5 Best Messaging Apps That Work Without Phone Number for Chatting
WhatsApp is a blessing for messaging apps. With a clean and user-friendly interface, people learn to use it easily, even if they face technological challenges. However, it has one major downside – you can’t connect with people without revealing your mobile number. Now that’s a bummer. Sometimes you have to chat with people, but you don’t want to share the number. So we have created a list of 5 apps that let you chat with people without giving out your phone number.
Some apps may ask you for the phone number for registration. However, you won’t need other people’s phone numbers to chat with them. All the apps on this list are free and work on all major platforms.
Let’s check which messaging apps work without sharing phone number.
1. Skype
One of the oldest video chat apps that comes to our rescue in this scenario is the Skype app. You can chat individually with other people or create a group. The app also supports basic voice calls. Use the Skype name available under your profile to chat with other people. Share the same with strangers so they can add you on Skype. Learn more about the Skype name (or Live ID) and how to add contacts using Skype.
Skype has a familiar user-friendly interface. Besides the cool animated stickers, you can liven up your conversations using GIFs, stickers and mojis (movie clips). Apart from that, Skype is usable for sharing photos, videos, files, contacts, and location. You can even schedule your calls and create polls. They even have a Lite app for Android. Find out how Skype Lite differs from the main app. Skype is available on Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, and Web. If you don’t like the Skype app, you can delete your Skype account.
2. Telegram
Next, we have the Telegram messaging app. You will be asked for your phone number to register. Your contacts will only see you through your mobile number, just like WhatsApp. However, if you want to chat with strangers without sharing your mobile number, you need to create a public username by going to telegram settings.
Share the username directly with other people, or you can send them a t.me/username link where you have to replace the term username with your username. In the latter case, the Telegram app will automatically open with your discussion thread. In the first case, the recipient should use Telegram search to find your username. As you might have guessed, someone at random may message you if they find your username by search. However, your number will not be shared.
If you have your Discord server, you can add bots to it ranging from games, music, to server administration. Check out the 5 best music bots for Discord. Discord works on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and the web. Find out how Discord differs from Telegram, Twitch, and Skype. Discord can become intimidating for beginners. Read about its features and how to use them.
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4.LINE: free calls and messages
Another app that lets you chat without a phone number is LINE. Similar to Telegram username is an optional feature in this app. You need to create it manually by going to Settings> Profile> User ID. If the user ID is not created, people in your contacts can add you by your number.
LINE supports up to 200 members in a group. Other features include polls, the ability to share all types of files, voice and video calls. If you like face filters, LINE offers similar things including a game. LINE also works on various platforms.
5. Kik
Similar to other apps, Kik supports individual and group conversations. What makes Kik more exciting are the public groups. Apart from that, bots also work in Kik.
You can share photos, videos, GIFs, etc. with your friends who can be found with phone number, username and Kik code. The only downside is that Kik only works on Android and iOS. You cannot use it on the desktop.
Remote conversations
The above apps work best for personal use and only a few of them offer a few security features for your messages. Like Telegram offers a secret chat option for ephemeral messaging. If you’re looking for messaging apps that work without a phone number for business purposes, you should try apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc.
While Facebook Messenger can be used to chat without sharing numbers, it can expose your Facebook profile. Hopefully WhatsApp will at least introduce usernames for its Business app.
Then:
Are you looking for an alternative to the Zoom app? Check out 7 amazing Zoom alternatives for remote meetings from the following link.
Last updated Sep 17, 2020
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