Bloomberg financial and economic news agency published the top 7 which included the most popular instant messengers. The ranking of the best is based on the size of the user audience.

Not all of these services bring a lot of revenue, but owners see them as building blocks for an ecosystem that includes advertising, e-commerce, and other ways to make a profit.

We present you a comparative overview of the most popular messaging programs.

7. Snapchat

About 100 million users use this service with a ghost on its logo. Using the application, you can send photos, videos and pictures to your contact list. But it is impossible to communicate simply with text, only “paired” with a visual image. Users set a time limit during which recipients can view their messages. The files then “vaporize” from the sender and receiver, but are not deleted from Snapchat servers.

6. Line

This chat, very popular in Japan, is used by 211 million people. Initially, it was intended for mobile phones with Android and iOS, then a version for BlackBerry, Nokia Asha and Windows Phone appeared. There is a Line version for computers with Windows and Mac OS. The highlight of the application is the integrated social network where you can blog and post comments.

5. Viber

The best creation of Israeli developers are used by 249 million users. The PC application synchronizes the contact list, messages and call log with the “host” mobile device and allows you to make free calls to any devices of other Viber users, regardless of location.

4. WeChat

A Chinese mobile encrypted instant messaging service used by 600 million users. Between April and July 2015, the number of WeChat users grew by 37%, according to data from the developer of the program, the telecommunications company Tencent. The system supports voice and text messages, makes it possible to share photo and video files and share contacts via Bluetooth.

3. Facebook Messenger

The three leaders of the most popular instant messengers of 2015 are headed by a service integrated into the social network Facebook. This application, based on the open MQTT protocol, is used by 700 million users. In comparison: Skype, an Internet telephony service operated by Microsoft Corp., boasts only 300 million users. In 2011, a mobile version was released for the BlackBerry, iOS and Android platforms, and in 2012 a version of the messenger for the PC appeared. In 2015, users of the service no longer require mandatory registration on Facebook. In order to enter the application, you need to specify a phone number.

2. WhatsApp

Facebook Inc. paid $ 18 billion for the cross-platform WhatsApp application, whose audience currently numbers more than 800 million people. This is the best messenger presented in Russia. It has a standard messaging feature, as well as the ability to create groups and share video, photo and audio files. Text can be typed either manually or dictated. The program is attached to the phone number, not the user's ID or nickname, and forms a contact list by scanning the owner’s phone book for the numbers registered in the system.

1. QQ Messenger

The most popular messenger in the worlddeveloped by Chinese Tencent. Each month, 843 million people exchange secure messages with it. It has several interesting features, such as a built-in program store, real-time translation, capture a small part of the chat screen, or record small video clips and share them with the other person.

Watch the video: Most Popular Instant Messengers 1995 - 2020 (June 2025).