Are you looking for the best apps like Snapchat in 2024? Are you interested in trying other messaging apps? If your answer is yes, you are at the right place.
In this article, we will discuss the top 10 Snapchat alternatives.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Apps like Snapchat 2024
Short on time? No worries! Get a snapshot of the top apps like Snapchat in our quick comparison table below.
| Feature | Snapchat | Facebook Messenger | Telegram | Snow | Snapseed | Signal | Dust | Viber | Discord | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Download Link | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Stories/ Status Sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| AR Filters & Lenses | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Disappearing Messages | Yes | Yes (Vanish Mode) | Yes | Yes | Yes (Secret Chats) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Content Sharing | Yes (Snaps, Stories, Spotlight) | Yes (Posts, Reels, DM) | Yes (Photos, Videos) | Yes (Photos, Videos) | Yes (Large files) | Yes | Yes (Photos) | Yes (Encrypted)) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI enhancement | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Monetization | Yes (Spotlight) | Yes (Influencers, Brands) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (Donations) |
| End-to-End Encryption | Only Messages | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unique Features | AR Filters, Snap Map, Bitmoji | Reels, Live, Search | Integrated with Facebook | End-to-end encryption | Channels, Bots, Sharing large files. | Advanced AR Filters | Professional photo edits | Privacy-focused, Encrypted | Ephemeral messages | Free international calls | Communities |
| Primary User Base | Teenagers, Global | Global | Adults, Global | Global | Tech-savvy users | Asia users | Photo editors & Photographers | Privacy-conscious users | Privacy-focused users | Global | Gamers, Teens & Adults |
To dive deeper into each app’s features and benefits, continue reading below.
1. Instagram
Instagram is one of the most popular Snapchat alternatives. Everyone knows about Instagram for its enriched features like Stories, IGTV, Reels, Explore page, and beauty filters. Additionally, Instagram users can control who can see their posts and stories on their accounts.
You can use Instagram to share your media online and chat. It is available on platforms including iOS, Android, and Windows.
Comparison between Snapchat and Instagram
- In Snapchat, everything you share with another person is self-destructing whereas Instagram does not have a similar feature. But, Instagram has given an alternative to this, an Unsend button for their users to Unsend the message anytime they want.
- If someone blocks you on Snapchat, you won’t be able to know that you are blocked. Snapchat still allows you to message that person. In contrast, you can get an idea of whether someone has blocked you on Instagram.
- In Snapchat, if someone takes a screenshot from your account, you will instantly get an alert message. Meanwhile, Instagram doesn’t have any similar option.
Advantages of Instagram
- Your messages are private.
- The Instagram professional account gives you additional features like checking insights on every post, categorizing the inbox into general, and primary, channels, and more.
- Features like Live, Audio, and video calls, reels and posts scheduling, and collaboration options.
Disadvantages of Instagram
- You can not rearrange your feed. However, it has given the feature to separate your reels from regular posts.
- Huge chances that people will steal your content without giving you the credit.
- The algorithm keeps changing on Instagram which can affect engagement rates for creators.
2. Facebook Messenger
The next alternative we have in our list of apps like Snapchat is Facebook Messenger. It is a messaging app owned by Facebook- Meta is available on iOS, Windows, Android, and macOS.
Facebook Messenger is used for sharing photos, text and voice messages, and calls. It can also be used to share files, and current locations, and play games. Messenger provides end-to-end encryption to their user’s shared data.
Comparison between Snapchat and Messenger
- Messenger doesn’t support the feature of self-destructing messages like Snapchat. Additionally, features like Unsend, remove, and disappearing messages are given.
- Facebook Messenger focuses more on connectivity whereas Snapchat’s main focus is providing privacy to its users.
- People from different age groups are more likely to use Facebook Messenger instead of Snapchat.
- Facebook Messenger has another special app Messenger Kids whereas Snapchat doesn’t have any.
Advantages of Messenger
- Additional features like Bump (Works as a reminder for your previous chats), add a note (to share your thoughts with your followers), provide Highlights of your memories posted with your associated account, and meta AI (to ask anything) make it unique.
