Users can stay connected and reach each other in a matter of seconds using instant messaging apps and text for mobile devices. But what if Windows or Mac users want the same experience on their computers?
On your computer, you can download a variety of chat clients. Whether you need team collaboration, want to connect with other gamers, or value the ability to make voice and video calls, we’re here to help you choose the best one for you.
The best macOS and Windows chat clients.
- Slack is the best chat client.
- Discord is the best casual chat app.
- The Signal is the most secure app available.
- Microsoft Teams is the best professional chat app.
- Franz is the best all-in-one chat app.
- Slack is the best chat client overall.
For teams, Slack reigns supreme — at least for the time being — and with good reason: the software is slick, feature-rich, and widely used. You can’t throw a rock these days without hitting a company that uses Slack. It’s all over the place, not because it’s the standard team chat app for many businesses and organizations, but because it’s simply the best.
What is the reason for this? The user interface is simple, elegant, and easy to use. On the left, you’ll find channels, and below that, direct messages. There’s also Slackbot, which is essentially Siri’s and Alexa’s chat-based cousin. You can set reminders for Slackbot, and you can even customize it to respond to specific commands.
Slack works well with just about every service available, and businesses can further customize it to fit their needs, thanks to dozens of integrations, including support for a host of other productivity suites.
It’s also completely free. There are no ads or restrictions on the number of users you can have. Although there are paid plans that offer a more robust experience and more storage space, most people can get by with the free version.
Do you need any more convincing that Slack is the best team chat app on the market right now? It runs in various flavors on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, as well as directly in your web browser, with no major differences between platforms.
Discord is the best casual chat app.
If Slack is the best option for business, Discord is the best option for gamers. Slack users or anyone who has ever been a member of a World of Warcraft guild should be familiar with Discord’s feature set.
Discord is less formal than other chat apps, which is refreshing given how business-oriented the current market is. That isn’t to say it isn’t effective. This is a finely crafted application that puts apps like Skype to shame, with robust chat support and a built-in Streamer mode. Unlike other popular chat apps, you only need to create one username to join multiple servers at the same time. There’s no need to create separate work and personal logins because the same one is used throughout the platform.
You can set up individual channels for specific topics and even join each one like a no-fuss conference call once you’ve created or joined a server. It’s dependable, appealing, and well-crafted. The best part is that it simply works.
You can also turn off your mic if you don’t want to talk or jump right into a real “chat room”-style conversation with the press of a button in Discord. It’s simple, straightforward, and dependable.
Discord has apps for almost every major operating system, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.
Read: The Best Android And iOS Messaging Apps
The Signal is the most secure app available.
Many people are concerned about their data privacy, and since more people distrust social media than ever before, relying on apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger (both owned by Facebook) is less than ideal. Signal, for example, becomes extremely appealing in this situation.
The Signal is an open-source secure messaging app that encrypts all of your conversations from beginning to end. It only collects one piece of information: your phone number, which is required for obvious reasons. There are no email signups, subscriptions, or data tracking, however. The Signal is also excellent for making phone calls and participating in video conferences.
If you value your privacy above all else, Signal is the way to go.
Microsoft Teams is the best professional chat app.
For many in the professional world, Skype has become a source of frustration, but Microsoft has a far more capable alternative that will serve most teams admirably. Microsoft Teams has evolved into a full-fledged collaboration and productivity tool for teams.
It, like most chat clients, allows users to communicate one-on-one or in groups (called Teams, if you can believe it). You can also share tasks, create wikis for different teams, and make video and audio calls with teams. It’s the all-in-one solution for businesses and workgroups.
Teams are one of the best options available if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution that will allow your team to move away from Skype.
Read Also: 2021 Best Apps For Video Conferencing
Franz is the best all-in-one app.
Franz can save you from having to switch between multiple messaging apps. It’s a messaging app that integrates with Slack, Facebook Messenger, and Discord, among other services. It has a free account option that allows you to access up to three services at once, but if you need more, the paid plan is a reasonable $2.99 per month.
Franz allows you to work on multiple tasks at once, which saves time when working online. You can duplicate chat platform pages to see all of your virtual meetings at once and pay attention to all of your coworkers. Franz has some clever notification options that allow you to receive important messages while maintaining a distraction-free work environment. You can also turn the most important parts of messages into tasks, allowing you to stay on top of pending projects.
Franz can save you time and ensure that nothing gets lost in the shuffle if you’re a multitasker who constantly switches between communication apps. It runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.