WeChatfor Android

WeChat, one of the most popular messaging apps in China, lets you voice chat, send files, messages, or images. It has some fun ways to communicate and add friends.

Keep in touch with your friends

Have fun adding friends just by shaking your phones. They can be across the room, or across the globe.

WeChat is a messaging app that is very similar to WhatsApp. Chat, send messages, play games, and exchange files and images across any platform. It’s free to use and boasts a no-ad policy. To create an account you don’t need a user name or password, log in with your phone number or your Facebook account.

This app has some fun ways to add users. The ‘shake’ option lets you and a friend shake your phones, and you’ll be automatically added. You don’t even need to be near each other for this to work. Also, add new users by QR code, ID, or from your contact list.

There are a number of chat options. To voice chat, it works like a walkie-talkie. Press the button to record and let go when you’re done. Naturally, if you want a real-time chat, you can, it just needs to be via the video call feature. There’s even group chat via HD conferencing.

Some downsides to the program. The interface appears complicated at first. The notifications seem endless. To recall a message, you only have 2 minutes, and it can only be the last message sent. WeChat is based in China and very heavily used there. Outside of China, the uptake has been a lot slower.

Where can you run this program?

Run WeChat on all mobile platforms including Android, iOS, and Blackberry. Also available for Mac and Windows.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. WeChat is very similar to WhatsApp, which is one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide. WhatsApp has more users and very similar features.

Our take

WeChat is so similar to WhatsApp that you could mistake it for a carbon copy. The downside is that unless you live in China, it’s not your best choice.

Should you download it?

No. Unless you live in or plan to travel extensively around China. There are other programs used globally.