Kakaotalk vs whatsapp vs kik vs pingchat vs Text plus

[barqers]

The list goes on...

Who thinks which one is the best? Cause I really have no idea and there's not a ton of information on all of them online, only ones like pingchat, whatsapp.

 

[ksavai]

I think this is the article you are looking for.
Androinica The Best Messaging App for Android is

 

[barqers]

Awesome! Thank you very much for linking me there

 

[Guamguy]

Funny how such reviews completely ignore KakaoTalk, which currently ranks only behind Google Maps updates and Youtube updates as the third most popular free download on the Android Market. Which means currently at the moment, Kakaotalk is more popular than even Flash 10.2 updates, Facebook for Android, and Pandora for downloads.

So what's this app that came out of the blue then suddenly conquering everything? Kakaotalk can be described as Korea's answer to BBM. Its fortunes were directly symmetrical to the explosion of iPhone and Android in Korea (Samsung Bada version expected this March or April). Moving beyond Korea, its become also popular in Japan as iPhone and Android takes off in the land of the Rising Sun. Now its spreading like wildfire into other parts of Asia and soon around the world. Given the way Kakaotalk has picked up, its already in the process of eclipsing Kik, WhatsApp, Beluga, LiveProfile, GroupMe, PingChat and so on.

Kakaotalk was something I always see listed in the Android Market but never bothered with it. When I gave my Galaxy Tab and later my S to my daughter, to my surprise, it was among the first thing she downloaded into her devices and quickly using them---obviously recommended by her friends to her. And soon, she's recommending them to her other friends too. Avalanche effect.

I haven't tried it myself. So far my chat needs have been satisfied with Yahoo Messenger, GTalk and Facebook Chat. But group messenging looks interesting. If Facebook bought Beluga (ironically founded by three ex Googlers), they're into something.

Looking at it, it looks quite good. Kakaotalk info
Feature :: KakaoTalk

 

[jcnyc]

Unfortunately until they support blackberries, Liveprofile is still the best to me. It's the only BBM equivalent that I've found supporting all three platforms. They've experienced some insane growth the last few days too after releasing bb support. It's by no means better than bbm but blackberry is by no means better than anything. Unfortunately, a lto of people still use blackberries and are only slow phasing out.

 

[barqers]

Wow nice info Guamguy!

I have KakaoTalk installed on my device, but the only problem is a lot of my friends use blackberries, so I can't get in touch with them.

LiveProfile is okay too, but I find their network, along with Pingchat, to be slow in my area.

If only KakaoTalk was available for bb.

But apparently bbm is coming to android by the end of the year, so that should be exciting.

 

[Left Coast DJ]

What's the difference between SMS apps like GoSMS and Handcent compared to ones like KakaoTalk and WhatsApp?

 

[barqers]

What's the difference between SMS apps like GoSMS and Handcent compared to ones like KakaoTalk and WhatsApp?

Hey Left Coast. KakaoTalk, Whatsapp, Kik, Pingchat, etc. Are all more instant messengers then SMS.

They use your data rather than a text message. They're like BBM for other handsets.

Butttttt, I just found a really amazing app. Beluga, newly acquired by facebook is amazing.

First, it allows you to send messages to other Beluga IDs, phone numbers, and emails. I know you can do this in GO SMS!, but the good thing is I can convert all my friends not using BB to download this. And then the poor unfortunate friends using BB I can atleast put their phone #s in so they still receive the group messages. It's like a group chat but for texting. I like it

 

[whozamazinka]

All,

So I too have been trying to decide which of these to use. I'm currently using whatsapp...but it seems so buggy I'd like to find something better. Half of the time I get sent 3 photos, and it shows me the same photo for all 3.

Anyway, after reading Guamguy's review, I went right out and downloaded KakaoTalk. It sounded excellent, and looked so too from their website! Before accepting I read through the EULA carefully. One thing I noticed right away (because this was basically what I was looking for.) is that you are giving rights to KakaoTalk to use or make money using anything that you post using their services. It doesn't mean that they own your content, but that you are giving them rights to use it as they see fit. So, they couldn't sue you if you too used your own content to make money. But they can use your pictures and videos if they want.

