BEST texting apps compared: Which one keeps you safe in 2026?

You'll find plenty of texting apps for Mac and iPhone, but few let you send messages securely, quickly, and reliably. After juggling dozens of apps across different projects, I've figured out which ones actually work.

In this guide, I'll walk you through the messaging apps I actually use every day and show you the workflows that have made my life easier. I've put each one through its paces on Mac, checked out their security features, and figured out what really works in practice.

Comparison table: texting apps at a glance

If you want to send text messages securely, these are the best options. In the next few sections, I’ll go into more detail about each of these and give you some valuable tools that I personally use:

App name	Price	Best use case	Key differentiator	Platform availability
WhatsApp	Free	Universal messaging	Largest user base globally	macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Web
Signal	Free	Maximum security	Non-profit, minimal data collection	macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux
iMessage	Free (Apple devices)	Apple ecosystem users	Seamless device integration	macOS, iOS
Slack	Free - $8.75/user/month	Team collaboration	Channel-based organization	macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Web, Linux
Discord	Free - $9.99/month (Nitro)	Gaming communities	Voice channels & screen sharing	macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Web, Linux

Complete guide to 5 essential texting apps for Mac users

Now, let’s learn how each texting app works.

WhatsApp for universal messaging reach

WhatsApp is a free texting app that dominates the messaging landscape with over 3 billion users worldwide, making it virtually impossible to avoid if you communicate internationally. I use WhatsApp daily to stay in touch with family abroad and coordinate with clients who refuse to adopt other platforms.

WhatsApp is best for

WhatsApp excels for international families, small business owners communicating with customers, freelancers working with global clients, and anyone who needs a reliable, universally accepted messaging platform. It's particularly valuable for users who need both personal and business messaging in one app. 

Problems WhatsApp solves

Fragmented communication across platforms: WhatsApp consolidates messaging by being the one app nearly everyone has. If you’re juggling SMS, email, and various messaging apps for different contacts, WhatsApp can become your single solution for reaching 90% of your network.

International SMS costs: All messages, photos, and video calls are free over Wi-Fi or data (make sure you have a data plan with high limits) — no need to spend a fortune on phone bills.

Desktop productivity gaps: The native WhatsApp desktop app was frustrating with its limited features. I solved this with ChatMate for WhatsApp, which brings messages directly to my Mac menubar and includes stealth mode for privacy when screen sharing.

WhatsApp feature benefits

WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption protects message content from interception, though metadata remains accessible to Meta. The disappearing messages feature (24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days) helps maintain privacy for sensitive conversations. You can also try secret chats (the Chat Lock feature), which let you hide specific conversations behind device authentication (e.g., Face ID or a passcode). Voice messages and unlimited calls (voice and video) eliminate the need for separate calling apps, supporting up to 32 participants in group video calls.

Group management features include admin controls, participant approval requirements, and community organization for managing multiple related groups. The ability to share documents up to 2GB makes it practical for work collaboration, while status updates provide a Stories-like feature for broadcasting to all contacts.

WhatsApp strengths

• WhatsApp's universal adoption means you rarely need to ask "Do you have WhatsApp?"
• The app works reliably across all platforms with consistent features. 
• Message sync between devices happens instantly, and the web version provides full functionality when your phone is connected.

WhatsApp limitations

• There are concerns about Meta, which now owns WhatsApp, using aggregated conversation data for targeted advertising. 
• It lacks some privacy features, such as preventing message previews from showing up when you receive them. 

If you browse Reddit, you’ll find countless threads about WhatsApp privacy, with questions like “Is WhatsApp privacy a lie?” and “Is our data up for grabs?” The concerns are well-founded. One Redditor puts it succinctly: “WhatsApp can’t look at your messages, but they can see metadata. This includes stuff like your location and who you’re talking to. So is it private? No.” Another user expressed their distrust of Meta, stating, “You’re using a Facebook Meta product. Meta is a data broker. None of your data was or is ever safe when using Meta products.”

