How to do it and what should you take into account

Has the time to say goodbye to WhatsApp or Telegram? If you want to change them for any of the various European alternatives That it is available, unfortunately it is not something as simple as changing email. There are several things that you should take into accountand we will review them with you in this article.

With this we do not want to dissuade you that you do it, although it is something complicated. Simply, if you do not have many technological knowledge we will explain some important things that you should think before making a decision, because It is a very difficult process. In the end we will also mention an important alternative that is not a messaging app.

What to look at the alternatives

Either by privacy or principles, if you want to change these applications for European alternatives such as Forget, Threema either Skredthere are some things to look at. The first thing is that the minimum privacy requirements are met and that they have end -to -end encryptionso that your messages cannot be read if they are intercepted.

You must also look that the servers they use are on European soil to comply with EU data protection regulations. As complement, it is useful if Do not require your mobile number To be able to use them, or at least allow you to create a username so as not to have to share your name and thus have more security.

It may also be useful to know if Apps are open source. Not everyone is, but put to look for alternatives, finding one that is can help you know that anyone can see that they do not do more than they say, which guarantees security standards and a more transparent philosophy.

Finally, Look at the options offeredto make sure there is no one to miss. All often have the most normal and essential these days, but it is convenient to review them in case.

Your privacy is priced

When large applications are free, it can be because they sell your data or because they have payment versions with which to stay as an alternative. The first problem you are going to meet with some European alternatives is that They can be paidThey can be apps that require an annual fee.

Here are two paths, or look for those alternatives that are explicitly free, or simply assess the possibility of paying for better privacy in your messaging app.

Warns that you have changed app

If you have decided to change a messaging app for another, do not delete your app account that you are going to go. At least not at the beginning. Notify your change contacts And how to contact the new application, something that will help you not to be surprised and also disseminate this app.

These notices should do them for a while, give margin so that whoever really wants to keep in touch with you consider registering in this app, and that whoever already has it can write you.

The problem that they are standardized apps

The biggest problem you will find with the alternatives is that None of your contacts will use it. In fact, even if you say that you are leaving, it is normal for most family or friends not to make an account in other applications only for you, although if no one begins to leave, these other alternatives will never be disseminated.

This coincides with the problem that WhatsApp is a standard in Spain. With this I mean that it is the app that everyone uses: your family, your friends and even business. And as everyone uses it, it is difficult to leave because you would lose contact with them, especially if you have family or friends groups. There is not much that you can do more than try to convince them to change their app, and stop using the one that you leave little by little.

You don’t even need another app having RCS

Another thing you should know is that You don’t even need an alternative to WhatsAppsince in Spain and many other European and American countries, the standard has been implemented RCS. This technology is a protocol with which we can send messages through the SMS app, but they are not SMS but messages such as messaging apps.

The good thing about using RCS is that you do not need to install any app, it works in the messages you have on your mobile. You can also create groups, send photos, voice notes, and All this is totally free. The bad thing is that in some countries it has not yet been implemented, it depends on the operators, so if you write with people from abroad you will not always be able to do it in this way. But today it is the best alternative.

In Xataka Basics | 61 European alternatives to Google, X, Gmail, Chrome, Maps, Dropbox, Google Drive, WhatsApp and other popular services