The Internet is the most important single development in the history of human communication since the invention of call waiting. — Dave Barry
Dave Barry is right. Communication is the most essential function the internet brought to the world with its inception in 1969. What started with email programs, has morphed into a plethora of applications, platforms, and services for all kinds of online messaging and communication.
On this list, you’ll find the most used communication services by monthly active users — be it text messaging, audio and video calls, or group chats. The oldest messaging service on this list was launched in 1999. The youngest application came to life in 2017.
The list
This list is structured as follows: Below the name, you’ll find the number of monthly active users, then the launch date of the app or service, and finally the country the company behind the platform resides in. 5 countries are represented on this list. For the last 5 services, I couldn’t find conclusive numbers for monthly active users.
1. WhatsApp
2 billion | launched 2009 | USA
2. Facebook Messenger
1.3 billion | launched 2004 | USA
3. WeChat
- 2 billion | launched 2011 | China
4. QQ
659 million | launched 1999 | China
5. Telegram
500 million | launched 2013 | United Arab Emirates
6. Skype
300 million | launched 2003 | USA
7. Tieba
300 million | launched 2003 | China
8. Viber
260 million | launched 2010 | Luxembourg
9. imo
200 million | launched 2012 | USA
10. Line
169 million | launched 2011 | Japan
11. Discord
140 million | launched 2015 | USA
12. Zoom
launched 2012 | USA
13. Microsoft Teams
launched 2016 | USA
14. Google Meet
launched 2017 | USA
15. Apple iMessage
launched 2011 | USA
16. Apple FaceTime
launched 2010 | USA
Conclusion
What would the internet be without online messaging and communication? It’s the most essential feature of the world wide web. As Stephen Hawking
said:
We are all now connected by the Internet, like neurons in a giant brain.