Using WhatsApp in your workflow

WhatsApp integrates with macOS through notifications in Notification Center, though you'll need something extra for proper menubar integration. The app works with Focus modes to silence non-urgent group chats during work hours.

If you want a better chat experience, try ChatMate for WhatsApp. ChatMate automatically brings all your WhatsApp messages to your Mac. I love how easy it is to end messages from the Mac desktop without launching another app. Also, ChatMate can blur conversations except for the one that you’re reading in Stealth Mode. 

Pricing info about WhatsApp

WhatsApp is completely free for personal use with no message limits, call restrictions, or premium tiers. WhatsApp Business is also free but includes additional features like automated responses and product catalogs. There are no ads in the app, with Meta monetizing through business services rather than user subscriptions.

Signal for maximum security and privacy

Signal is basically the gold standard for secure messaging among free texting apps. Fun fact: it was created by the same cryptographer who built WhatsApp's encryption, so you know the security is legit. When Edward Snowden recommends a messaging app, you know it takes privacy seriously. I've switched all my sensitive conversations — medical consultations, financial planning, and confidential work discussions — to Signal.

Signal is best for

As a private messenger, Signal serves privacy-conscious professionals, journalists protecting sources, healthcare workers discussing patient information, lawyers handling confidential cases, and anyone in regions with government surveillance concerns. It's essential for activists, whistleblowers, and individuals who prioritize privacy over convenience features.

Problems Signal solves

• Metadata exposure in other apps: While WhatsApp encrypts messages, it still collects metadata about who you talk to and when. Signal minimizes metadata collection — they literally can't provide information they don't have, as proven in multiple court cases.
• Cloud backup vulnerabilities: Unlike other apps that back up messages to iCloud or Google Drive, Signal keeps everything local.
• Screenshot notifications: Signal notifies you if the recipient takes a screenshot of a disappearing message.

Feature benefits

The disappearing messages feature offers granular control from 30 seconds to 4 weeks, far more flexible than WhatsApp's limited options. View-once media ensures photos and videos can only be viewed once before deletion.

The app includes encrypted group video calls for up to 50 participants, encrypted voice notes with transcription, and the ability to transfer your entire account to a new device without cloud involvement. Signal's Note to Self feature provides an encrypted personal notebook synced across your devices.

Signal’s strengths

• No data collection. Signal is operated by a non-profit foundation with no profit motive for data collection. The app is fully open-source, allowing security researchers to verify its claims. 
• The most comprehensive privacy features available. These include relay calls that hide your IP address. As one Reddit user noted, "almost every EU official uses it for communication" due to its security standards.

Signal’s limitations

• Small user base. Though it has up to 100 million users per month, it’s far from being as popular as other messengers. As one Redditor shared, “I wish my friends used it, but none do. So it sits on my phone unused because no one I know is on it.”
• Lack of some traditional convenience features. As a trade-off for security, the app doesn’t have cloud backup or native business features for customer communication. Message history is lost if you lose your device without a backup.

Workflow example with Signal

My journalist friend uses Signal for source protection: She creates disappearing message threads set to 24 hours for initial contact. During interviews, she uses Signal's voice notes with automatic transcription for documentation. Sensitive documents are shared with view-once settings. She maintains separate Signal profiles on her phone and desktop using Signal's linked devices feature, keeping work and personal communications isolated.

Pricing info about Signal

Signal is 100% free with no premium tiers, ads, or paid features. The Signal Foundation operates on donations, meaning there's no business model that depends on your data. All features — unlimited messages, group texting, calls, video chats, and file sharing — are available to everyone equally, ad-free.

Messages by Apple for seamless ecosystem integration

Messages (iMessage) comes pre-installed on every Mac and iPhone, making it the default choice for Apple users. After years of using it, I've found it's not just convenient — it's deeply integrated into macOS in ways third-party apps can't match. When coordinating family plans or sharing quick updates with fellow Mac users, nothing beats the frictionless experience of iMessage.

iMessage is best for

iMessage excels for Apple-exclusive households, creative professionals sharing large media files, small businesses with all-Apple setups, families using shared Apple services, and users who prioritize convenience over cross-platform compatibility. It's ideal for those already invested in the Apple ecosystem with multiple devices.

