Contrary to popular belief, chat apps that don’t ask for your number are not just for criminals or shady people, they are useful for many different situations where your privacy is important. You can use it to hook up safely, discuss matters that are controversial, buy and sell items on Craigslist, and so on. A while ago, I shared 10 anonymous chat apps, when you want to talk to random strangers. The focus of this article is to cover apps that will help you do business, date, meet, and so on – safely.
Texting Apps That Don’t Require Your Phone Number
1. Kik
Kik is a popular messaging app among teens, known for its laissez-faire approach to chat anonymously. While more than 300 million users are active on the platform, Kik has received some negative reviews and press due to its inability to stop bots from sending adult and unwanted messages to random users. Nonetheless, it works and can be used if you are looking to chat with someone anonymously. You can share photos, videos, video chat, group chat, and send emojis using its simple and functional interface.
Kik is especially popular with teens and many use it for texting and sexting, sometimes to random people. Just make sure you are not sharing more than you want to in those chat messages and you should be fine. If you are looking for a different crowd, read on. Fun Fact: They recently launched their own blockchain-powered coin called KIN. Check out KIK (Android) / KIK (iOS)
2. Moco
Moco is a great app to meet new people and make friends with them, all without having to share your mobile number. You can create an account the fast way, using your Facebook and Google account, or create an anonymous account using just your email id.
Moco has chat rooms, both private and public, where you can chat and connect with like-minded people. You can search and narrow down profiles via location, age, sex, preferences, interests orientation, status, and gender. If you see someone you like, you can send a friend request and then chat 1-on-1. There are some fun games that you can play with other members. There is a review section where members like to rate and review music and movies mostly, but can be used to review anything. Moco is ad-supported and free for users. There is VIP access which removes ads, offers special in-game features, and you get 3000 gold credits every month. Gold is Moco’s in-app currency. A monthly subscription begins at $19.99. Checkou out Moco (Android) / Moco (iOS)
3. Discord
If you are a gamer but still haven’t heard of Discord, you must be living under a rock. While Discord was built from the ground up to be a safe haven for gamers to chat anonymously and in real-time, it has gained popularity in recent months and is being used by people from all walks of life. Apart from allowing members to send direct and group voice and text messages, files, emojis, and video chat, Discord also allows members to create groups and assign each individual user a role with specific permissions.
Note: Discord will ask you to verify your account using your phone number but that number is kept private and will not be shared with anyone – members or admins of groups. Discord says it was done to reduce spam and illicit activities on the platform. Frankly, I think it was a good idea. The reason Discord made the list, even though it asks for your number, is that it is fun and safe to use and you will notice far less spam reaching your inbox when compared to other anonymous platforms. Check out Discord (Android) / Discord (iOS) / Discord (Windows) / Discord (Browser)
4. MeetMe
MeetMe, as the name suggests, is a dating app with more than 100 million active users and going strong. After you have created your profile, you can see how many views your profile got, like Quora. Visitors can also become your admirers and gift you gold stars to show love and appreciation. Overall, the app gives a very positive vibe to the users.
You can go live just like you do on Instagram. There are different categories and areas of interest which will help you find and meet like-minded people. There are a number of arcades and casino games to choose from that will help you bond with others while having fun. This is not to say that the app is targeted at people interested in finding love anonymously, casual users are welcomed with open arms. The app is free to use but comes with a monthly subscription option that will cost you $9.99. You will get credits which you can then use to boost your profile visibility, priority matching, and some additional features. Check out MeetMe (Android) / MeetMe (iOS) / MeetMe (Windows)
5. WhatsApp
Okay, WhatsApp requires you to register your phone number to use their service, and people need to know your number to message you. But what if you can create a WhatsApp account with a phone number. It’s simple, all you need is a Telos app where you can generate a second phone number that isn’t linked to your primary phone number. With-in the Telos app, you can make phone calls, send messages, and also receive them. Just verify the WhatsApp account with that phone number and that’s it. You have successfully created a WhatsApp account without your phone number. For more details, you can check out this article on how to create a WhatsApp account without a Phone Number for a step-by-step process.
You can actually use this method to create an account on any phone number related messaging service like Telegram. This is a paid app, but you will get a 3-day free trial. Once you have completed your verification process on Whatsapp, you can stop the subscription and you won’t be charged if you have canceled before the end of the free trial. As a side note, yes you can use WhatsApp even after you have canceled the subscription. Checkout Telos (Android)
Wrapping Up: Anonymous Chat Apps
There are anonymous chat apps targeted at users based on what they are trying to achieve. I shared some anonymous chat apps for dating, business, gamers, and casual niches. Pick the one you want and see how it goes. Note: You can also use Telegram, for anonymous chatting. Although it asks for your number for verification, the number remains private and inaccessible to anyone who views your profile. Your number can be seen by either a friend or mutual contacts only. A stranger has no chance to get contact information unless you are willing to share it. While anonymous chat apps are fun to use, I advise you to be careful of what you share and with whom. You are responsible for your own security no matter which app you are using.
