What To Do When WhatsApp Is Down? Use These 5 Alternative Apps On iOS And Android

While WhatsApp is hands down the most popular and most convenient messaging platform, it also suffers issues and glitches (like today), causing great inconvenience to its massive user base.

We have shortlisted the top 5 apps that can be used by smartphone users when WhatsApp suffers an outage.

Meta-owned WhatsApp, the world's most popular messaging platform suffered the longest outage on Tuesday (October 25) since October 2021 and the outage seemed to affect WhatsApp users globally, thus affecting millions of users. More than 2 billion users rely on Meta-owned WhatsApp for communication as well as payments.

While WhatsApp is hands down the most popular and most convenient messaging platform, it also suffers issues and glitches (like today), causing great inconvenience to its massive user base. This is the time when other messaging apps can come in handy. We have shortlisted the top 5 apps that can be used by smartphone users when WhatsApp suffers an outage. Here are the top 5 alternatives for WhatsApp.

Telegram

Telegram is an encrypted messaging platform founded by Pavel Durov. Telegram is accessible globally and is a cross-platform, cloud-based instant messaging service. Telegram also provides optional end-to-end encrypted chats and video calling, file sharing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), among several other features. Telegram was launched for iOS devices in August 2013 and for Android in October 2013. The encrypted messaging platform recently decreased its monthly subscription fee in India for premium users, from Rs 469 to Rs 179. 

Signal

Signal is a privacy-focused, free messaging and voice talk app that one can use on both Apple and Android smartphones and through desktops as well. This cross-platform centralised encrypted instant messaging service is developed by non-profit Signal Foundation and its subsidiary, Signal Messenger LLC. Signal users can send one-to-one and group messages, including files, voice messages, images and videos on the platform.

Google Chat

Developed by tech giant Google, Google Chat is a communication service that was originally designed for teams and business environments. However it was later made available for general consumers too. Google Chat also offers the ability to share files, which ensures you can share files or any work-related documents. 

iMessage

Developed by Apple, iMessage is an instant messaging service that was unveiled in 2011. However, iMessage functions exclusively on Apple platforms like  iOS, macOS, iPadOS and watchOS.

Microsoft Teams

One of the apps that shot to popularity when the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020 was Microsoft Teams. This is also one of best workplace chat apps that can be used even outside of work. Microsoft Teams is a proprietary business communication platform developed by Microsoft, as part of the Microsoft 365 family of products.