Problems iMessage solved

• Device switching friction: If you constantly move between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac throughout the day, iMessage's Continuity feature will save you hours. You can start typing a message on your phone and finish it on your Mac without any manual sync or setup.
• SMS fallback confusion: The automatic switching between iMessage (blue bubbles) and SMS (green bubbles) solves the problem of remembering which contacts have which devices. The app handles the routing automatically, though this creates its own security considerations.
• Media quality degradation: When sharing photos and videos with other iPhone users, iMessage maintains full quality unlike SMS/MMS which heavily compresses media.

iMessage feature benefits

iMessage's integration with Apple's ecosystem enables features unavailable elsewhere. SharePlay lets you watch movies or listen to music together during calls. The Tapback feature provides quick emoji reactions without cluttering the conversation. Message editing (up to five times during 15 minutes after sending) and unsending (up to 2 minutes) help fix mistakes.

Digital Touch adds personality with sketches and heartbeats, while Memoji and Animoji provide personalized expressions. The app integrates with Apple Pay for easy money transfers and Focus modes for notification management. Screen sharing during calls helps with tech support for family members.

iMessage strengths

• Zero setup required. It just works with your Apple Account. 
• End-to-end encryption. It protects iMessage conversations (blue bubbles only). 
• Seamless handoff between devices using the same Apple ID. 
• Integration with Siri for hands-free messaging. 
• Automatic sync of messages across all devices through iCloud.
• Integration with Apple apps like FaceTime and SharePlay.

iMessage limitations

• The 32-person group chat limit feels restrictive for larger communities. 
• Android users receive a degraded experience through SMS fallback, creating the infamous "green bubble" discrimination. Redditor user warned, if your contacts use "iCloud Backup without turning on Advanced Data Protection, you're screwed no matter what you do" regarding message privacy. Enable ADP in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection for maximum protection. Advanced Data Protection is avalablesince iOS 16.2 and newer.
• No official app exists for Windows or Android, locking you into Apple's ecosystem. 

Using iMessage in your workflow

iMessage integrates deeply with macOS: Spotlight search finds old messages instantly. Drag and drop files from Finder directly into conversations. Use Quick Look to preview attachments without opening them. Create Shortcuts automations to send templated messages. Focus modes can silence personal messages during work hours while allowing work-related iMessage threads.

For enhanced security, enable Advanced Data Protection in System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud to encrypt your message backups end-to-end.

Pricing info about iMessage

iMessage is completely free for all Apple device users. There are no premium features, message limits, or subscription tiers. The service is included with your Apple Account at no additional cost. International iMessages use only data (Wi-Fi or cellular), avoiding SMS charges.

Slack for organized team communication

Slack has become synonymous with workplace messaging, transforming how teams collaborate. Unlike consumer messaging apps, Slack is built specifically for work, with features that make professional communication actually productive.

Slack is best for

Slack serves remote teams, digital agencies, software development teams, freelancers managing multiple clients, and any organization that needs structured communication. It's particularly valuable for project managers coordinating across departments, customer support teams handling inquiries, and creative teams sharing feedback on work in progress.

Problems Slack solved

Email overload for internal communication: Before Slack, finding specific project discussions meant searching through hundreds of emails. Now, everything is organized in channels where context is preserved and searchable. You can find a design decision from six months ago in seconds.

Notification fatigue: Slack's granular notification controls let you mute non-urgent channels while staying alert for important messages. Interruptions — reduced, critical communications — never missed.

Tool fragmentation: Instead of jumping between email, project management tools, and file sharing services, Slack integrates with everything. Asana tasks, Google Drive files, and GitHub commits all flow into relevant channels automatically.

Slack’s feature benefits

Slack's channel organization creates dedicated spaces for topics, projects, or teams, maintaining context that email threads lose. The powerful search function indexes every message, file, and link shared, making it a searchable knowledge base. Thread conversations keep discussions organized without cluttering the main channel.

Workflow Builder enables no-code automation for routine tasks such as onboarding and status updates. Huddles provide instant audio/video calls with screen sharing for quick problem-solving. Canvas documents live alongside conversations for persistent documentation. External collaboration through Slack Connect enables secure communication with clients and vendors without email.

The app supports custom emoji and reactions that build team culture, scheduled messages for different time zones, and reminders that ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Slack’s strengths

• Slack's integration ecosystem is unmatched, with over 2,500 apps. 
• The search functionality surpasses any other messaging platform. 
• Mobile and desktop apps maintain feature parity. 
• The free tier generously supports small teams with 90-day message and file history.

Slack’s limitations

• Slack lacks end-to-end encryption, encrypting only data in transit and at rest. This makes it unsuitable for highly sensitive information. 
• The learning curve can overwhelm new users — I've seen teams take weeks to establish good channel hygiene. 
• Message history on free plans disappears after 90 days, potentially losing important information.

Using Slack in your workflow

Slack's Mac app integrates with native features: Command + K for quick switching between channels, native notifications in Notification Center, and Touch Bar support for quick actions. The app respects Focus modes and can separate work/personal workspaces.

While Slack is great for streamlining work communication, it isn’t the best anonymous text app. Slack only encrypts messages you’ve sent, which means data stored locally on your devices risk being stolen. To reduce such possibilities, try CleanMyMac. CleanMyMac can scan and remove malware that may expose locally stored data. 

Pricing info about Slack

• Free plan: 90-day message and file history, 10 integrations, 1:1 video calls, 2 guests per channel. 
• Pro ($8.75/user/month): Unlimited history, unlimited integrations, group messages, group video calls, guest accounts. 
• Business+ ($18/user/month): SSO, compliance exports, 99.99% uptime SLA, user provisioning. 
• Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing for large organizations with advanced security and compliance needs.

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Discord for gaming and community building

Discord started as a gaming communication platform but has evolved into a versatile community hub. I'm active in several Discord servers — from indie game communities to professional design groups — and each offers a unique blend of real-time chat, voice channels, and community features that other messaging apps can't match.

Discord is best for

Discord excels for gamers coordinating multiplayer sessions, content creators building communities, study groups needing voice channels, hobby communities sharing interests, and open-source projects coordinating contributors. It's ideal for anyone who needs public or semi-public community spaces with rich media sharing and voice chat capabilities.

Problems Discord solved

Fragmented gaming communication: Discord consolidates everything into one platform with seamless switching between text and voice.

Community management complexity: Running a community on traditional platforms requires multiple tools. Discord provides moderation tools, role management, and bot automation in one place. My friend’s photography community grew from 50 to 500 members really quickly because Discord made it manageable.

High-quality voice chat needs: Unlike phone calls, basic voice or chat apps, Discord offers low-latency, high-quality voice, perfect for gaming. The noise suppression and echo cancellation actually work, making long sessions comfortable.

Discord’s feature benefits

Discord's server structure creates persistent communities with multiple channels for different topics or activities. Voice channels allow drop-in/drop-out conversations without calling anyone. Screen sharing and streaming support HD quality (with Nitro), perfect for sharing gameplay or tutorials.

The platform's bot ecosystem adds functionality from music playback to moderation automation. Role-based permissions give granular control over who can access what. Stage channels enable presentation-style events for larger audiences. Forum channels organize long-form discussions better than traditional chat.

Server boosts (from Nitro subscribers) unlock benefits like better audio quality, more emoji slots, and larger file uploads for the entire community.

Discord’s strengths

• Discord is free for use with generous limits. 
• The voice quality surpasses most alternatives with excellent noise cancellation. 
• The platform culture encourages creativity with custom emojis, animated avatars, and server customization. 
• Cross-platform availability means everyone can join regardless of device. 
• The API enables extensive customization through bots and integrations.
• Discord provides end-to-end encryption for audio and video calls/conversations (DMs, group DMs, voice channels, Go Live streams).

