Snapchat is a social mobile application that provides its users with photo, text, video, and audio sharing features. Snapchat has several functionalities that had made the app enormously popular among millennials. Amon them: the photo processing tools that enable users to apply original filters to photos or videos; as well as the ephemeral nature of the content shared through the platform which disappears after 24 hours of being shared. The company was launched in 2011 and became public in 2016.
Alternatives to Snapchat
Facetime
Company: Apple Inc.
FaceTime is an application developed by Apple that enables users to make video calls with other FaceTime users. Additionally, FaceTime has an audio-only version called FaceTime audio. The application is only available for iOS devices.
Appear.In
Company: Telenor Digital AS | Founder: Svein Willassen, Ingrid Ødegaard | CEO: Ingrid Ødegaard | Since: 2013
Appear.in is an application that enables its users to have video conversations with up to eight people at no cost. Appear.in also offers a premium version allowing conversations with up to 12 people. Appear.in users are able to use the…
Viber
Company: Rakuten Inc. | Founder: Talmon Marco, Igor Magazinnik | CEO: Hiroshi Mikitani | Since: 2010
Viber is a messaging and voice over IP (VoIP) app that allows users to text, call, exchange images, video and audio with anyone in the world, at no cost. The company was launched in 2010, as a competitor for Skype…
Slingshot
Company: Facebook, Inc. | Founder: Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes | CEO: Mark Zuckerberg | Since: 2014
Slingshot was a photo-sharing application developed by Facebook. The platform enabled users to share expiring photos and videos with their friends. Additionally, the platform featured editing functionalities such as filters and drawing tools. The application was launched in 2014 and…
Wickr
Company: Wickr Inc. | Founder: Kara Coppa, Chris Howell, Robert Statica, Nico Sell | CEO: Joel Wallenstrom | Since: 2011
Wickr is a messaging platform that enables its users to exchange top-secret messages and files. The company provides its users with a secure and easy way to exchange private messages with anyone, as content exchanged through Wickr is encrypted end-to-end…
Whatsapp
Company: Facebook Inc. | Founder: Brian Acton, Jan Koum | CEO: Jan Koum | Since: 2009
Whatsapp is a free mobile messaging application that enables users to chat, make phone calls and send files through their smartphones. Additionally, the application gives users the functionality to create group chats, change their status and upload photos or videos…
Instagram
Company: Instagram, Inc. | Founder: Mike Krieger, Kevin Systrom | CEO: Kevin Systrom | Since: 2010
Instagram is a platform that allows users to edit and share photos for free. Instagram users can take pictures, apply filters and share their pictures on Facebook, and other social media. The company was launched in 2010 and was acquired…
Final edit: Jan Willem Beumer, editor-in-chief of Mindbogglingmedia