{"id":13121,"date":"2021-04-02T11:04:49","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T11:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/?p=13121"},"modified":"2021-04-02T11:04:49","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T11:04:49","slug":"group-chatting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/blog\/group-chatting\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Apps for Effective Group Chat (Friends, Family, and Teams)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A group chat is a key component of any group of friends, family members, or coworkers. Thanks to instant messaging<\/a> technology, group chat apps provide a fixed space for groups of any type to talk, share information, and even collaborate in the workplace.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re probably part of a group chat in your private life and at work. It\u2019s one of the best ways for a group to communicate! But if you want to avoid the inefficiency and noise sometimes associated with group communication, you need to use an app dedicated to group chat.<\/p>\n

And as each app serves different audiences in different ways, you need to know not only what to look for in a group chat app, but some tips to improve your group communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read on to power up your group chatting<\/a> capabilities, and keep your group communicating efficiently and effectively.<\/p>\n

What to Look for in a Group Chat App<\/h2>\n

\"Group<\/p>\n

Not all group chat applications are the same. Personal-grade apps like WhatsApp promote quick group communication between family and friends. Software as a Service apps like Brosix and Slack facilitate efficient and productive internal communication<\/a> at the office or between teams.<\/p>\n

Whatever the nature of your group discussion, these are some of the features you may want.<\/p>\n

Voice and video calling –<\/b> Sometimes the nature of the communication calls for something more private or particular. Any group chat app you choose should support audio and video calling, too.<\/p>\n

Chat histories –<\/b> Chat histories log conversations to boost efficiency and save your group time tracking down information. Furthermore, in some places, laws mandate the archiving of electronic communications.<\/p>\n

Message broadcasting capabilities –<\/b> Broadcast messages<\/a> enable you to send information to a hand-selected group, honing your message. It\u2019s a more efficient way to share critical team updates<\/a>, the latest news, or time-sensitive announcements.<\/p>\n

File sharing – <\/b>With most group chat apps you can enhance the discussion by sharing photos. Business-oriented apps like Slack and Teams enable file and document sharing, while Brosix allows you to transfer files and docs unrestricted by size or number.<\/p>\n

Collaboration Tools –<\/b> If you\u2019re collaborating at work<\/a>, pairing visual collaboration tools<\/a> like screen sharing or whiteboards with your group chat is one of the best ways to effectively communicate.<\/p>\n

Statuses – <\/b>Statuses aren\u2019t necessary for your family WhatsApp group. At work, however, they\u2019re key to letting coworkers know when you\u2019re online or if you\u2019re too busy to chat.<\/p>\n

Multi-platform functionality – <\/b>Good group chat apps should be optimized for a variety of platforms. This keeps the entire group communicating effectively, regardless of a user\u2019s preferred device, operating system, or browser.<\/p>\n

Security and Privacy – <\/b>Fully encrypted, peer-to-peer channels and anti-virus and malware integration protect you from outside threats. Closed networks and robust administrative tools ensure group discussion takes place within its intended confines, increasing team productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Apps for Group Communication Among Friends<\/h2>\n

Social Media Integration: Facebook Messenger<\/h3>\n

\"Facebook<\/p>\n

Available on: <\/b>Android, iOS, Windows, Web<\/p>\n

These days nearly everyone has a Facebook account. So why not use the group chat app that\u2019s fully integrated with the world\u2019s go-to social media platform?<\/p>\n

On Messenger, you can chat one-on-one or in groups, record audio messages, and place voice and video calls, the latter of which supports groups of up to 50 people. Share your favorite photos, memes, GIFs, or even your live location to better coordinate group meetups.<\/p>\n

Group discussions on Messenger can happen on mobile or PC, though for PC there\u2019s no standalone app – you\u2019ll have to access your group chats through a browser. Keep in mind that Messenger isn\u2019t encrypted by default. For encryption, you\u2019ll need to launch a secret chat and those are one-to-one only.<\/p>\n

Messenger Pricing: <\/b>Free<\/p>\n

Group Texting: WhatsApp<\/h3>\n

Available on: <\/b>Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Web<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for group chat that resembles SMS text messaging, WhatsApp<\/a> is a sure bet. And with more than 1.5 billion users, there\u2019s a good chance your contacts are already there. You access WhatsApp through your mobile phone number, but from there you can message your groups from any device, including your computer.<\/p>\n

The platform supports direct conversations or group chats for up to 256 participants. With group chats, you can share messages, photos, and videos, as well as mute or customize notifications, and name your group. There\u2019s also a repository for shared media, links, and docs. Unlike Messenger, WhatsApp group chats are encrypted end-to-end.<\/p>\n

