As the world of mobile apps increases exponentially every minute, here are our top five best free mobile social apps for the first half

of 2013.

TOP 5: MessageMe

Image courtesy of tctechcrunch2011

MessageMe is the newest mobile messaging app which was released in the early part of 2013. It is a one-on-one and group messaging app. You can send Youtube videos, iTunes songs, voice recordings and emoticons in the apps. You can also draw doodles directly on top of other pictures.

Notable features:

1. Photo and video sharing from Facebook, Youtube, Instagram or your camera.

2. Share location with friends and family.

3. Walkie talkie feature.

4. Draw and doodle. Add one of hundreds and emojis available to express yourself with.

5. Facebook and Twitter interface.

Google Play rated it with four stars while iTunes store gave it four and half stars.

What we like:

The photo and video sharing features are just adorable. There is less hassle in sharing Youtube videos, Facebook and Instagram photos to the device. The chat feature is also reliable. It also sports a cool design with no ads.

What we don't like:

There is definitely nothing new with the app, it almost feels like a rehash of other mobile messaging apps. There is no sense to use this app as messenger for Facebook since Facebook has already built-in messenger. However, if you are bored with your old mobile messaging app, MessageMe is just right for you.

TOP 4: Kik Messenger

Image courtesy of Itunes

Kik is a fast, simple and personal smartphone messenger. It is available for iPhones, Android, Windows, and Blackberry phones.

According to Kik official website:

Kik was founded in 2009, when a small but incredibly passionate group of University of Waterloo students decided to build a company that would shift the center of computing from the PC to the phone.

Fast forward to today, and Kik Messenger has become the simplest, fastest, most life-like chat experience you can get on a smartphone. But Kik isn't just about instant messaging. Kik fans are already exchanging videos, sketches, smileys and more, with apps that have been built using our Kik API. And we've just introduced Kik Cards, features built in HTML5 that let users search for and send YouTube videos, find and share images, Reddit pics and GIFs, and create sketches and memes - without leaving Kik and without downloading anything new!

Currently, Kik received five stars rating in iTunes store.

What we like:

It is a simple, no frills and professional mobile messaging app. It is not cluttered with dizzying ads and nonessential features. You can send Youtube videos, photos, memes, voice messengers and sketches. You can also send group messages to up to thirteen people.

What we don't like:

Basically, Kik is just like that -- plain, simple and boring. It is similar to Blackberry's Messenger and iPhone's iMessage, it does not appear edgy enough for the narcissistic millenial generation who needs to constantly show off and connect with their friends and basically, anyone in the internet who can be their audience.

TOP 3: Viber


Viber is a free mobile social messaging app with 200 million users developed by Viber Media. In addition to text messaging, users can exchange images, video and audio media messages. It is available for Mac OS, Android, Blacberry OS, iOS, Series 40, Symbian, Bada, Windows's Phone and Microsoft Windows.

The official Viber website asked users why they need to choose the app.

Why Viber?

  • Free text, calling, photo messages and location-sharing with Viber users*
  • No registration, alias or invitations required
  • Instantly integrates with your own contact list
  • Best-quality mobile calls using 3G or Wi-Fi

Currently, iTunes and Google Play gave four and a half star to Viber.

What we like:

Viber acts like your very personal and professional mobile messaging app since it requires your mobile number as your id. Viber is also available in thirty (30) languages and locales, it is a good app to use in communicating with your friends abroad.

What we don't like:

Aside from the usual call and sms messaging features including smileys, voice and video messages, Viber does not offer anything new and revolutionary. Its performance also varies depending on your internet (3G or WiFi) speed. So you better expect lagging phone calls and buffering video messaging specially when you are not in 3G or LTE.

TOP 2: LINE

Photo courtesy of goodkindofgeek

LINE is Japan-based mobile messaging app which is taking Asia and the rest of the world by storm. It is a new communication app which allows user to make free voice calls and send free Emoji messages. It has more than 200 million users worldwide and is used in over 231 countries. It is ranked no. 1 in the free app category in 52 countries including Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Spain, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and many more.

Notable features:

1. Free high quality voice, sms/email messaging

2. Social Networking Features including Timeline

3. Sticker shops!

4. Built-in Line Games!

What we like:

Kawaii (cute) and cool Japan are written all over the app! It is visually pleasing due to its very sleek design. The built-in games and timeline features are also very cool. And the emoji stickers are nothing but cute! And to top it all, it allows you to add KPOP and JPOP celebrities! Who would not resist that?!

What we don't like:

The cutest and coolest stickers are not free and will cost you bucks. It does not have video messaging. After the cuteness fades away, you will ask what else to do with the app. Some reviews say that LINE is all looks but lacking in utility.

TOP 1: WeChat (Chinese is Wēixìn)

Photo courtesy of ftechblog.com

WeChat is a mobile text and voice messaging developed by Tencet in China. It was first released on January 2011. It has currently 300 million subscribers. The app is available on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Symbian platforms. Languages supported include traditional/simplified Chinese, English, Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Malay, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi and Russian. WeChat is supported on WiFi, 2G, 3G, and 4G data networks. It also has a web application counterpart.

Its notable features are:

1. Moments

2. Voice Chat

3. Web WeChat

4. Emoticons

5. Group Chat

6. Shake

7. Look Around

8. Drift Bottle

9. Facebook Connect

Currently, WeChat is rated with four stars in iTunes store and four and half stars in Google Play.

What we like about it:

This app is very revolutionary in every sense of the word! It has cool and very innovative features that won't leave you asking for more! The Moments and interface with Facebook are pure genius! The Look Around, Drift Bottles and Shake features are just perfect and very revolutionary. The app is surely a pioneer in shrinking all the app features you would ever want in a single platform! You can also back up and restore your chat history. If someone can rival Facebook, we think it is Wechat!

What we don't like:

The app is not suitable for minors and children. Its innovative and cool features can be used in not so wholesome way so it is best for parents not to recommend this app to their children. Its voice and video chat features are just average. Lastly, WeChat seems intended for purely social not professional communication.