After Facebook's radical decisions, WhatsApp users are being sent a notification they are forced to accept. The WhatsApp accounts of people who don't accept it will be deleted after 8 February. The fact that it isn't mandatory in European Union countries, where the choice is left to the user, has exposed WhatsApp's double standard, and people in many countries have objected and said they'll delete WhatsApp. In this post, let's talk about 5 mobile apps that can replace WhatsApp for people who decide to stop using it.
WhatsApp was a messaging service founded in 2012 that reached millions of users in a short time. Many people liked it for ad-free messaging and for being careful about the privacy of user data. Then, in 2014, Facebook bought WhatsApp for 19 billion dollars. From that date on, everything started to change. Step by step, Facebook changed WhatsApp's policy against user privacy, and most recently the scandal of a few days ago came to light.
By sending a notification that asks for approval to let Facebook and its companies use personal data, WhatsApp has started to fall out of favour. Signal, recommended by Elon Musk; Telegram, the Russia-based app that is the world's most popular messaging platform after WhatsApp; China-based WeChat and a few other apps have reached high download numbers in the stores. In this post I'll show you the alternatives and explain their differences as best I can.
Mobile apps as an alternative to WhatsApp: Signal, Telegram, Viber, LINE, Turkcell BiP
Signal — ad-free and secure, recommended by Elon Musk too
Signal promises a high level of security and, besides being the rival most similar to WhatsApp, has a very transparent policy. It's a service that takes great care over the privacy of user data. With video and voice calls and its other features, it's no worse than WhatsApp. On top of that, the Android version also replaces the regular SMS app, so anyone who wants can manage all their messages in one place. It's also recommended by world-famous security experts like Edward Snowden.
Telegram — WhatsApp's strongest rival (Russia-based)
With very broad limits in terms of features, Telegram has long been a rival that worries WhatsApp. Switching to Telegram is a little hard for people used to WhatsApp's style, but once you get used to it, its features and simple interface win you over. In this period, Telegram will be one of the most common choices instead of WhatsApp.
Viber — delete the messages you've sent whenever you want
WhatsApp's other big alternative, Viber, can also send video, voice and text messages. On top of that, the time limit for deleting a message, which is 5 minutes in WhatsApp, is unlimited in Viber. With its built-in games, it also lets you have a fun time with your friends. Its weak points are a cluttered interface, with features not every type of user needs, and the large amount of space it takes up.
LINE — Japan-based, with no need to enter a phone number
LINE is a feature-rich messaging app that has been running since 2011. Like WhatsApp, it has video and voice calls and status posts, and it doesn't force you to enter a phone number when you sign up. You can manage several accounts in one app. LINE also offers a “Shake it” feature that makes meeting new friends easy and fun.
Turkcell BiP — for those looking for a new app they can fully trust
BiP, the WhatsApp alternative from our brotherly country Turkey, has video and voice calls. It also has channel subscriptions, one of Telegram's best-loved features. If its feature for sending money between users, which for now only works in Turkey, comes to Azerbaijan soon, many people may come to love this app and use it.
WeChat is a strong WhatsApp alternative, but it isn't on the list because it's no better than WhatsApp on privacy.
