Best Social Apps for macOS

Microsoft retired the consumer Skype service on May 5, 2025 and moved users toward Microsoft Teams Free.

Pricing: Skype (Retired) is retired and has no current first-party purchase plan. Do not pay a third party for access to the discontinued service or an unofficial replacement.

Pros

• • Historically made internet voice and video calling mainstream
• • Existing users were offered a path to Microsoft Teams Free

Safety Features

• • End-to-end encryption option
• • Block and report

WhatsApp provides private messages, group chats, voice and video calls, status updates, communities, channels, and file sharing across supported devices.

Pricing: WhatsApp Messenger's core service can currently be used without a required subscription. Optional purchases, connected services, data charges, or regional offers may still apply; confirm the official checkout before paying.

Pros

• • End-to-end encryption for personal messages and calls by default
• • Messages, groups, voice calls, video calls, and file sharing

Safety Features

• • End-to-end encryption
• • Two-step verification

Signal is a private messaging app with end-to-end encrypted texts, voice and video calls, groups, usernames, disappearing messages, stories, and linked desktop apps.

Pricing: Core messaging, calls, groups, and the free Secure Backups tier cost nothing; optional donations and a paid Secure Backups media tier are available, with store pricing subject to change.

Pros

• • End-to-end encryption is enabled by default for messages, calls, groups, and shared media
• • Independent nonprofit model without advertising or monetizing personal communication

Safety Features

• • End-to-end encryption by default
• • Safety number verification

Discord combines community servers, direct messages, voice, video, and screen sharing for friends, gaming groups, clubs, and online communities.

Pricing: Discord - Talk, Play, Hang Out offers a usable free tier and optional paid subscriptions or one-time purchases. Prices, limits, included features, trials, and renewal terms vary by market and platform; confirm the official checkout before paying.

Pros

• • Flexible servers with separate text, voice, and announcement channels
• • Voice, video, screen sharing, and direct messages in one app

Safety Features

• • Content moderation tools
• • Age-gated channels

A secure messaging and calling app offering free high-quality video chats, end-to-end encryption, and low-cost international calls.

Pricing: Rakuten Viber Messenger offers a usable free tier and optional paid subscriptions or one-time purchases. Prices, limits, included features, trials, and renewal terms vary by market and platform; confirm the official checkout before paying.

Pros

• • Eligible private chats and one-to-one calls use end-to-end encryption
• • Viber Out provides an optional way to call ordinary phone numbers

Safety Features

• • End-to-end encryption
• • Hidden number option