Best Totally Free Texting Apps in 2024

With the rise of smartphones, texting has become one of the most common forms of communication. However, many users are looking for free texting apps that can save them from paying for SMS charges or offer additional features. Fortunately, many apps allow you to send text messages without any cost, whether you're texting within your country or internationally. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best totally free texting apps in 2024.


1. WhatsApp: A Global Favorite

WhatsApp remains one of the most popular free texting apps worldwide, with over 2 billion active users. It’s free to use and allows you to send text messages, make voice and video calls, and share media such as photos, videos, and documents. WhatsApp uses your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) instead of traditional SMS, which means it’s free as long as you have an internet connection.

Key Features:

  • Free Texting: Send unlimited texts to anyone with WhatsApp, globally, over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
  • Voice & Video Calls: Make free voice and video calls to anyone with WhatsApp, no matter where they are.
  • Group Chats: Create group chats with up to 1,024 people.
  • File Sharing: Share images, videos, documents, and voice messages.

Why It’s Great:

  • WhatsApp is widely used and ensures that you can communicate with almost anyone across the globe without incurring any fees, as long as you have an internet connection.

Limitations:

  • WhatsApp requires a phone number to sign up, and while it doesn't charge for texting, it uses your mobile data or Wi-Fi.

2. Telegram: Secure and Feature-Rich Messaging

Telegram is another incredibly popular free texting app known for its security features and versatility. With over 700 million active users, Telegram allows users to send unlimited free text messages, voice notes, and multimedia content.

Key Features:

  • Free Texting: Telegram allows you to send unlimited texts to anyone, anytime, free of charge.
  • End-to-End Encryption: For added privacy, Telegram offers end-to-end encryption in secret chats.
  • Large Groups & Channels: Create groups with up to 200,000 members or broadcast messages in channels.
  • Cross-Platform: Available on mobile, desktop, and web versions, allowing seamless communication.
  • Bots & Customization: Telegram includes bots that can help automate certain tasks and enhance your experience.

Why It’s Great:

  • Telegram is free to use and provides a high level of security and privacy. It’s especially useful for users who want secure messaging or wish to send large files and media.

Limitations:

  • While Telegram is popular, it may not have the same widespread adoption as WhatsApp, especially in certain regions.

3. Signal: Privacy-Focused Messaging

If privacy is your top priority, Signal is the app for you. It’s a completely free app that uses end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls, making it one of the safest messaging apps available. It’s used by privacy advocates, journalists, and anyone looking for a secure communication platform.

Key Features:

  • Free Texting: Send unlimited text messages to anyone using Signal, with no fees, via Wi-Fi or data.
  • End-to-End Encryption: All messages are encrypted, ensuring only the sender and receiver can read them.
  • Voice & Video Calls: Make free, secure calls to anyone using Signal.
  • No Ads, No Tracking: Signal is ad-free and does not track your conversations or personal data.

Why It’s Great:

  • Signal offers the highest level of security and privacy, making it ideal for anyone who needs safe communication. It’s completely free with no hidden fees or advertising.

Limitations:

  • Signal requires phone number verification, and while it prioritizes privacy, it’s less popular than WhatsApp or Telegram, meaning some contacts might not be using it.

4. Google Messages: A Convenient Texting App for Android

For Android users, Google Messages is a convenient and free texting app that provides both SMS and internet-based messaging (RCS). It’s typically pre-installed on Android devices and can be used to send texts over your mobile network or Wi-Fi.

Key Features:

  • Free Texting (RCS): Google Messages supports Rich Communication Services (RCS), which allows texting over the internet, similar to WhatsApp or iMessage, for free.
  • SMS & MMS Support: Send traditional SMS/MMS messages to anyone, even if they don’t have an internet connection.
  • Group Chats: Support for group conversations with multimedia sharing.
  • Smart Features: Google’s integration with AI offers features like smart replies, message search, and suggested responses.

Why It’s Great:

  • Google Messages works natively on Android devices and allows for both free internet-based messaging and traditional texting, giving you the best of both worlds.

Limitations:

  • While RCS messaging is free, standard SMS/MMS charges may apply, depending on your mobile carrier’s plan.
  • RCS only works if both parties use a carrier that supports RCS messaging, which may not always be the case.

5. Facebook Messenger: Popular and Free

Facebook Messenger is widely used for texting, both among friends and businesses. It allows users to send free messages to anyone with a Facebook account, and while it requires an internet connection, it’s completely free of charge.

Key Features:

  • Free Texting: Send unlimited text messages, voice notes, photos, and videos to Facebook friends for free.
  • Voice & Video Calls: Make free voice and video calls.
  • Games and Bots: Play games, send money, and interact with bots within the app.
  • Cross-Platform: Messenger is available on mobile, desktop, and even as a standalone app.

Why It’s Great:

  • If you already use Facebook, Messenger is a convenient and free option to stay connected with friends and family.
  • The integration of Messenger with Facebook’s social network makes it easy to communicate with contacts who may not have another messaging app.

Limitations:

  • Messenger requires a Facebook account, and some users may be concerned about privacy due to Facebook’s data collection practices.

6. Viber: A Global Messaging Platform

Viber is a free messaging app with over 1 billion downloads. It allows users to send free text messages, make calls, and share multimedia content. It’s especially popular in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.

Key Features:

  • Free Texting: Send free messages to any Viber user worldwide.
  • Voice & Video Calls: Make free calls and video chats with other Viber users.
  • Group Chats: Create groups with up to 250 members.
  • File Sharing: Send multimedia files, such as photos, videos, and voice messages.

Why It’s Great:

  • Viber allows free international texting and calls, making it ideal for users who need to connect with people in other countries without incurring fees.

Limitations:

  • Viber requires users to have an internet connection to use, and it may not be as widely adopted in some regions as WhatsApp or Messenger.

7. TextNow: A Free Phone Service App

TextNow provides a completely free texting and calling service, primarily in the United States and Canada. It offers a free phone number, which can be used to send unlimited texts and calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Key Features:

  • Free Texting: Send unlimited free text messages to any phone number within the U.S. or Canada.
  • Free Calls: Make free calls to any U.S. or Canadian number.
  • Free Phone Number: Get a free phone number for texting and calling.
  • Cross-Platform: Available on both mobile and desktop platforms.

Why It’s Great:

  • TextNow is a great option for users in North America who need a free phone number and texting service. It’s ideal for those looking to avoid SMS charges.

Limitations:

  • Free services are available only for U.S. and Canadian users, and it may require ad views or premium subscriptions for certain features.

Conclusion: Which Free Texting App Should You Use?

The best free texting app depends on your specific needs and preferences:

  • WhatsApp and Telegram are perfect for international texting and offer secure, feature-rich messaging platforms.
  • Signal is ideal for privacy-conscious users who want maximum security.
  • Google Messages and Facebook Messenger offer convenient free texting for Android and Facebook users, respectively.
  • Viber is a solid choice for global communication, while TextNow is excellent for those seeking a free phone number.

All of these apps are free to download and use, but always be mindful of the data charges when using mobile data or international texting, as some platforms may still rely on these networks for certain features.