- Anyone who wants to form a tribe to help them grow professionally can use its Create community features.
- You can also make chatting, fun by adding effects to words that are special using the word effects feature.
- Features such as View media, files and links, saving media, view pinned messages, search, notifications, and sounds make it easy for users to use the app effectively.
- If you don’t want to read someone’s messages. Instead of blocking, you can restrict them.
Disadvantages of Messenger
- If you want to send someone a message via Facebook, you are required to download another app called Facebook Messenger. As they are not incorporated together. Similarly, if someone has sent you something over Messenger, you will be notified on Facebook but you can only read that once Messenger is installed on your device.
- Storage could be another disadvantage of using Messenger.
Links: Web, Android, iOS, Windows
3. WhatsApp
The third app that is similar to Snapchat in our list of top Snapchat alternatives is Whatsapp. Furthermore, WhatsApp is an app that is used for text messaging, voice messaging, audio, and video calls, sending files, live and current locations, and sending money.
Comparison between Snapchat and WhatsApp
- In WhatsApp, most of the content is shared in text format whereas, on Snapchat, the shared content is mostly visual.
- WhatsApp is more focused on practical conversations whereas Snapchat is mainly used for entertainment
- Both the platforms have their own AI bots, Whatsapp has Meta AI and Snapchat has My AI.
- WhatsApp is more secure than Snapchat as it does support end-to-end encryption.
- WhatsApp is completely ad-free whereas Snapchat shows advertisements in between the videos.
- You can easily check the last seen on WhatsApp whereas Snapchat doesn’t.
- The themes on WhatsApp can be personalized according to user’s preferences whereas Snapchat doesn’t have this feature yet.
Advantages of WhatsApp
- Shows the active status of users
- You can easily control who can see your status by updating it to my contacts, my contact except or only share with options.
- Additional features are channel creation can be utilized well for your business growth.
- Disappearing messages features based on the timer.
Disadvantages of WhatsApp
- Anyone can capture the data on WhatsApp easily.
- Possibility and risk of fraud and spreading false information.
- Storage Consumption.
- Limited no. of members in a group.
Links: Web, Android, iOS, Windows
4. Telegram
Telegram is another app like Snapchat. It is highly popular among everyone because of its enriched features including self-destructing and scheduled messages and media. The sender can choose the timing of the media they are sending. It also supports voice messages, audio, and video calls.
Additionally, you don’t need your phone to log into your account. You can simply log in with your phone number using Telegram web.
Following are the steps to log in to your telegram account using telegram web.
- Visit the official website.
- If you have your phone with you, you can choose the scan option. Otherwise, click on login by phone number.
- Now, choose the country and enter the phone Number. Then click on Next.
- You will get a code on your device. Fill in the code and you are done.
Comparison between Snapchat and Telegram
- Both of them support the feature of self-destructing.
- Telegram is available on platforms including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and the web whereas Snapchat is only available on Android and iOS.
- Users can easily personalize Telegram according to their choice whereas Snapchat doesn’t give such functionality.
- Telegram has more privacy options than Snapchat.
- Telegram doesn’t have features like filters for your photos and voice. In contrast, Snapchat offers s wide variety of filters. Anyone who knows about creating lenses and filters can launch his/her filters publicly.
Advantages of Telegram
- More secured
- Telegram is a cloud-based platform. Consequently, it can store and share large files.
- You can create large groups on Telegram.
- Other advantages include additional features like channel creation, no subscription fee, secret chats, and more.
Disadvantages of Telegram
- Telegram doesn’t provide end-to-end encryption by default but one has to choose it manually.
- It is ad-free for groups and direct chatting but not for public channels.
- The contacts list in telegram is completely dependent on your device contacts.
Links: Web, Android, iOS, Windows
5. Snow
Snow is our next app in the list of apps like Snapchat. It is highly known for its unique and huge variety of filters. The User interface and features like motion stickers and beauty effects make it very similar to Snapchat. Consequently, it is known as “Asia’s Snapchat.”
