, video messaging, audio messaging, and more!

2. WeChat: "The new way to connect."

wechat.com

Originating from China, WeChat uses a specialized voice chat feature that sends out short voice messages. This is particularly helpful when you are on the move and cannot look away from your phone while typing. WeChat also offers a shake feature and a GPS-based friend finder to connect with people nearby.

3. Line: "Free messaging whenever, wherever."

line.me

Popularized in Japan, Line stickers create a more fun and expressive method of communicating with other Line users. With over 10,000 stickers and emoticons to choose from, you might not even realize the awesome games that are also offered.

4. Tango: "Connect, get social, have fun!"

tango.me

Tango allows users to be social by sharing information on their News Feed. Along with playing games and using stickers, Tango users are also able to discover new music and share it with their friends and family.

5. Nimbuzz: "Free calls and messaging for the connected generation!"

tango.me

Originating in India, Nimbuzz offers a way to communicate with other messaging clients within the app. Let's say you want to talk to someone on Facebook, but you don't want to change apps because you are also talking to someone on Nimbuzz. Nimbuzz allows users to talk to both people without switching apps!

6. Kik: "Simple but perfect."

kik.com

Kik is the first smartphone messenger with a built-in browser, allowing a more integrated method of sharing web content with family and friends. You can talk, browse, and share with your friends. What's not to love?

7. Kaokao Talk: "Together. Altogether."

kakaotalk.com.ph

Along with group chats and group calls, this South Korea-originated messaging app allows users to use emoticons and themes to reflect his or her emotions and moods. If you and your friends are big users of Kaokao Talk, you will find the event planning and voting feature extremely useful!

8. Viber: "Connect. Freely."

viber.com

By utilizing Wi-Fi or your phone's data plan, Viber users can essentially send free messages to other Viber users on any device and network, in any country. Viber automatically filters the Viber users in your phone so that the app is immediately enabled when you contact them.