9 Best Internet Texting Apps on Android Phones in 2021

Let’s face it.

Your service provider can’t give you great coverage everywhere.

There will be places where your connection will be spotty. What’s worse is normal text messages can get delayed or left unsent. But what if you want to talk to your family members abroad?

Here’s a fact:

Even if your network provider caters unlimited texting or calling, mobile users will almost always use WiFi texting apps.

We all know this…

Students, professionals, and even baby boomers who own a smartphone will always have an app for texting over WiFi. It is proven to be more convenient especially for people who live across the borders.

And it’s not a secret that everywhere you go, there will almost always be wireless internet available.

WiFi texting has taken over and the communication line will always be open to anybody who wants to be connected.

Now, here’s the thing:

If you want to start texting on Android over WiFi, you’ll need an app that comes with a lot of benefits.

Here are the best apps for texting over WiFi that you can use to get in touch with your loved ones and friends. But before you do, check out the JoyofAndroid Apps section for cool new Android Apps.

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9 Best Free Texting Online App

If you’re looking for a free texting app that would let you text online, then you’ve come to the right place. We listed down 9 of the best apps that let you do online text for free. So without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

1. WhatsApp
2. Viber
3. Facebook Messenger
4. Telegram
5. IMO
6. Kakaotalk
7. Hangouts
8. Talk Free
9. Signal Private Messenger
10. textPlus
11. WeChat

1. WhatsApp

WhatsApp brings a lot of useful features to the table, like video chatting, picture sharing, file sharing, in-app video player, and voice messaging. WhatsApp is so versatile that you can even download an installer and use it on your laptop. If you’re not comfortable with installing, you can access this app right from your browser.

WhatsApp is probably the most well-known and accessible way to text over WiFi. You can create groups where you can talk to up to 256 people at once. You can also share moments or updates with your contacts by uploading your WhatsApp stories. These features will definitely make your messaging experience a better one.

Pros: 

• Easy user interface
• Works over mobile data when it’s available
• Has an encryption system
• WhatsApp Business for entrepreneurs

Cons: 

• Requires a phone number to register
• Video calling is not available in Qatar, KSA, and UAE

2. Viber

Launched in 2010, Viber has over 200 million subscribers all over the world. This WiFi texting app has a lot of fun stickers and emoticons which is very popular to the younger generation. Just like Whatsapp, Viber also has video calling, file sharing, voice messages etc.

Additionally, you can get more features with Viber’s chat extensions. You can now send videos from YouTube directly from the app, share tons of GIFs, and even book restaurants or hotels without exiting the app.

Don’t have a WiFi connection but needs to make an outgoing call? Viber users can enjoy international and local calls with the lowest rates using Viber Out.

Pros: 

• Easy user interface
• Works over mobile data when it’s available
• Has an encryption system
• Viber Out

Cons: 

• Requires a phone number to register
• Video calling is not available in Qatar, KSA, and UAE
• Consumes a lot of storage space

3. Facebook Messenger

Facebook has taken messaging to a whole new level with Facebook Messenger.

If you have a Facebook account, you are automatically entitled to use this app. You don’t have to register your mobile number to do so. Get in touch with your friends even if they are not in your phonebook. You can also challenge your friends in an in-app game.

It also has the same features as Viber and Whatsapp. What’s more, Messenger can enable you to send and receive money through a PayPal account or by adding your debit or credit card details. However, this feature is only available in the US.

Pros: 

• Easy user interface
• Works over mobile data when it’s available
• Doesn’t require a mobile number to register

Cons: 

• Messenger is not available in Bangladesh, China, Iran, and North Korea
• Video calling is not available on the above countries including Qatar, KSA, and UAE
• Consumes a lot of storage space

4. Telegram

Looking for an instant messaging application? Telegram may be a good fit for you. Being a cloud-based application, you can use telegram on mobile devices. Providing great safety for users, this platform is helpful not only to send messages, but also for media files. 

Some people consider Telegram a good alternative to chat and text messaging. With a streamlined interface, the messaging platform has a small learning curve along with the impressive customizing features. One of the major highlights of telegram is that it allows users to create a group of up to 200,000 members. 

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Instant messaging
• Easy to share files

Cons 

• Less security features in group chats

5. IMO

IMO is great for people who are living in the Middle East or who have loved ones staying on this side of the planet. Since the recent blockade, Qatar has banned the use of video calling apps. IMO is the only acceptable WiFi texting app that does video-calling in Qatar.

It has a very simple user interface and provides high-quality definition videos. Its texting capabilities over WiFi is straightforward and is being used by a large number of Android users. It doesn’t have the comprehensive features of other WiFi texting apps like location sharing but it has a clean aesthetic.

Pros: 

• Easy user interface
• Works over mobile data when it’s available
• HD video quality

Cons: 

• Desktop version doesn’t support numbers in the US
• No location sharing
• Requires a phone number to register
• In-app ads can be annoying

6. Kakaotalk

Also known as KaTalk, this WiFi texting app has basic features like the others previously mentioned. What sets this apart is its polling and scheduling features. Plus, it can accommodate a conference call for up to 5 users.

