New social media and messaging platforms emerge now and then, but only a few become a favorite of users. Snapchat is one such example, which is a top photo and video capturing app that 238 million people actively use daily across the world.
Seeing Snapchat’s massive success, many companies created apps that are like Snapchat in features. Though Snapchat is still unique and irreplaceable, it's a good idea to check out those apps as well, as you may find features that speak to your unique needs.
"As of October 2023, the number of Snapchat users worldwide is estimated to be around 492.70 million, with 384.30 million daily active users."
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This blog entails a list of top Snapchat alternatives that you should check out in 2024! Let's start with talking about some Snapchat features.
Snapchat’s Unique Features
Capturing and Sharing Photos or Snaps
It's the key feature of the app and allows users to capture and send videos or photos that self-destrcut in seconds. Snapchat also contains innumerable various text captions, tools and filters to edit videos.
Self-Destructing Content
It is Snapchat’s custom feature that made it a favorite of teenagers and college students. Here is how its mechanism works:
- When you shoots a message, the Snapchat uploads it in its server
- They send you a message about the new snap that they download in a temporary place on your device
- Once you opens the notification, message copy is deleted from the temporary location and a notification is sent to the app server
- The app then removes the message from the server. If a user doesn’t open it till thirty days, snapchat automatically deletes it.
Snapchat’s Lenses
The app leverages the Active Shape Model to capture someone’s face and develop facial borders. Their machine learning mechanism helps them adjust the face as per the picture provided. Snapchat finetunes the image and matches the filter with your face. Lastly, they employ the following face points to balance a 3D mask that moves and adapts with a face.
Finding and Adding Friends
You can add your pals through personalized QR codes as every users bears an individual QR code that you can scan and begin following. They are called snapcodes.
You can also turn on the Add Nearby feature to allow snapchat to send your coordinates to the servers. The server compares the location of people with an active Add-Nearby scream and displays your potential buddies.
7 Best Snapchat Alternatives
Download: App Store & Google Play
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Web and desktop
Number of installs: 1,000,000,000+
Instagram is one of the Snapchat’s competitors as its also an application for sharing visual content.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Face masks and filters for videos and photos | Numerous extra applications such as Layout for Instagram etc |
| 10 minutes long IGTV videos | Don’t allow rearranging pictures on the feed |
| Private chat option | Screenshot notifications |
| Allows sharing pictures and videos with close pals only | - |
| Likes, comments and statistics | - |
| File sharing capability | - |
| Audio messages and video calls | - |
Check out: Instagram VS Snapchat
TikTok
Download: App Store & Google Play
Platforms: Android, iOS, and Web
Number of installs: 1,000,000,000+
TikTok is another app like Snapchat which allows users to share entertainment, dance and educational videos. This Chinese app features loads of filters and songs and soundtracks that users can add to their content.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Interactive short videos | No built-in messages |
| Minimalistic and intuitive interface | Lack of self-destructing content |
| Numerous video filters | Limits for video length |
| A vast array of soundtracks and music to pick from | Limited editing |
| - | Occasional glitches |
Check Snapchat Vs TikTok: Which Is Better and Why?
Wickr Me
Download: App Store & Google Play
Platforms: Android and iOS
Number of installs: 6,000,000+
WickrMe is another Snapchat like app for android and iPhone users. It has encrypted messages, photo and video sharing, voice memos etc.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Super fast and safe | Lack of screenshot notifications |
| Complete privacy | No sync between devices |
| Zero pop-up ads | - |
Telegram
Download: App Store & Google Play
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web and desktop
Number of installs: 550,000,000+
Telegram is another user-friendly and safe app similar to Snapchat. Its secret chats feature enables users to share self-destructing videos like they do with Snapchat.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Secret chat option just like the one on Snapchat | A little user community |
| Smart bots | Absence of face filters |
| Public groups and group chats | No screenshot notifications |
| Allows sharing files as heavy as 1.5 GB | - |
| Increased confidentiality and safety | - |
| Video and audio calls | - |
| Multiple stickers and GIF | - |
Read: Snapchat vs Telegram
SnapSeed
Download: App Store & Google Play
Platforms: Android and iOS
Number of installs: 150,000,000+
Snapseed is a photo and video editing app which has a vast array of photo editing features such as brushes, structure, healing and digital filters.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly | No sharing option |
| A vast array of features for photo and video editing | No self-destructing files |
| Hassle-free sharing option to various social media platforms | Lack of built-in chat or video calls |
Cluster
Download: App Store & Google Play
Platforms: Android and iOS
Number of installs: 110,000+
Cluster app lets users make private picture albums for friends and family and share them with specific people.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Group sharing | Absence of editing tools or filters for photos and videos |
| Sends alerts when a user includes a new picture to their album | No built-in chat |
| Sync between web and mobile | - |
Imgur
Download: App Store & Google Play
Platforms: Android and iOS
Number of installs: 10,000,000+
Imgur is a video creation app that has many funny menes, cute pet videos and other amusing stuff.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| GIF creator | No chat |
| Newsfeed | Lack of image modification features |
| Tons of classy memes and amusing GIFs | No self-destructing content |
Conclusion
Snapchat was the first photo and video sharing app with disappearing pictures and stories. After its success, many social media apps copied its features but they haven’t been able to replace Snapchat. But still, you should know about the snapchat alternatives to see if they offer some features that you might like! If you want to create an app like Snapchat, a trusted mobile app development company like Maven Digital can help you. Drop us a line to share your app idea!