This may not be a big deal to some folks (and I'm not convinced that it is to me either at this point) but it certainly is something to think about. I haven't combed through the other apps EULAs, with exception of pingchat. It doesn't look like they get the same rights to your content. But, it made me realize that I have no idea what I signed away to whatsapp when I accepted their EULA.

Anyway, it gave me pause enough that I won't be jumping to kakaotalk just yet.

Let me know what the rest of you find, or what you think of Kakao's policies.

JR

Funny how such reviews completely ignore KakaoTalk, which currently ranks only behind Google Maps updates and Youtube updates as the third most popular free download on the Android Market. Which means currently at the moment, Kakaotalk is more popular than even Flash 10.2 updates, Facebook for Android, and Pandora for downloads.

So what's this app that came out of the blue then suddenly conquering everything? Kakaotalk can be described as Korea's answer to BBM. Its fortunes were directly symmetrical to the explosion of iPhone and Android in Korea (Samsung Bada version expected this March or April). Moving beyond Korea, its become also popular in Japan as iPhone and Android takes off in the land of the Rising Sun. Now its spreading like wildfire into other parts of Asia and soon around the world. Given the way Kakaotalk has picked up, its already in the process of eclipsing Kik, WhatsApp, Beluga, LiveProfile, GroupMe, PingChat and so on.

 

[whozamazinka]

You can't send videos with Beluga, yet, which is my only issue with Beluga. Otherwise it looks great. Hopefully they will add that feature soon.

Hey Left Coast. KakaoTalk, Whatsapp, Kik, Pingchat, etc. Are all more instant messengers then SMS.

They use your data rather than a text message. They're like BBM for other handsets.

Butttttt, I just found a really amazing app. Beluga, newly acquired by facebook is amazing.

First, it allows you to send messages to other Beluga IDs, phone numbers, and emails. I know you can do this in GO SMS!, but the good thing is I can convert all my friends not using BB to download this. And then the poor unfortunate friends using BB I can atleast put their phone #s in so they still receive the group messages. It's like a group chat but for texting. I like it

 

[jcnyc]

Beluga doesn't support blackberry which unfortunately still holds a sizeable share of smartphones so it's not a universal messenger yet. Liveprofile is havnig some ridiculous growth however. They got 1M users in the last 5 days and have well over 2M users now. Their service ketp crashing all week because their servers were being overwhelmed. I seriously think liveprofile is going to make it big once they get their servers in line. Wonder how they will make money though.

 

[Left Coast DJ]

For KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, and Beluga... if you're chatting, do all parties need to be on the same app? Can someone be on regular SMS on their iPhone for example, while you use KakaoTalk?

 

[barqers]

You can't send videos with Beluga, yet, which is my only issue with Beluga. Otherwise it looks great. Hopefully they will add that feature soon.

Yes I agree! It's slowly developing. But I think once it expands it has some very good potential because it incorporates EVERYONE. Even people without smartphones, as unfortunate as they are!

 

[barqers]

Beluga doesn't support blackberry which unfortunately still holds a sizeable share of smartphones so it's not a universal messenger yet. Liveprofile is havnig some ridiculous growth however. They got 1M users in the last 5 days and have well over 2M users now. Their service ketp crashing all week because their servers were being overwhelmed. I seriously think liveprofile is going to make it big once they get their servers in line. Wonder how they will make money though.

I will check live profiles out. I read somewhere that their servers were crap, but I'm guessing this is why!

For KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, and Beluga... if you're chatting, do all parties need to be on the same app? Can someone be on regular SMS on their iPhone for example, while you use KakaoTalk?

For all of them, except Beluga, they have to have the app installed. That's why I like Beluga. In Beluga you can add people to your "pod" (group), and you can add other Beluga IDs, emails, or phone numbers. Which means people using regular SMS can still see what everyone else is saying

 

[skyline2929]

Kakao seems to be the best but I uninstalled it from my phone because I just cant trust them. Their servers are in South Korea and according to Kakao website they follow South Korean laws. I am sorry but I just cant use their service even though Kakao is the best and the fastest IM app.

