2015-07-04

The smartphone world has been experiencing immense success in the recent past.

This is something that has drastically catapulted the number of apps that are rolled out on a monthly basis.

It is obvious that when competition is at its best, those who benefit more from the results are the end users of the products. In this case, the increment in the number of instant messaging apps means that users will be treated to some of the best when it comes to sending messages as well as making calls. There is no need to use traditional SMS when there are plenty of free apps that offer free instant messaging that includes texts, videos, photos and audio recordings.

The top apps in this field are WhatsApp, Viber, and Skype. WhatsApp has more than 800 million users while Viber comes in with more than 516 million on its name, On the other hand, Skype, being the oldest of these apps, has a user base of more than 800 million users. These three apps have some features that pull them close together; however, there are also a bunch of others that put them on different pages.

WhatsApp free download

WhatsApp is the current app of choice for many smartphone users. This app offers free instant messaging as well as free voice calling. Users need a suitable internet connection for the latter case to work properly. The right thing with this app is that it is very easy to download and setup. Using a phone number, you will be able to create an account and activate it so that you can connect with anyone whom you have their numbers regardless of where they are.

WhatsApp Web is the PC version of this app. However, it does not support iOS devices. All other supported platforms can be used with the PC client. However, you will not get all features available on the phone app. WhatsApp is only free for the first year and after that you must pay $0.99 annually.

Since the voice calling feature of this app is still young, it is not the best option to go to when looking for a VoIP app. However, it is one of the best, if not the best when it comes to instant messaging.

Skype free download

There is no doubt that Skype is the leading provider of video calling services. In fact, businesses have been at the center of embracing the Skype video conferencing feature as it helps them cut on travel costs and other expenditures associated with holding live meetings in boardrooms. Also to video calling, Skype also allows instant messaging as well as voice calling. Using Skype, it is also possible to make very affordable calls to non-users of the app.

The app can be installed on PCs, mobile phones, tablets and even Smart TVs. There is no problem if your device is running on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone, Symbian, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS or even Windows OS.

Unlike WhatsApp, setting up a Skype account requires that you have an email address as well as create a Skype ID and a password. To some this might be cumbersome, however, you will be signing up for the best app when it comes to high-quality voice and video calls.

Viber free download

Viber free download, just like WhatsApp, uses a phone number to register users. Using this application, it is possible to send and receive free instant messages that include texts, videos, photos, as well as voice recordings. Furthermore, this app allows users to make free voice and video calls, just like Skype. The app has no known compatibility issues as it can be used in phones and tablets installed with iOS, Symbian, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry as well as on PCs running on Windows and Mac OS.

What makes Viber a little different from these other apps is the premium look it also offers  to numerous features that are limited to Viber users. For instance, the app comes with a huge collection of stickers that can be used in messages to spice things up. Furthermore, there is the Viber Games feature that lets users play games in the middle of chats. Users of Viber can also make calls to non-users using the Viber Out feature. However, the calls will be affordably charged as opposed to using local carriers.

So, which app will you download?

The post WhatsApp vs. Skype vs. Viber Free Download – Comparing the Best of the Best appeared first on UKMN.

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