Comparison between Snapchat and Snow
- Snapchat doesn’t work in China due to their rules and regulations but snow does work.
- The story disappears after 24 hours on Snapchat. In contrast, it stays for more hours in the snow.
- The messages on Snapchat are self-destructing means they disappear after viewing whereas in snow, they stay for 24 hours.
Advantages of Snow
- Availability of a variety of options like AI Horror comics, Baby generators, hair color, AI Retro toons, and more.
- Categorization into trending, based on creator, new, etc. making it easy to understand and find the best for you
- After clicking the photos, you can directly download and share them on your other social accounts.
Disadvantages of Snow
- Not completely free as it needs subscriptions to unlock everything which is nearly around 3K for a year.
- Advertisement enabled.
6. Snapseed
If you want to edit your photos professionally then it’s the best option for you. The next alternative to Snapchat that we will cover is Snapseed, developed by Google.
Snapseed is highly known for its huge variety of tools for photo editing. It is available for both Android and iOS. Additionally, it is mainly available for mobile devices.
Comparison between Snapchat and Snapseed
- In Snapchat, we can also share messages, videos, and links. In contrast, Snapseed doesn’t have any sharing features.
- You can do audio and video calls in Snapchat whereas it has no features like this.
Advantages of Snapseed
- Zero Cost and no in-app purchases.
- No advertisements.
- Wide range of tools for professional editing.
- The Export file can be easily shared with anyone or any social media.
- Snapseed has given tutorial options for its users helping them to learn and make the most of it.
- Can edit raw data.
- Users can undo back to the original images, anytime.
Disadvantages of Snapseed
- It can be used for photo editing only.
- No built-in camera.
- Little complex for beginners to understand tools.
- You Cannot directly use this app on a PC.
7. Signal
Signal is another best app like Snapchat, known for its strong privacy standards. It ensures that only the sender and the receiver can read the actual data. It is a free social media application for sharing files, images, videos, and communication.
Additionally, Signal supports end-to-end encryption of their user’s data. It is available on platforms including, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux.
Comparison between Snapchat and Signal
- Both of these applications support self-destructing features.
- If someone takes a screenshot then both of them provide alerts to their users.
- Snapchat doesn’t have any option to schedule a message whereas Signal offers an option to schedule your message.
- With Signal, you can share documents, GIFs, Contacts, locations, and music files but that is not possible in the case of Snapchat.
- Snapchat has extensive support for personalized emojis and avatars whereas Signal lacks these additional features.
Advantages of Signal
- Disappearing messages feature.
- Lock on-screen notifications.
- Collect very minimal data and therefore, provide High security.
- Free and open-source platform.
- advertisement free.
Disadvantages of Signal
- A contact number is important to sign up.
- Once you have deleted any information then you can’t get it back.
- Not widely used.
- Dependency on Internet Connection
8. Dust
If you are looking for a similar option to Snapchat, Dust is the one, also known as “Cyber Dust.” It is a private messaging platform with which you can share images, videos, and other secret information.
Dust is a highly secure application for Android and iOS users. It provides alerts if someone takes any screenshots of your data.
Comparison between Snapchat and Dust
- You can make calls on Snapchat whereas Dust doesn’t offer such functionality to its users.
- In both of these applications, the message disappears after 24 hours.
- Dust is less known and has a smaller user base compared to Snapchat.
Advantages of Dust
- Supports fully end-to-end encryption
- It is available for free.
- The receiver reads the messages, and then they are permanently deleted.
- Dust is ad-free
- To set it up, you only need a mail address.
Disadvantages of Dust
- No support for audio and video calls.
- Limited platform support.
- Dust being ad-free and cost-free might face challenges in the long run.
- The lack of unique and modern features might make it unnoticeable to the younger generation.
9. Viber
Viber is yet another app like Snapchat. With Viber, you can send messages, group chats, and video calls to others in a secure environment. Also, it can help you to know who is calling you without answering the calls.
Additionally, it provides features including disappearing messages, screenshot notifications, GIF reactions, and others. You can also connect it to any device from laptop to smart watches.