I like the liveprofile interface but its too buggy.

KIk messenger is also very fast but it doesnt have video support.

Whatsapp is ok but a bit slow.

Group me lacks video support as well.

Beluga simply sucks. Poor interface, no video support, waste of space.

 

[barqers]

Kakao seems to be the best but I uninstalled it from my phone because I just cant trust them. Their servers are in South Korea and according to Kakao website they follow South Korean laws. I am sorry but I just cant use their service even though Kakao is the best and the fastest IM app.

I like the liveprofile interface but its too buggy.

KIk messenger is also very fast but it doesnt have video support.

Whatsapp is ok but a bit slow.

Group me lacks video support as well.

Beluga simply sucks. Poor interface, no video support, waste of space.

I don't think any of them are at the quality of bbm right now. But I was reading online bbm may be coming to android and ios by 2012? Anyone else know the truth behind these rumors?

 

[tempest7]

For me running on my Galaxy S GT-i9000 (Android 2.2.1 FROYO.ZSJPK)

These are my views/experiences/opinions:

1) Whatsapp

Pros: Feature wise it is the most feature rich, Allowing me to group chat, share pictures, videos, and locations even (via group chat). Using phone numbers has been great for adding people, the majority of my friends use it so it is the app I use the most to communicate with them. Allows me to chat with my friends on Blackberry, iphone, and Nokia (yes even Nokia). Supports emoticons which allows me to express myself better to certain people. It has better integration with my phone, allows me to browse through the default gallery and 'send' pictures without having to open up the app first.

Cons: I find the app thens to slow down my phone when I get messages, and it's pretty obvious when that happens. I hate how on android if I send pictures it creates a copy of the picture under the whatsapp\media\images directory. I have to go in and clean it out once in a while. I tend to send a lot of pictures. There's a lot of 'artifact' user entries that show up. Mainly people who have switched numbers or have lost phones and now they have multiple entries on my phone.

Notes: Not because I love it, but because most people I know use it (and I think that's the bottom line) I can't get people to switch to something else cause it's usually too much of a hassle.

2) Kakao Talk

Pros: Personally I think the UI/interface looks nice and clean. easy to locate people via the search bar and easy to see ongoing chats. Nice network status updates for scheduled downtimes. Allows me to send the basics; pictures, videos, voice notes, and contacts. And since it is popular in Korea and Japan, I use it mainly to keep in contact with friends in those regions. Friends can be searched by numbers or just by Kakao ID. You can lock the app from within the app with a password for privacy and even change the background for your chat windows.

Cons: There are a few 'artifact' entries on my contact list and in the chat windows. I want to retain my chat history but to remove chats from the window I need to delete the whole thread. I don't think there's a way to archive them. Better integration and the ability to send location would be nice.

Notes: I see a few people posting above that they're concerned with Kakao using information they send for commercial purposes. I would really question what they send that would be worth so much money? I have quite a few friends who are models and their pictures would be worth more than any average user. So far as I know they don't spam, or market using the information I have.

3) Ping Chat

Pros: It allows for the standard messages, picture sending, videos, group chats, and even allows sending your location.

Cons: I barely have anyone who uses it, It was my choice for trying to get people to switch. No one wanted to use it, just about as resource intensive as whatsapp, but without the user base (for me). The detail in the UI is only so/so. I like looking at pretty things.

Notes: If I can move people off of it to Kakao (as the free alternative) I could finally uninstall this from my phone so I have 1 less service to worry about.

4) Kik Messenger

Pros: Simple, fairly quick

Cons: Simple, not much I can do with it. UI is kind of too plain.

Notes: I had 4 friends on it, 2 of them uninstalled it and eventually so did I.

5) Google talk

Pros: quick messages, built in native app, can chat with people who are logged in on their PC

Cons: Simple, can't send pictures or files

Notes: Some users will message me from their PC / gmail accounts while i'm walking around. It's nice to be able to chat with them. Those users aren't using smart phones.

6) Heywire

Pros: International SMS messages. So far every country I've tried.