WhatsApp Pricing: <\/b>Free<\/p>\n

Biggest Groups: Telegram<\/h3>\n

\"telegram\"<\/p>\n

Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web<\/b><\/p>\n

Group chat on Telegram<\/a> comes with a distinct advantage over the competition: capacity. Telegram groups can support up to 200,000 participants. No other app comes close.<\/p>\n

Private groups are admin-controlled and require an invite. Public groups are searchable and accessible to all through a publicly available invitation link. Telegram users can use the app to share unlimited photos, videos, and files. What\u2019s more, self-destructing messages and secret chatting make it a popular group chat app for privacy.<\/p>\n

That said, while secret chats are encrypted, encryption isn’t the default on Telegram<\/a> – you have to turn it on manually. Moreover, Telegram\u2019s encryption protocol is homegrown and unverified by experts. All of that poses questions about Telegram\u2019s ability to protect group communication.<\/p>\n

Telegram Pricing: <\/b>Free<\/p>\n

Secure Group Chat: Signal<\/h3>\n

\"Signal
\nAvailable on: <\/b>Android, iOS, Windows, macOS<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubting Signal<\/a>\u2019s credentials as a secure group chat app<\/a>. The platform is totally open-source, meaning any and all can access Signal\u2019s source code.<\/p>\n

Everything on Signal –\u00a0 from direct texts and group chats to voice and video calls, shared files, and even stickers – is encrypted end-to-end. Better yet, you can talk among your groups free of ads, marketing tactics, or tracking.<\/p>\n

Signal even hides virtually all metadata including the message sender. This way, neither Signal nor anyone who intercepts the message in transit can tell who\u2019s sending you Signal messages, or read the texts themselves.<\/p>\n

Signal Pricing: <\/b>Free<\/p>\n

Most Fun: GroupMe<\/h3>\n

Available on: <\/b>Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows, Web<\/p>\n

There\u2019s little guesswork behind GroupMe\u2019s intentions. While the app supports one-to-one communication, GroupMe\u2019s bread and butter is fun and engaging conversations between multiple users. It\u2019s one of the most popular places for groups to chat and interact digitally.<\/p>\n

Unlike other apps, GroupMe<\/a> doesn\u2019t let you create groups by simply adding more people to a direct conversation. Groups have to be created individually and each has to have its own name, purpose, and participants, though you can easily add users from one group to another.<\/p>\n

GroupMe is one of the more entertaining chat apps around. In addition to being able to share photos, videos, and your location, you can use the GIF search engine, create your own memes with images from your gallery, and send custom emojis<\/a>. What\u2019s more, you can create calendar events and conduct polls to gauge the opinion of your group – useful if you\u2019re stuck on whether to organize a game night or a night out with friends.<\/p>\n

Just have in mind that GroupMe isn\u2019t encrypted end-to-end. While the app doesn\u2019t offer much information about you to other users – your email and phone number remain private and people can\u2019t start a conversation with you without either of those two – if you\u2019re looking to protect confidential or business-related chats, you\u2019ll want to look further down this list.<\/p>\n

For more, explore our recent in-depth GroupMe review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

GroupMe Pricing: <\/b>Free<\/p>\n

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Best Group Chat Apps for Teams<\/h2>\n

Total Group Communication, Collaboration, and Control: Brosix<\/h3>\n

\"Why<\/p>\n

Available on:<\/b> Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Web<\/p>\n

Brosix<\/a> is an all-in-one instant messaging software for business that comes packed with features to increase communication and collaboration<\/a> and ensure total control of group chat spaces.<\/p>\n

No two groups are the same. That\u2019s why Brosix enables group communication and teamwork in multiple ways. Chat one-on-one, over voice or video, or within a host of shared chat spaces.<\/p>\n

With the Chat Rooms for Groups<\/a> feature, you can empower each group on your network with its own chat room, and<\/i> automate the administration process. Or set up a chat room for something situational, like quickly talking over the day\u2019s to-dos or carrying out a short-term project with coworkers in different locations. It\u2019s all archivable and easily retrievable.<\/p>\n

Swap unlimited files, share your screen, and launch virtual whiteboard presentations. Broadcast messages allow you to target your message to handpicked groups.<\/p>\n

Brosix Team Networks are fully private and equipped with rich administrative features<\/a> so you can manage contact lists, shared chat spaces, and collaboration tools on an individual or group basis.<\/p>\n

Better yet, each Brosix Network features encryption, peer-to-peer communication channels, and anti-virus and malware integration. So you can worry less about security and focus more on improving the productivity of your team communication and collaboration.<\/p>\n

Brosix Group Chat Highlights\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n