Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to USA TODAY Tech - The future of messaging apps

Chris Messina & Ben Eidelson discuss conversational commerce

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. USA TODAY Tech - The future of messaging apps launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Chris Messina on conversational commerce▲83

   The 2017 bot outlook with one of the field’s early adopters

   2017 · oreilly.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Capsule▲148

   Text the future

   2015 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Prehype - 8: YC's Aaron Harris on the future of mobile interfaces and chat based apps▲86

   This week as we explore the nuances of the "hidden" mobile

   2015 · soundcloud.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Chatbots▲102

   Conversational UI and the future of online interaction

   2016 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Designing Conversational Interfaces▲86

   An introduction to creating compelling chat applications

   2016 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Flock▲118

   A messaging app for making plans

   2014 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Appew▲105

   Start a conversation around your app

   2015 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Inside Intercom Podcast - Chris Messina, Developer Experience Lead at Uber▲112

   A chat with Chris Messina about conversational commerce

   2016 · overcast.fm · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Trext▲91

   Automated text message conversations

   2015 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Path Talk Places▲159

    Message People and Places in One App

    2014 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Hey!▲57

    "The premiere low effort communication app"

    2014 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Time Will Come▲69

    Send your message to the future

    2015 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Studio▲124

    Roleplaying based messaging app

    2015 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Rhombus▲86

    Conversational Commerce as a Service

    2015 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Flamingo▲71

    Modern instant messaging

    2014 · flamingo.im · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Talk Turkey▲126

    Instant message interviews

    2016 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Snaps▲63

    Toolkit for brand-building in messaging platforms

    2015 · atlantahighwayseafood.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Babble▲92

    A more personalized social network

    2016 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Textcast▲128

    Messaging meets blogging

    2015 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Pie▲103

    Chat for work

    2014 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Got A Minute?▲102

    Messaging app that limits conversations to 1 minute

    2015 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Couple▲86

    An app for two

    2013 · couple.me · its alternatives →

23. 23
    The evolution of messaging▲26

    How business messaging evolved & where it's going next

    2018 · intercom.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Slack▲128

    A platform for team communication

    2014 · slack.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →