As of September 2019, Facebook Messenger was the most popular mobile messenger app in the United States with 106.4 million unique U.S. users. Snapchat ranked second with an audience of almost 45.98 million users. As of that period, Facebook Messenger had a 57 percent mobile audience reach in the United States.
Mobile messaging
Mobile communications through messenger or chat apps is one of the leading online activities. The most-downloaded communication apps in the United States include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger (and its less data-intense version, Messenger Lite) and Telegram. In March 2019, WhatsApp had over 70 million global downloads from the Google Play Store. During a November 2018 survey, it was found that 34 percent of U.S. adults had used one messaging service in the past month, and only four percent had used six services or more.
SnapchatSnapchat is also one of the leading mobile messaging apps in the United States. The app, which focuses on multimedia messaging with photos and short video clips, is especially popular with teenage audiences. In spring 2019, it was found that Snapchat was the most important social network for 41 percent of U.S. teens. In 2018, there were almost 80 million Snapchat users in the United States and this figure is projected to increase to 78.1 million users in 2023.
FAQs
Most Popular Messaging Apps in the US
- Facebook Messenger (139 million monthly users)
- Instagram Direct (170 million monthly users)
- Snapchat (115.9 million users)
- WhatsApp (75.1 million monthly users)
- WeChat (19 million monthly users)
- Telegram (10 million users)
- Signal (9 million monthly users)
Most Popular Messaging Apps
| Rank | Messaging Service | Number of Active Monthly Users |
|---|
| 1 | WhatsApp | 2.4 billion |
| 2 | Facebook Messenger | 2.1 billion |
| 3 | WeChat | 1.2 billion |
| 4 | Viber | 823 million |
7 more rowsNov 21, 2023
WhatsApp: the most used messaging app globally
A user base exceeding 2.5 billion active monthly users signifies WhatsApp's unparalleled global reach. The messenger has seamlessly integrated itself into the everyday communication practices of diverse countries.
What messenger app does Vietnam use? ›
Zalo remains the most popular messaging app in Vietnam with an 87% usage rate in 2022. Its closest competitors are Facebook with a 72% usage rate, Messenger with 58%, and Instagram with 15%, according to a recent report by Mobile Marketing Association Vietnam and Decision Lab.
What is the difference between WhatsApp and messenger? ›
The only difference is that WhatsApp is more feature-rich and can share contacts, media files, and documents without login requirements.
Is there a free app to text a US number? ›
TextPlus
TextPlus is a free texting app that uses Wi-Fi to send messages for free to anyone in the U.S. and Canada. It lets you choose your area code and change your phone number (as long as the number is still available).
Is there a better app than Messenger? ›
Telegram
Its robust security makes it a better alternative to Facebook Messenger. It is a cloud-based voice chat and messaging service. What makes it unique is that it is supported by free apps that are compatible with all leading devices.
What app is better than Messenger? ›
Telegram is hands-down the best platform for social messaging.
Which Messenger is the most secure? ›
Signal is the overall winner for both iOS and Android users. Signal created an encryption protocol that is now recognized as the most secure messaging app protocol available.
What is the oldest instant messenger? ›
The first-ever instant messaging service was called "Talkomatic" and was created in 1973 by a group of students at the University of Illinois. It allowed users to send real-time messages to each other through a shared mainframe computer. However, it was not widely used outside of the university community.
The first SMS message was sent over the Vodafone GSM network in the United Kingdom on December 3, 1992, with the words “Merry Christmas.” Israeli firm Mirabilis released the first widely used online messenger, ICQ (short for “I Seek You”), in 1996.
Can you use Messenger without Facebook? ›
You'll need to create a Facebook account to use Messenger. You can then deactivate your Facebook account and log into Messenger using your Facebook account information. This is called a Deactivated Except Messenger Account (DEMA).
What does China use instead of messenger? ›
WeChat provides text messaging, hold-to-talk voice messaging, broadcast (one-to-many) messaging, video conferencing, video games, mobile payment, sharing of photographs and videos and location sharing.
What messenger app does China use? ›
Wechat and QQ are developed by Chinese company Tencent. They are the most used message apps in China. Actually, they are based on chatting but more than that. You can also use MoMo, Miliao, WhatsApp, line, Skype, Facetime, iMessage in China.
What chat app does the military use? ›
One of the main benefits of using Troop Messenger is that it provides end-to-end encryption for all messages, ensuring that they cannot be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized parties. This feature is particularly important for military organizations, where the confidentiality of information is crucial.
What messaging app do USA use? ›
According to the latest data, Facebook Messenger is the most popular messaging app downloaded on the Google Play Store in the USA. This is no surprise, considering it also ranks among the most used messaging app globally, with an estimated one billion users.
What is American messaging app? ›
The Premier Provider of Critical, Secure Messaging Services
Using proprietary and third-party wireless networks together with proprietary, secure mobile applications, American Messaging Services, LLC provides critical, secure messaging services throughout the United States.
Why use iMessage instead of WhatsApp? ›
Sending pictures, videos, links, and miscellaneous files all takes up space, and iMessage and WhatsApp have different server capabilities. With iMessage, you can usually send files up to 100MB. iOS users might prefer iMessage to send pictures and videos because they retain their quality when sent.
How popular is WhatsApp in USA? ›
There are currently 98 million WhatsApp users in the US. According to Apptopia, as reported by Big Technology, WhatsApp's daily active users grew by 9% in the US in 2023, with 50% of WhatsApp users chatting daily on the app and 78% at least weekly.