It has about 150 million users worldwide and is available in 15 languages. Most of its users are from Asia, with South Korea and Thailand being the top consumers. While using this app, you can find other people using their username or email address, or animate your voice using voice filters. It also acts as a walkie talkie.

Pros: 

• Works over mobile data when it’s available
• Available in 15 languages

Cons: 

• Unreliable end to end encryption
• Not many users outside of Asia
• Requires a phone number to register

7. Hangouts

Hangouts is a WiFi texting app developed by Google that supports text messaging, video chats, and voice chat. Unlike other Android texting apps, Hangouts uses your Gmail account to register.

Most Android users will have this app automatically set-up in their devices. They only need to finish the registration process and they’re good to go. Like Viber, it can make real phone calls via Google Voice by using call credits which can easily be bought directly from Google.

Hangouts can also let you send videos, sketches done from its drawing tool, and spreadsheets. It can be accessed on your browser or installed in your laptop for when you don’t want to switch between your laptop and your phone.

Pros: 

• Video conference of up to 25 Hangouts user
• Minimize a call so you can still send text messages

Cons: 

• Hard to navigate especially for newbies

8. Text Free

Text Free is a different kind of experience from WhatsApp, since anyone you text with Text Free doesn’t need the service, even though there are certain perks if both of you are using the app while you send messages. It doesn’t stop at just texting either, it’s easy to use Text Free for WiFi calls too.

The biggest downside of Text Free is the number system. When you sign up for a Text Free account you’re given a number from a list, making that the number anyone will see in their messages. Worse, if you don’t use your number in a while, there’s a chance you’ll lose it and have it taken by someone else.

Pros: 

• Easy to use to send texts and calls to any other number
• Interface is simple, as it should be
• Has group chats and stickers
• Can be treated like a real US phone number

Cons: 

• You can lose your number if you don’t use it frequently
• Ads and in-app purchases abound

9. Signal Private Messenger

Let’s move back to something like WhatsApp, but with a bigger focus on security. If you are keen to security and privacy, Signal is the best WiFi texting app you need.

Before enjoying this app’s perks though, both recipients need to have this app installed, just like most texting apps require. This isn’t a problem if whoever you’re WiFi texting has the same security concerns, but it isn’t always easy to convince someone to download a new app.

Signal has almost exactly all of the same perks as WhatsApp, but it’s wrapped up in a more secure shell that leaves its users feeling safe and protected. There was a scare recently about Android encryption, and we talked about it more here if you haven’t already heard about it.

So if Signal and WhatsApp are pretty much the same, why should you choose one over the other? While the two are the same feature wise, Signal is more about privacy with the people you talk with and staying away from the people you don’t want around.

Pros: 

• Options for group chatting
• Lets you send media files of multiple types
• Easy to communicate and clear old messages over time
• Encrypted and secure

Cons: 

• Doesn’t hold onto messages for as long as other apps
• You can’t use your phone number to send messages traditionally

10. textPlus: Free Text & Calls

textPlus is an app that is slightly more complex and is an alternative to Text Free. With textPlus, you will have more customization features to play with. At the same time, you still have most of the benefits that an app like Text Free provides.

You will enjoy free WiFi calling and texting, all from a real US phone number. Having a real phone number to use means you can text and call anyone without them needing to have the same app, making textPlus easy to use. The only downside to this is you can’t use the same number you’ve always used, it must be a different one on sign up.

The tradeoff is worth it to be able to send SMS and MMS over WiFi, and even take and receive calls.

Pros: 

• Tons of customization options to make your app look unique
• Group messaging and media files compatible
• A real US phone number to use as long as you keep up with it

Cons: 

• In-app purchases to get rid of ads
• You’ll lose your number if you don’t use it for a while

11. WeChat

You might have heard about WeChat. This is a Chinese messaging platform that helps you to send messages and interact with social media. Along with these benefits, WeChat also features mobile payment. 

The platform has more than 1.2 billion active users due to its impressive features, a major proportion of the users coming from China. Even though it might have less security features compared to other messaging applications.

Pros 

• Free chat offers
• User-friendly features
• A great space to enhance interaction

Cons

• Privacy might be an issue

Download the app via official website.

FAQs

Suggested reads:

• 5 Most Secure Messaging Apps For Android
• 5 Instant Messaging Apps on Android to Chat All Day
• Child Safe Messaging Apps on Android

Conclusion

While you can’t text over WiFi using just your phone number alone, there are apps that give you little workarounds. Most of the time, this means you have to get your contacts on board with another app or adopt another number. But being able to text whenever you have a WiFi connection makes the struggle worth it.

If you’re going to ask us, what is the best texting app for Android out of the 9 apps presented? It would definitely be WhatsApp because it has the largest number of users available worldwide. You can do virtually anything with it and is the ultimate to-go WiFi texting apps for everyone.

Do you want a more elaborate voice calling experience? Check out the Best Android Headphones, Earphones, and Earbuds on the market today.

If you have a WiFi texting option you love to use that you don’t see up here, feel free to tell us about it down below!

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