Comparison between Snapchat and Viber
- Both Snapchat and Viber offer features of messaging, voice, and video calling with end-to-end encryption.
- Snapchat mainly focuses on younger users, or you can say Gen Z whereas Viber targets those who need to make international communication.
- Snapchat is primarily known for its free filters, lenses, and stories whereas premium stickers in Viber are paid. Also, viver follows a traditional messaging approach.
- Viber allows international communication with minimal cost. However, Snapchat has no such feature.
- Snapchat is more for personal, fun communication while Viber is suitable for professional communications.
Advantages of Viber
- High-quality audio and video calls.
- Secure and private communication.
- Viber Out for low-cost international calls to people outside the Viber network.
- React to messages with GIFs and stickers.
- No advertisement.
- Multiple platform availability.
Disadvantages of Viber
- Limited user base.
- Requires a phone number for registration.
- Premium features include additional costs.
- Battery and Data Usage.
10. Discord
Last but not least on our list of top Snapchat alternatives is Discord. It is more like a community of gamers, content creators, and other groups. You can send text messages, voice calls, and video calls and play games like Fortnite, Fall Guys, Rocket League, etc. using Discord.
In addition to that, you can create or join servers of different communities for free to make a group of friends, share daily chats or other activities. However, these channels and communities are managed according to assigned roles and permissions. You can also stream games with your Discord community.
Most of the features and services of Discord are free. But you can consider buying a Discord Nitro subscription if you need to extend your data upload limits and access other premium features like upgrading emojis, unlimited super reactions, HD video streaming, and much more.
Comparison between Snapchat and Discord
- Core features of Snapchat include ephemeral messaging, filters, and lenses whereas Discord is particularly known for community building and real-time communications.
- Snapchat is popular among younger generations while Discord includes a diverse audience like gamers, professionals, and other community groups.
- Discord provides additional features like bots, video streaming, voice channels, and others.
- Server boots and Discord nitro come in a premium subscription to Discord. However, most of Snapchat’s features are free.
Advantages of Discord
- Real-time communication.
- Highly customizable.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- Support bots.
- High-quality video streaming and screen sharing.
- You can log into your Discord without the need to download a desktop application with Discord Web.
Disadvantages of Discord
- Complexity and learning curve.
- Not suitable for everyone as it mainly focuses on gaming and community building.
- Some features involve additional costs.
Links: Windows, iOS, Android, Web
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Snapchat and its alternatives.
Q. What is Snapchat?
Snapchat is a highly popular application, that allows you to send photos and videos referred to as snaps to anyone in your friends. These snaps are self-destructing, they vanish away automatically once viewed. Additionally, the privacy and security features in Snapchat are just amazing if someone took a screenshot of your media, you will immediately get to know.
Q. What are the best apps like Snapchat for privacy?
Signal is the best option, an app known for its high privacy and security standards. You can also check apps like Telegram and Cyber Dust.
Q. What is a safe alternative to Snapchat for kids?
Messenger Kids and Instagram are the two safest alternatives to Snapchat for kids. Instagram provides a feature of supervision for users aged below 18. Therefore, Parents can keep an eye on their activities.
Q. Are there any apps better than Snapchat?
Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram are some of the better alternatives to Snapchat. To know more such similar options in detail, you can read about them here.
Q. Is Telegram better than Snapchat in terms of privacy?
Yes, Telegram is better than Snapchat in terms of privacy due to its advanced security features like two-factor authentication, secret chats, and end-to-end encryption.
Q. What are the best Snapchat alternatives for filters?
The best Snapchat alternatives for filters are Instagram and Snow. You can also check Snapseed if you want to edit the already-clicked photo.
Takeaway
In conclusion, the increase in apps like Snapchat gives numerous options for people to choose from. Therefore, you need to know about the latest features, advantages, and disadvantages associated with using these applications like Instagram, Messenger, etc.
I have explained the comparison of various apps to Snapchat with their pro and cons to help you decide which application is best suitable for you.
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