Best Messaging Apps in 2016 You Should Have on Your Smartphone{UPDATED}

We live in a world of instant messaging where time and distance do not matter anymore. With the latest messaging apps installed on our phones, people can reach friends instantly no matter where they are in the world. It's easy to see how mobile chat applications have made communications and our lives so much easier.

There is a slew of mobile chat apps available nowadays that can cater to different users with their own unique needs. If you are not familiar with the latest, here is a rundown of some of the most popular instant messaging applications today.

Viber

Viber is certainly one of today's most popular chat applications. Set up is pretty easy, all you need is a SIM card and phone functionality. It requires your phone number to log in and syncs with your smartphone to help you find other contacts who are also using the app. Viber allows you to send texts, photos, voice messages, videos, stickers and emoticons for free to fellow Viber users. Users are charged a fee when calling landline phones and non-Viber numbers.

WhatsApp

Another popular messaging app of today's mobile generation is WhatsApp. It's easy to set up and automatically syncs with your contacts. The app is ad-free and offers many features. You can send text messages, voice, photos and video messages to other WhatsApp contacts. WhatsApp requires phone functionality and therefore will not work on all devices. It can be used for free

hike

Hike messenger is a very popular app in India. With Hike, users can send text messages, call or share their feelings with friends and family at any time. Hike messenger supports almost any smartphone, which is leading a fast growth of user base.Hike messenger's prominent features allow sending photos without compression and keeping the quality constant. Hike also allows phone calls within 100m in radius without internet. This is such an amazing feature. 

Telegram

Aimed at security-conscious users, Telegram is quickly gaining attention. The app features encrypted chat messaging and a Secure Chat mode that provides end-to-end encryption so that only the sender and receiver can read their messages. Messages can be set to self-destruct. Users can create and join group chats of up to 200 users. Telegram also allows video and document sharing.

DoTalk

Although fairly new, DoTalk is a game-changer in the world of messaging apps. DoTalk is a talk and translate app that aims to remove the language barrier by allowing users to chat with anyone, anytime, anywhere in the world. The chat features real-time messaging that can be translated in 90 languages. You can use the mic to speak and your message will be translated in real-time. DoTalk is free to use and more features will be added in the coming months.

Facebook Messenger

As one of the most popular social networks today, it's no surprise that Facebook has its very own messaging app – Facebook Messenger. By signing in via Facebook, users can send friends chat messages, voice clips and videos. The app also features Chat Heads that pop up on the screen allowing users to chat even when using other apps. Facebook Messenger also has its arsenal of stickers for users to best express their emotions.

WeChat

With over 400 million users, WeChat is without a doubt one of the most popular messaging apps around. The app has dominated the Chinese mobile web, providing users with free instant messaging, voice and video calls, multimedia messaging and group chat. WeChat has fun features like People Nearby, Friend Radar and Shake – features that allow users to find people to chat within the immediate area.

FaceTime

Apple's very own built-in video chat, FaceTime, also remains as one of the top video chat apps today. FaceTime is built with a simple interface that allows users to make quick video calls using network connection or Wi-Fi. Available only for iOS and Mac OS X users, FaceTime does not require advanced setup or any additional software.

Skype

Since its inception, Skype has pretty much ruled the instant messaging world. While the app is widely known for its voice and video calls, it also allows users to send photos and short video messages to fellow users even when they are offline. Skype Credits are also available which allow users to call landlines and mobile phones.

ooVoo

ooVoo is yet another instant messaging and voice calling app that a lot of users find useful in their day to day communications. The app allows you to talk with up to twelve people at a time making it a great app for groups of friends from different locations who want to catch up. When linked to your Facebook account, ooVoo uploads your friends list to the contact page. While service is free between ooVoo users, calling mobile phones and landlines will cost an amount.

Hangouts

Always staying on top of things, Google also has Hangouts designed to bring people together. Hangouts allows users to talk and "hangout" with up to ten people. The app can be used via Wi-Fi and mobile networks. It allows for easy sharing of photos and has its own collection of emojis. With Hangouts, you can video chat using your smartphone or tablet.

What mobile chat app do you use? You might want to consider making the switch and use one of these apps to discover something new.