Editor's Note: This story was last updated on July 25, 2023.
Cellphones are an important fixture in the lives of most people and, in some cases, a seemingly permanent extension of their hands both at home and abroad. Our cellphones serve as cameras, GPS systems, research engines and, of course, a tool that helps us keep in touch with friends and family.
Connecting with loved ones while overseas was once a complicated and even pricy endeavor. And in some cases, it still is — many major service providers charge as much as $10 per day to access data and to text internationally, or even $50-70 per month with additional charges.
That’s where international texting apps come in. Though some may still require users to activate their cellphone’s international data plan, patient travelers can always wait for Wi-Fi access to make use of these apps for free.
Here are some of the most dependable international text-messaging apps available today.
Facebook Messenger
Though not as popular on an international scale, Facebook Messenger is ideal for many U.S. travelers as an alternative to WhatsApp. As most people were forced to download Facebook Messenger when it became the only way to access messages from a cellphone, chances are your friends and families already have this app. Since the contacts are all based on your Facebook friends — and now even Instagram followers — it’s much easier to find the majority of the people you know through the app.
The Facebook Messenger system works just like a regular text message. Once you drop your friends a note, they’ll get a push notification on their phone, even if they’re not actively using Facebook. The text message app also offers group messaging, video and audio calls, and the ability to video call with a group in a feature called Rooms. Facebook Messenger can be used for both iPhone and Android.
KakaoTalk
Launched in 2010, KakaoTalk is the most popular text-messaging app in South Korea; in fact, 2018 data from various Korean government agencies estimated that KaokaoTalk made up 99.2% of the country's message app usage. As of October 2022, KaokaoTalk has more than 53 million active users around the world and can be found in 15 different languages.
It’s easy to understand why: Kakao lets you share videos and photos, create group texts and send an SMS to anyone in the world who also has the app for free. Once downloaded, the app will synchronize with your phone’s existing contacts to locate other users of the app. If you want to send a message to someone whose phone number you don’t have, you can also search for it through the app.
In addition to allowing users to text and chat for free, Kakao also facilitates video chats and has fun features such as voice filters, emojis, games and even a shopping platform.
Line
Line was first launched in Japan and quickly became popular on a global scale, but especially in Asia, in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan in particular. Available on Apple, Android and Windows devices, Line is a free messenger and social media app that allows users to send texts, create group chats and make international voice and video calls. Similar to KakaoTalk, the person you’re messaging must also be a Line user, though there’s also a feature that will let you message someone without the app.
Although originally intended for helping users communicate with each other, Line now does much more. The app can provide news updates, offers medical consultations with health professionals, and can be used to make online payments, among many other features.
Signal
Known for its higher standards of privacy and message encryption, Signal is also gaining popularity as an international text-messaging app. With similar functionality to WhatsApp, travelers with Signal can utilize the app to send text and voice messages, create group chats and make video calls. Like most messaging services, Signal also offers fun GIFs and stickers to help users express themselves with a little more creativity.
Signal is free and is run by an independent nonprofit organization. It’s available on Apple and Android cellphones. It also has a desktop version for Macs.
Telegram Messenger
With more than 500 million users worldwide, Telegram Messenger deserves a mention. This instant messenging app syncs across all of a user’s devices, and all communication and files sent on Telegram are encrypted. Group chats are a favored feature, and users can share media and files of any size, with all media being stored on the Telegram cloud, not your device. The app also claims to be incredibly strong, in that it can operate with “even the weakest mobile connection.”
Viber
Popular in Asian and Middle Eastern countries, Viber is another great option for people looking to text and chat for free. Unlike other apps, Viber doesn’t require you to create an account. Instead, it uses your phone number as a way to identify you and will automatically identify people in your contacts list that are also Viber users. Additionally, Viber features a Communities option that lets users connect with each other based on mutual interests.
It works for both iPhone and Android users and can make calls and send messages to users of both.
WeChat
The most popular messaging app in China, WeChat boasts nearly than 1.7 billion accounts at last published count. WeChat functions more like a Web browser than a messaging app: The app connects its users to 10 million other apps that provide services such as calling a taxi or managing finances. These third-party “apps” resemble websites and independently offer direct payment and customer service. WeChat is essentially an all-in-one app that includes a free messaging platform.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide and is supported by most mobile systems, including iPhone, Android and Windows. Since 2016, WhatsApp stopped charging subscription fees for messaging other WhatsApp users, further solidifying its position as one of the best international texting apps.
WhatsApp also offers group messaging, group video calls, as well as audio calls and voice messaging.
