Bolt Alternatives
Bolt was an instant messaging app for iPhone that let users see what people were typing as they typed it. An innovative concept to be sure, but one that was short lived: The app has been seemingly discontinued, with its App Store entry no longer available and all signs of its development seemingly scrapped from the Internet.
Though Bolt's innovative concept of being able to see what people are typing as they type it has not been replicated in today's crowded messaging landscape, there are many instant messaging service alternatives with the next best thing: typing indicators that show when someone you're chatting with is responding or leaving a message.
- Telegram is a messaging app created by former VK creators with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free. It is like SMS, but more powerful.
- Free • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- Windows Phone
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- Linux Mobile
- Android Wear
- PortableApps.com
- FreeBSD
- Signal is a messaging app with an unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all the features expected from a modern IM app. Signal has received a lot of praise from all around the world for its security and privacy-respecting technologies.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Ubuntu Touch
- Element is a secure collaboration and messaging app based on the Matrix protocol. It’s decentralised to deliver digital sovereignty, and based on an open standard for easy connections and interoperability. It is end-to-end encrypted by default.
- Free Personal • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Cloudron
- With the rise of widespread government monitoring programs, Tox is an easy to use application that allows you to connect with friends and loved ones without anyone else listening in.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- WhatsApp is an iPhone and Android messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. In addition to basic messaging WhatsApp users can create groups, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages.
- Free • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Wear
- Zulip is a group chat app in which messages are threaded by topic, helping you have long-running, organized conversations.
- Free Personal • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- With Viber, everyone in the world can connect. Freely. More than 460 million Viber users text, make HD-quality phone and video calls, and send photo and video messages worldwide over WiFi or 3G - for free.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Windows S
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- Windows Phone
- iPad
- Blackberry 10
- Apple Watch
- Conversations is a privacy focused, open source XMPP Texting [Jabber] client for Android 4.0+ smart phones with wife-approved easy encryption [OTR, OMEMO, or GPG]. [Note] **You can download the compiled apk for free from F-Droid**: ...
- Free • Open Source
- Android
- Android Tablet
- LINE is a Japanese proprietary application for instant messaging on smartphones and PCs. Line users exchange text messages, graphics, video and audio media, make free VoIP calls, and hold free audio or video conferences.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- WeChat is a complete mobile communication and private social networking app. Free, cross-platform, and full-featured, WeChat is the best way to keep in touch with everyone you care about.
- Freemium • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Android
- iPhone
- Blackberry
- Windows S
- Android Tablet
- Windows Phone
- iPad
- Apple Watch