This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Messaging apps are pretty vital for many of us — they keep us connected to family, friends, and co-workers, even when we’re on opposite ends of the globe. Not to mention: messaging apps allow you to communicate with people overseas without paying the additional fees you might be expected to fork over when making a phone call.
But some apps are better than others when it comes to battery power. This is the one messaging app you should delete ASAP because it wastes battery.
We’re sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but there’s no way around this one: even though WhatsApp has more than a billion users and is most definitely the app your overseas friends use the most, it isn’t doing your phone any favors when it comes to battery power. In fact: WhatsApp is one of the leading app battery drainers.
WhatsApp runs in the background, which is to account for the reason why it’s such a battery killer. Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot you can do except delete the app and find an alternative. According to Tech Engage: “There’s no alternative to it. All you can do is limit App’s usage and stop clearing it from recent apps if you use it often.”
If you are searching for a messenger alternative, keep in mind: Facebook Messenger isn’t it.
“Messenger is one of the messaging apps that are responsible for the highest battery drain,” reports Tech Engage. “It runs in the background like Facebook. It syncs contacts and pushes notifications from time to time. You can’t send messages on Facebook without installing messenger which is a bummer.”
Apps like Telegram have been quietly gaining followers because it tends to be a lot kinder to your battery than WhatsApp or Messenger. Or you can install Messenger Lite for iOS and Android, which uses up less battery power.