你还记得上一次你一整天没有发送或接收短信是什么时候吗？可能不是。无论您是使用计算机还是手机发送消息，它都是您在线交流(communication online)的重要组成部分。有时在您的设备上使用默认的 Messenger 应用程序(default messenger app)是不够的。
值得庆幸的是，有很多适用于Android的第三方消息传递应用程序(messaging apps)可供选择。无论(Whether)您是在寻找具有最少功能的非常简单的东西，还是在寻找一个可以让您自定义所有内容的应用程序，直到最后一个符号。
电报(Telegram)(Telegram)- 最佳整体( – Best Overall)
您可能想立即开始使用Telegram(Telegram)的原因有很多。仅举几例，发送大型媒体文件、与朋友进行“秘密”聊天、在发送消息后编辑或删除消息，甚至在与人聊天时 观看YouTube视频的能力。(YouTube)
然而，Telegram 的创建者以将安全作为首要任务而自豪。使用此应用程序，您可以发送加密消息，而不必担心您的私人对话保持私密。该应用程序还允许您使用代理服务器(proxy server)，这可以进一步帮助您保护您的数据。
在聊天方面，Telegram还具有其他消息传递应用程序所缺乏的许多特殊功能。例如，您可以在应用程序中使用多个电话号码(phone number)。如果您正在创建群聊(group chat)，则无需担心要添加到其中的人数。在Telegram中，您可以与多达 200,000 名参与者 进行群聊。(group chat)
该应用程序也非常可定制。有自动夜间模式、各种主题和聊天背景可供选择。您还可以使用Telegram的实时位置共享功能(location share feature)通过手机跟踪您的家人和朋友(family and friends)。因此，如果您正在寻找一款功能齐全的消息传递应用程序(messaging app)，Telegram理应成为您的首选。
Signal——最安全的信号( – The Most Secure One)
如果强大的安全性对您来说是一个交易障碍(deal breaker)，请考虑将Signal作为您的主要消息传递应用程序(messaging app)。该应用程序使用强大的端到端加密，并且不(encryption and doesn)存储(t store)任何用户记录。虽然您确实需要注册一个有效的电话号码(phone number)才能使用它，但这是可以透露的有关您使用该应用程序的唯一信息。
使 Signal 成为最安全的消息传递应用程序(messaging apps)之一的其他功能包括在应用程序上设置额外的屏幕锁定(screen lock)、隐藏锁定屏幕(lock screen)中的通知以及自毁消息。
后者实际上是一个非常有用的功能，因为在其他应用程序上，您有时必须学习如何发送自毁消息。在Signal上，您只需打开“消失的消息”功能(” function)，该应用程序将为您完成所有工作。
Android 消息 - 简单的选项(Android Messages – The Simple Option)
有时您不必走很远就能找到您要找的东西。Android Messages是 Google 的官方短信应用程序，它为普通用户提供了最少的所有基本功能。
Android Messages支持RCS功能，这意味着您可以获得额外的聊天功能，例如已读回执和文件传输。该应用程序还具有黑暗模式，非常适合弱光环境。如果您需要从您的计算机发送消息，您也可以使用该应用程序的官方网站来完成。
WhatsApp - 方便的( – The Convenient One)
虽然可能有许多替代消息客户端，但西方(West)的大多数用户仍在使用WhatsApp。主要原因之一是该应用程序的受欢迎程度。您的大多数朋友已经在使用WhatsApp，为什么要选择不同的 Messenger？
另外，如果您正在寻找一个在功能数量、安全性和自定义之间取得良好平衡的选项，那么WhatsApp可能是您的最佳选择。
该应用程序最有用的功能之一是实时位置共享(location sharing)，从一个电话号码(phone number)切换到另一个电话号码，同时保留您的WhatsApp 数据(WhatsApp data)，以及“取消发送”您的消息的能力。最重要的是，WhatsApp支持语音和视频通话——例如(voice and video)Telegram上没有的功能。
WhatsApp还对消息和文件传输使用端到端加密，这意味着消息一旦被传递就会从服务器中删除。
Viber – 交友之选( – The One For Making Friends)
Viber是另一个消息应用程序，其界面和功能(interface and functionality)类似于WhatsApp。您可能想选择它作为您的主要聊天应用程序(chatting app)的原因有很多。您可以使用贴纸和GIF(GIFs)以及语音和视频消息(voice and video messages)使您的文本更加生动。
在安全性方面，Viber有带有自毁计时器(self-destruct timer)的秘密聊天。您可以将其设置为删除特定对话中的消息，以确保您的私人信息保持私密。该应用程序的一项有趣功能是能够拨打世界上任何手机或固定电话。该服务称为Viber Out，虽然它不是免费的，但如果您尝试联系不是Viber 用户(Viber user)的人，它绝对有用。
