From the bot filled Yahoo chatrooms to group chat on today's smartphones, Messaging apps have come a long way. Started as a free alternative to text messages, these chat clients now offer voice calls and even video calls. However, it's very difficult to come across quality ones In the crowded repositories. Therefore, we are listing out some of the best apps to keep in touch with your friends and family.

Skype
Developer: Microsoft Corp.
This multi-platform app lets you make voice and video calls for free. It is available on smartphones, tablets, PCs, Macs, and even TVs. There are over a 250 million active users who talk, message, and share pictures. The app also offers affordable mobiles and landline calls. Although there are quite a few VOIP apps, nothing beats the voice clarity of Skype. What's more, it even lacks nagging ads. So if you happen to have friend abroad, Skype is the best way to communicate with them.

Download Links:
Click here for Android;
Click here for iOS;
Click here for Windows Phone.

Whatsapp
Developer: WhatsApp Inc
WhatsApp is available on all major smartphone platforms. This free app currently boasts of over 450 million active users. You can send video, images, and voice notes to your friends and contacts. Group conversations is perhaps the most popular feature of WhatsApp. Apart from that, you can share location, exchange contacts, broadcast messages, and MMS to many contacts at once.

Download Links:
Click here for Android;
Click here for iOS;
Click here for Windows Phone.

Line
Developer: Line Corp.
The Japanese app LINE has has grown into a global service used in 230 countries. It offers messenger, group chat, voice, and video calls. The app also features fun and expressive stickers. Apart from smartphones, LINE is also available on WIndows computers. LINE claims to be one of the most downloaded apps in 52 countries including Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Spain, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Russia, Macau, and United Arab Emirates.

Download Links:
Click here for Android;
Click here for iOS;
Click here for Windows Phone.

Viber
Developer: Viber Media Inc.
With this app, users can text, call, and send photo messages worldwide over Wi-Fi or 3G. Similar to Skype, Viber can be used to make calls to mobile and landline numbers at low rates. On Viber, your phone number is your ID. The app syncs with your mobile contact and detects which of your contacts have Viber. You can also make groups with up to 100 friends. With push-notifications in place, you're unlikely to miss a message or call, even when the Viber is off.

Download Links:
Click here for Android;
Click here for iOS;
Click here for Windows Phone.

Wechat
Developer: Tencent Technology
Developed by Tencent, the largest Internet company in APAC, this app provides free texting, voice messages, and video calls over Wi-Fi and 3G. Similar to the aforementioned apps, you can have group chats and animated smileys. There's one interesting feature that let's you locate people within few kilometre radius from your location using GPS. It also works like a Real walkie-talkie mode with up to 40 friends.

Download Links:
Click here for Android;
Click here for iOS;
Click here for Windows Phone.

If you have tried these apps, do let us know which ones you have loved the most and mention it in the below comment section.

Tags : App, WhatsApp