At launch Google Hangouts was lauded as the messaging app of the future, providing users with an all-in-one package that supported SMS, IM, voice calls, video calls, and on top of that, it worked on almost all platforms. Coming from the stables of one of the biggest tech companies in the world Hangouts definitely showed promise, which is why users flocked to the messaging app. Hangouts’ popularity also grew due to the fact that it was integrated within a couple of Google products, including Gmail and Google+ (RIP), and it also came pre-installed on a number of Android devices. However, Hangouts went full enterprise last year, aiming to become a Slack alternative, leaving behind a ton of users looking for other Hangouts alternatives.
1. WhatsApp
Let’s kick off the list with the most obvious alternative to hangout there is. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is the most widely used instant messaging app out there and for good reason. The app offers everything you’d expect from a good instant messenger, including text, voice and video support, media transfers, and group chats. On top of that, the app also supports voice messages, which really come in handy if you don’t feel like typing out a text and are too lazy to make a call.
Price: Free
Discord is another app you can try out as a Hangouts replacement. While the app is primarily targeted at gamers, Discord packs in some amazing features that make it the best chat app/messenger I’ve tried till date. The app features voice chat capabilities, along with real-time messaging, push notifications, easy invites and group chat support. You can even share media like videos, images and GIFs on the platform, with additional features like communities that you can join and interact with others who share the same interests as you.
Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web
In case Discord is too gamer-y for you, but you still want a feature rich instant messaging app that is similar to Hangouts, then you should consider checking out Telegram. The app not only includes the usual features that you’d find in any other instant messaging app, including text and voice support and media transfers, it also includes some unique features like 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, 2049-bit RSA encryption, and Diffie-Hellman secure key exchange, which make it one of the most secure messaging apps out there.
Telegram also includes a bunch of other useful features, allowing users to create group chats with up to 100,000 members, set up bots for specific tasks, use extensive photo/video editing tools, and send self-destructing secret chats. With all of that in two, you’d expect Telegram to be quite expensive, but it’s absolutely free to use and it doesn’t even feature any ads. For a more in-depth look at all the cool things Telegram has to offer, you can check out our post on cool Telegram messenger tricks.
Signal is another great instant messaging app that you can use to fill the void left by Hangouts. The app also features most of the usual features found on other instant messaging apps, including text, voice and video support, group chat support and media transfer support. What’s unique about Signal, however, is that it allows users to send traditional SMS messages, which none of the aforementioned apps offer.
5. Wire
Privacy conscious individuals looking for a Hangouts alternative should also check out Wire – a secure instant messenger which is directed at businesses and professionals. Although the app offers all of the usual features you’d expect from an instant messenger, it’s a bit more professional looking than Hangouts and has some cool features to help improve your team’s productivity. Wire allows you to communicate with your team via both private and group conversations, and even supports file transfers which is crucial for an office setting.
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If you’re looking for an instant messaging app that also fulfills your social media needs then you should take a look at LINE. Much like any other app on this list, and similar to Hangouts, LINE offers text messaging, voice call and video call support, along with media transfer and group chat features, but the app’s social media features really set it apart. The app has a Facebook-like timeline on which you can share messages, photos, videos and locations with your friends and you can even connect with celebrities on the platform.
The Viber Messenger is also a great Hangouts substitute that you can check out, which features pretty much everything you’d find in Hangouts, or any modern instant messaging app. Just like Hangouts, Viber has text support, a voice and video calling feature, support for group chats with up to 250 people per group, along with a wide range of stickers that you can use to spruce up your conversation.
Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome OS
Facebook’s Messenger is also a feature packed Hangouts replacement that you can use. One of the big things about Hangouts was that most people were already on the platform since it was connected to their Google accounts, and that’s exactly what makes Messenger a good option — a vast number of people are already on Facebook, so you can easily connect with them using Messenger. The app features multi-platform support, allowing users to connect with each other no matter which device they’re using and it supports all the usual instant messaging features that people commonly use.
Messenger differentiates itself from competitors by offering a feature packed video calling feature and a decent camera app, which include a bunch of cool overlays that you can use to liven up your photos/video. Messenger also has quite a large hub for games, allowing users to play with friends and compare scores with all of their Facebook friends. Another great feature worth noting is that Messenger also allows users to directly connect with businesses, which can really come in handy if you want to make reservations or get real-time customer service. The app also has a wide selection of bots that are capable of all kinds of things to make life easier for users.
Kik is another app that you can use to stay connected to friends and family. The app includes all of the usual features that you’d find in Hangouts, including text support, group video chats, media transfers, etc., but the way it allows you to connect with people without sharing your phone number differentiates it from the rest.
10. Skype
Last, but not the least, is Microsoft’s own instant messaging app – Skype. The app needs no introduction, because it’s been around for quite a while now, and it still remains a compelling option for several reasons. The app is simple to use, features all of the common instant messaging features, including support for group video calls (up to 24 people!), media transfer, voice calls, and it’s available on almost all platforms.