但是，使此消息传递应用程序脱颖而出(app stand)的主要功能是Viber 社区(Communities)。它们是公开的群聊，您可以随时加入。这意味着您甚至不需要在应用程序上拥有朋友即可使用Viber。这些聊天有无限数量的成员、他们自己的管理员和负责聊天的版主。您甚至可以创建自己的社区并结识与您有相同观点和兴趣的新朋友。
Facebook Messenger – 具有额外功能的信使( – The One With Extra Functionality)
许多人认为，如果没有活跃的Facebook 帐户，您将无法(Facebook account)使用(t use) Messenger。实际上，您可以将Facebook Messenger用作独立应用程序(standalone app)。您只需注册您的手机号码即可。唯一的区别是，如果您已经拥有Facebook 帐户(Facebook account)，您将在您的Messenger联系人中看到您所有的Facebook好友。
该应用程序具有所有标准功能，例如使用群聊、对消息作出反应以及删除您已发送的消息的能力。Messenger还支持文件传输，因此您可以与朋友分享照片和视频(photos and videos)。您还可以使用应用内的相机拍摄自己的照片和视频(photos and videos)，然后在应用中使用滤镜和编辑工具对其进行编辑，并将它们发送给您的联系人。
不过， Messenger(Messenger)与其他应用程序相比的一个显着区别是它能够做的不仅仅是聊天。在聊天中，点击左下角的四个点，您将看到可以从联系人开始的活动列表。这包括分享您的位置、设置提醒、玩游戏、一起观看视频等等。
适合您的完美短信应用程序(The Perfect Texting App For You)
最后，这一切都归结为您想要从消息传递应用程序中获得什么。无论是出色的安全性、广泛的功能还是顶级定制，肯定有一款可以满足您的需求和偏好的应用程序。
但是，如果您正在寻找已经证明其价值的消息传递客户端，请尝试我们列表中的一个应用程序。(messaging client)如果您找到对您来说最方便和最满意的那个，也许您可以让您的联系人切换到一个更好的选择。
6 Best Free Messaging Apps for Android
Do you remember the last time you went a whоle day without sending оr receiving a text? Probably not. Whеther you’re using your computer to send messages or your phone, it’s a big part of your communication online. And sometimes using a default messenger app on your device simply isn’t enough.
Thankfully, there are plenty of third-party messaging apps for Android to choose from. Whether you’re looking for something very straight-forward with a minimum number of functions, or searching for an app that will let you customize everything about it down to the very last symbol.
There are many reasons why you might want to start using Telegram right now. To name a few, the ability to send large media files, have “secret” chats with your friends, edit or delete messages after you send them, or even watch YouTube videos while chatting to people.
However, Telegram’s creators pride themselves on putting security as their main priority. With this app, you can send encrypted messages without worrying about your private conversations staying private. The app also allows you to use a proxy server which can further help you protect your data.
When it comes to chatting, Telegram also has plenty of special features that other messaging apps are lacking. For example, you can use multiple phone number within the app. If you’re creating a group chat, you don’t need to be worried about the number of people you’re adding to it. In Telegram you can have a group chat with up to 200,000 participants.
