Top 10 Most Popular Messenger Apps In The USA

When was the last time you actually sent a normal SMS text message? Kinda foggy, isn’t it? A lot of people - especially the younger generation - are choosing to communicate with their friends and family over messenger apps as opposed to the messaging platform connected to their phone number.Why the sudden switch? Well, messenger apps are just a little bit more “fun”.

You can easily send GIFs and stickers, there are almost always “read” receipts and sometimes you can even send quick voice notes or video messages.

What’s important to note too is that many people are turning to SMS messenger apps to stay in contact with not only friends and family but clients as well.

It’s an essential part of any small business or agency; and with new designs and up and coming features being integrated into SMS messenger apps, the sky is the limit when it comes to the instant message.

In this article, we’re going to go through the top 10 most popular messenger apps in the US right now and why you may (or may not) want to download them:

1. Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger comes in first at 139 million US monthly users. Facebook Messenger app allows you to instantly stay in touch with your Facebook contacts and includes fun add-ons like the ability to communicate with GIFs, stickers, and emojis.

The FB emoji and sticker library is always being updated with new and interesting designs, making FB Messenger super fun to use and great for expressing exactly what’s on your mind.

You can also call your contacts using the voice or video call feature, send custom voice notes and even send whole documents!

2. Instagram Direct

Gone are the days where you only connect with others on Instagram with a like and a comment. The app also doubles up as a pretty popular messaging platform too.

Instagram Direct is a messaging app that links with your Instagram account and is one of the most popular messaging SMS app out there with almost 170 million monthly active users in the US.

Although you can’t link phone numbers, its main purpose is to message your Instagram contacts. This app is great for sending media such as photos and videos directly from your device’s library.

You can also send voice and video chat on the interface and send documents with ease. Their easy double tap “like” feature makes liking messages super easy and instant.

Most recently, Instagram Direct has added a notes feature that lets you post notes for followers or close contacts to see.

3. Snapchat

Next is Snapchat, with about 115.9 million users in the US, it’s still a very popular messenger app and unique in its own right.

Unlike Facebook, Snapchat allows you to easily talk to friends while sending “snaps” or videos over the platform. Depending on your settings, these “snaps” disappear seconds after they’re viewed, which makes communicating over SnapChat instant and more conversational.

You can also view stories from around the world and explore new stories in Discover.

This app is most popular amongst teens and GenZ who grew up with the app and are used to the instant way of messaging it offers.

4. Whatsapp

Whatsapp is one of the most popular SMS apps worldwide and is still prevalent in the US at 75.1 million monthly active users.

WhatApp is a sister company of Facebook, meaning Meta / Facebook owns it. WhatsApp has been successful because of its ability to add contacts through phone numbers, not just Facebook accounts.

You can link your phone number to this platform and send SMS texts and make phone calls easily.

WhatsApp touts itself as giving the user fast, simple and secure world wide calling and texting, all for free.

Something Whatsapp offers that regular SMS apps don’t is the ability to send GIFs, stickers, even videos without using up too much data.

It's also a popular platform for people to talk in group chats, without needing the same phone to do so.

5. WeChat

WeChat comes in fifth at 19 million monthly users in the US. It has a similar design to WhatsApp, but if you prefer an app that isn’t linked to Facebook, this messenger app has many of the same features you’ll find on Whatsapp, plus more.

Send photos, videos, GIFs and stickers, make voice and video calls as well as broadcast videos to large audiences, video games, sharing photos/videos and even location sharing.

A unique feature of WeChat is that it includes a translation feature, which is why it’s popular with users who need to make international calls to countries like China. WeChat can be downloaded as an app on mobile, PC and Mac.

6. Telegram

Telegram has 10 million users per month in the US and is quickly becoming a catch-all messaging app that organizes your texts and messages in one place.

The way it works is simple. Telegram collects your texts from every SMS platform on your mobile device, Mac or PC and brings them into one app. Now, instead of navigating to individual messenger apps and dealing with lags, signal or privacy issues, you can access all texts in a private and secure platform with total ease.

A unique draw to Telegram is its ability to create groups of up to 200,000 people, yup you heard that right. You can also broadcast videos to large audiences in the same way you would do for Instagram Live.

Another plus is that Telegram ensures speed and security with end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls, making it more private than messenger apps like Facebook or Instagram.

7. Signal

Signal has 9 million monthly in the US and is doing quite well for a niche SMS and calling app.

Similar to Telegram, Signal offers private and secure SMS testing with a protected signal path. What does a protected signal path mean? Signal uses end-to-end encryption to send messages and calls. With this type of encryption, Google and other third parties can’t read or access messages as they travel between devices.

This makes it a reliable and secure service for those of you who have become weary of privacy breaches from large companies like Google and Facebook.

8. Viber

Viber, owned by Rakuten, has roughly 8.2 million active users in the US and is becoming increasingly popular as a messaging app. Viber is basically a catch-all SMS app for someone who needs everything in one.

It comes with many unique features you simply won’t find in other SMS messenger apps like: the option to join communities, making custom stickers and disappearing messages.

Viber has an easy to use interface that can be synced to multiple devices with screen share capabilities. You can connect Viber to your tablet, phone, or laptop reliably at any time.

9. Zello

With 5 million monthly users in the US, Zello touts itself as the most reliable push-to-talk walkie talkie service app out there. Zello connects to your cell network and Wifi in order to give you static-free, direct channels and crystal clear broadcasts for any service you may need it for.

The Zello app can be accessed at any time and doesn’t require a reliable radio signal or constant Wifi to work. This is what makes it so successful and a must for a lot of large businesses who need to communicate over channels during their workday.

Not only that, but Zello can be used for emergencies, and communicating with friends and family members.

10. TextNow

Most messenger apps only allow you to contact other users on their platform, but TextNow is a bit different. With 1 million monthly users, TextNow has become one of the fastest growing messenger apps in North America.

Each user gets their own TextNow phone number which allows you to make free unlimited local calls and send unlimited SMS texts with a Wifi or 5G connection.

TextNow’s motto is that they want to democratize phone service so everyone can access cheap and reliable service no matter where you are.

The slight downside of this app is that it has quite a bit of advertising in order to support the reliable phone service network. But the trade off is worth it when you think about how you’re getting free phone service and can call virtually any phone number without them having to be a user. Pretty cool stuff.

Takeaways

When considering the social media aspect of your business, communication is key.

SMS messenger apps are quickly becoming catch-all platforms that offer some of the most innovative communication tools available.

They can be used for contacting clients, following up with purchases and even hosting seminars and meetings.

Integrating SMS into your agency or business will give you the outlet you need to stay in touch with your customers, employees and incoming clients with total ease.

It’s also important to remember that just because an SMS app is popular, doesn’t mean it will fit all of your business needs.

New SMS messenger apps are being designed everyday with new, innovative features like free phone service and channel broadcasting.

Which app would best suit your business and social media goals?

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