Discord’s limitations

• Text messages, files, and other content are not end-to-end encrypted (encrypted in transit/at rest, but Discord holds keys). 
• The platform's gaming origins can feel unprofessional for business use. 
• Public servers expose users to potential harassment or inappropriate content. 
• The interface overwhelms newcomers with its complexity. As the article notes, Discord has only "started experimenting with encryption for voice and video calls," making it unsuitable for sensitive conversations.

Pricing info about Discord

• Free: Unlimited messages, voice/video in servers, screen share at 720p 30fps, 25MB file uploads.
• Nitro Basic ($2.99/month): 50MB uploads, custom emoji anywhere, special profile badge.
• Nitro ($9.99/month): 500MB uploads, HD streaming, server boosts, animated avatar, better Go Live quality. 
• Server Boosts ($4.99/month): Improve a server with better audio, more emoji slots, larger uploads for everyone.

Prices may vary by region and currency, so check your app for the precise information.

What to look for in a texting app

When browsing for messaging apps, check if they have these features:

Security fundamentals in texting apps

• End-to-end encryption prevents hackers and even the service provider from reading your messages. Look for apps that encrypt by default, not as an optional feature.
• Metadata protection matters as much as message encryption. Even if messages are encrypted, metadata about who you talk to and when can reveal patterns.
• Open-source code allows security researchers to verify an app's privacy claims. Closed-source apps require trusting the company's word alone.

Usability essentials in texting apps

• Cross-platform availability ensures you can reach contacts regardless of their device choice. Check for native apps, not just web versions.
• Message search becomes critical as conversations accumulate. Look for apps that index messages locally for quick retrieval.
• Notification controls prevent messaging fatigue. Granular controls for different contacts or groups are essential for productivity.

Privacy features in texting apps

• Disappearing messages with customizable timers help maintain privacy for sensitive conversations.
• Screenshot blocking prevents recipients from capturing sensitive messages without your knowledge.
• Local storage options keep your data off cloud servers, reducing exposure to breaches or legal requests.

Professional capabilities in texting apps

• File sharing limits determine whether you can send work documents. Look for at least 100MB for practical use.
• Group size limits matter for team communication. Some apps limit groups to 50 members while others support thousands.
• Integration options with productivity tools can streamline workflows. Native integrations beat third-party workarounds.

How to choose the right texting app for your needs: Quick solutions

After extensively testing these messaging apps, I've learned there's no single "best" option — only the best option for your specific needs. So…

When security is your top priority

When I need to share sensitive stuff — financial details, medical records, or confidential business data — Signal is the only app I trust. I switched my accountant conversations to Signal after learning that WhatsApp's metadata could potentially reveal our communication patterns. Signal's non-profit status and minimal data collection make it the only choice for truly private conversations.

When you need maximum compatibility

For international communication or mixed device environments, WhatsApp wins. When I coordinate with clients across Europe and Asia, WhatsApp is the one app everyone already has installed. Whenever I need to hide the message’s preview for privacy reasons, I just use ChatMate's stealth mode.

When managing team projects

Slack transforms chaotic email threads into organized channels. You can manage dozens of different client projects in Slack, each with dedicated channels for different work scopes, such as design feedback, content review, or general discussion. The ability to search through months of conversations will save you countless hours.

When you're fully in the Apple ecosystem

If your contacts primarily use iPhones and Macs, stick with iMessage. The seamless handoff between devices means you can start a conversation on your iPhone during your commute and continue it on your Mac at the office without missing a beat.

Decision factors to consider when choosing a texting app

• Primary goal: Are you prioritizing security, convenience, or collaboration features?
• Contact preferences: What apps do the people you communicate with already use?
• Budget: Can you afford premium features, or do you need completely free solutions?
• Platform flexibility: Do you need cross-platform support or just Mac/iOS?
• Integration needs: Must the app connect with your existing productivity tools?

Ready to streamline your messaging workflow? Try Setapp free for 7 days and access ChatMate for WhatsApp, and 260+ other productivity apps, such as CleanMyMac, that transform how you work on Mac. No individual subscriptions, no feature limitations — just powerful tools that work together seamlessly.