The app is also very customizable. There’s an auto-night mode, various themes and chat backgrounds to choose from. You can also use Telegram’s live location share feature to track your family and friends from your phone. So if you’re looking for a messaging app that has it all, Telegram deserves to be on top of your list.
Signal – The Most Secure One
If strong security is a deal breaker for you, consider making Signal your primary messaging app. The app uses strong end-to-end encryption and doesn’t store any user records. While you do need to register a valid phone number to use it, that’s the only information that can be revealed about your use of the app.
Other features that make Signal one of the most secure messaging apps include setting an additional screen lock on the app, hiding notifications from your lock screen, and self-destructing messages.
The latter is actually an extremely useful feature, since on other apps you sometimes have to learn how to send self-destructing messages. On Signal you can simply switch the “disappearing messages” function on, and the app will do all the work for you.
Android Messages – The Simple Option
Sometimes you don’t have to go far to find what you’re looking for. Android Messages is Google’s official texting app that has the minimal number of all the basic features for the average user.
Android Messages supports RCS features, which means that you can get extra chat functionality like read receipts, and file transfers. The app also has a dark mode, perfect for low-light environment. If you ever need to send messages from your computer, you can also do that using the app’s official website.
WhatsApp – The Convenient One
While there might be many alternative messaging clients, the majority of users in the West keep using WhatsApp. One of the main reasons for that is the app’s popularity. Most of your friends are already using WhatsApp, so why choose a different messenger?
Plus, if you are looking for an option that has a good balance between the amount of features, security, and customization, WhatsApp might be the best choice for you.
Among the most useful features this app comes with is live location sharing, switching from one phone number to another while keeping your WhatsApp data, and the ability to “unsend” your messages. On top of that, WhatsApp caters to voice and video calling – a feature that’s not available on Telegram, for instance.
WhatsApp also uses end-to-end encryption for both messages and file transfers, which means that the messages are removed from the servers once they’re delivered.
Viber – The One For Making Friends
Viber is another messaging app with an interface and functionality similar to WhatsApp. And there are plenty of reasons you might want to choose it as your main chatting app. You can liven up your texts with stickers and GIFs, as well as voice and video messages.
When it comes to security, Viber has secret chats that come with a self-destruct timer. You can set it to delete messages in a certain conversation to make sure your private information stays private. One interesting feature the app has is the ability to call any mobile or landline in the world. The service is called Viber Out, and while it’s not free, it’s definitely useful if you’re trying to contact someone who’s not a Viber user.
However, the main feature that makes this messaging app stand out is Viber Communities. They’re public group chats that you can join at any moment. Meaning you don’t even need to have friends on the app to use Viber. These chats have unlimited number of members, their own admins and moderators who look after the chats. You can even start your own community and meet new people that share your views and interests.
Many people believe that you can’t use Messenger without having an active Facebook account. In reality, you can use Facebook Messenger as a standalone app. All you need to sign up is your mobile number. The only difference is, if you already have a Facebook account, you’ll see all of your Facebook friends in your Messenger contacts already.
The app comes with all the standard features, like using group chats, reacting to messages, and the ability to remove the messages you already sent. Messenger also supports file transfers, so you can share photos and videos with your friends. You can also use the in-app camera to capture your own photos and videos, then edit them in the app using filters and editing tools, and send them to your contacts.
One distinctive difference that Messenger has compared to other apps though is the ability to do more than just chatting. Inside a chat, tap on the four dots in the bottom-left corner and you’ll see a list of activities that you can start with your contacts. That includes sharing your location, setting reminders, playing games, watching videos together, and many more.
The Perfect Texting App For You
In the end, it all comes down to what you want from your messaging app. Whether it’s excellent security, extensive functionality, or over-the-top customization, there’s definitely an app out there that can cater to your needs and preferences.
But if you’re looking for a messaging client that’s already proven its worth, give one of the apps from our list a try. And if you find the one that’s most convenient and satisfying for you, maybe you can get your contacts to switch to a better option with you.
