Most Popular Instant Messengers: Data from 1998 to 2024

The ultimate timeline of the world's most popular instant messenger apps from 1998 to 2024. We dive deep into the evolution of chat software, starting with the iconic desktop messengers of the late 90s and early 2000s. Rankings are based on monthly active users (MAU) worldwide, focusing on apps where messaging is the core feature. Excluded are video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Data is sourced from market reports, press releases, and SEC filings.

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[DataIsBeautifulOfficial]

Ah, the ICQ uh-oh! sound - forever in my brain. Oh, and it's my birthday today.

[stebro]

Anyone else never heard of Tencent QQ till this vid?

[fmnyyur]

A moment of silence for all the forgotten Yahoo Messenger IDs

[yufeng]

I'm surprised at how Discord didn't overtake Skype until 2024

[D_Greg_D]

Telegram has all chances to become second largest messengers 'til the end of 2024

[BriefNerdOriginal]

Very discomforting to see Signal adoption be so low, while it offers a complete WhatsApp replacement but without Meta syphoning the personal information

[CaseySexton]

MSN and Yahoo Messenger... Sending music, inviting your friend to a game. We had no idea how good we had it. At least we can say it was us who had it.

[TheVanillatech]

AOL messenger (and the chat rooms) of the mid 90s were an entirely different world. To those who know, the pioneers with the arrows in their backs, it was really something to be able to converse with literally hundreds of thousands of people in real time from all corners of the world. I met some amazing people, developed lifelong relationships, just from that short period of time back when I was a kid.

Facebook didn't come for another decade, and I know there were BBS'es long before Internet and AOL but those conversations were strung out over days, weeks and even months. AOL messenger was a different kind of magic.

[creounity]

Telegram deserves 3 000 000 000 users! :)

[LokiBeckonswow]

privacy is not a crime! long live encrypted communication services!

[wuodeck]

Gadu Gadu na zawsze w naszych sercach ☀️❤

[AdEngineer]

I don't know why people still use WhatsApp when it clearly sucks compared to Telegram

[Harsh_Kharya]

In India, WhatsApp is most popular. Telegram is second. No one uses SMS. It is only for receiving Bank messages, OTPs and Advertisements.

[canyouspotit]

Can we bring back MSN nudges? My friends are too good at ignoring me.

[JCCoutoBrasil]

In Brazil 🇧🇷, most popular is WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Second place is Telegram. We also use Zoom and MS Teams. SMS is only to receive bank or SPAM messages.

[DJPJ.]

The size of the lead of WhatsApp in the end is absolutely insane. Even with half of the users it had, it would still be in 1st place.

[max_biker]

I loved ICQ. But now I love Telegram. It's the best Messenger in the modern time

[Michal]

Ahh, Gadu-Gadu, back in the days everyone in Poland were using it. As far as I know it was available only in Polish. Good times, when the internet was a bit simpler and a bit less insane place. Rest in peace, friend

[tinyworld]

Facebook Messenger: Where I only go to see if I missed a game invite from 2010

[sonofasalesman]

Been using Telegram since 2019, my worst fears are being realized with the CEO's arrest. I only pray it doesn't become like the rest