Cons: Interface is kind of ugly. People can SMS me back, but I don't want my friends to be charged for anything long distance so I just use this to spam messages I don't want replies to, or to get people to check their emails.

Notes: Probably is nice if everyone else was using it. Helpful for me to SMS friends in Japan during the Earth quake / Tsunami disaster.

Conclusion: I use Whatsapp and Kakao talk because most of the users are on them. From what I've experimented with, it is really hard to get people to switch from whatsapp to a free alternative. Whatsapp is easy, they have it installed, and it is feature rich.

I've tried the beta for Liveprofile, but without any friends on it, I won't be bothering to install another app on my phone. I like that it's available for different brands, but I don't need something else taking up memory or CPU and eventually cutting into my battery life.

All other apps don't look appealing unless enough friends are using them.

For BB friends, sure BBM sounds good. It might have been first on the scene to do what it does. But ultimately, don't talk to me about it if you can't chat with me. I don't deal with PINs (and annoying when people lose their BB and they spam facebook/msn with their new PIN), I just deal with installing and having it auto discover using my phone number. I don't exclude friends who use other phones, I want to be able to socialize and communicate with them all. Install Whatsapp to try if you can do it for free, and install Kakao talk (unless you're paranoid that someone cares to use your pictures for some mass marketing scheme, but to be honest I don't know how valuable your picture is if models are sending their pictures all the time).

 

[Connectz]

I have almost all the messaging apps installed on my phone (EVO). Trying to see which one I like the best.

Pingchat. Clean and nice looking UI but the way you start a group chat is unintuitive. I like that you can add all the standard attachments.

Live Profile. Very nice UI but where it fails pretty hard is that there IS NO GROUP CHAT! Why else would you install a messaging app??? I'll keep it on for a little while longer to see what future updates bring but as of now, its nothing more than a glorified SMS app.

Kik. Kik messenger's UI, I think, looks the best. Its clean and crisp. Has group chat but you can only send emoticons and pics, no vids or anything else. I'll keep that one on my phone too to see how it evolves.

Whatsapp. So far, this is the best messaging app i've tried. I like this UI second best behind Kik. However, this app wins because its the easiest to set up group chats menu>group chat and your'e on your way. Plus, you can send all the standard attachments.

Kakaotalk. Nice app. Seems to do all the things Whatsapp can do. Don't like the UI tho!

 

[HJAcevedo]

I've never seen a need for any of that. It's basically a chat program like aim, yahoo, gmail, etc. Additionally on aim you could add someones number and text them from there. Whether that works to other nations or not I don't know but why not just use one of the various already existing apps?

Mind you I'm not knocking any of these apps; I'm simply curious.

 

[kylera]

I can say a lot about Kakao as I'm based in Korea and every friggin smartphone user uses it.

I can't say about other apps mentioned here, but what I think is Kakao's greatest advantage is that you don't have to send an invite to other people. Kakao uses your phonebook as your contact list and will add everyone who has a smartphone automatically. So there's a major convenience factor right there

So mix convenience with the fact that phone plans in Korea do not have high quotas for SMS and you get a runaway hit in Korea.

 

[jcnyc]

Liveprofile is owning this space right now. I've been using it for awhile now and only recently did their infrastructure seem to stabilize and become reliable. Now the messages all send through with no problems for me. From what I've been reading (which is their blog so they could be lying), they've been getting somewhere int he neighborhood of 1-2 million new users per week which puts it as growing faster than facebook did back in their day. Plenty of promise for this app.

 

[Left Coast DJ]

Wish these messaging apps were able to send and receive SMS too. So I can have a 1-stop app for both!

 

[bukzin]

Liveprofile is owning this space right now. I've been using it for awhile now and only recently did their infrastructure seem to stabilize and become reliable. Now the messages all send through with no problems for me. From what I've been reading (which is their blog so they could be lying), they've been getting somewhere int he neighborhood of 1-2 million new users per week which puts it as growing faster than facebook did back in their day. Plenty of promise for this app.

Does LiveProfile handle photos/MMS? Does the other party need to
download it first?

Thanks!