Can Allo snatch the crown from WhatsApp? The new messaging app has been making the news for all of the wrong reasons, but is it a worthy challenger to the most popular app on the market? Aside from the privacy issues that made headlines worldwide, which app is actually better in terms of overall user experience?
If you’re not sure which to use, here’s a guide that will take you through the positives found with each one so you can decide for yourself!

Why Use WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is a familiar friend for many of us, and it’s actually older than you might expect. It was originally released in 2010, and it has evolved into the most popular messaging application in use at the moment.

One of the best things about WhatsApp is that it works perfectly, allowing for phone calls over the Internet that are relatively decent depending on your Internet connection. It has read receipts and everything else you would expect from the biggest in the business.

The sheer length of time it has been out for means it’s a refined experience that most of us know and trust. It’s fully encrypted, allowing users to send messages to one another safe in the knowledge that it’s a relatively secure method of communication.

I send messages to people on WhatsApp every day, and it’s my primary go-to when I need to get ahold of somebody (or even take a good guess at when they fell asleep the night before).

So, is there any point in moving over to Allo? Let’s take a look at what makes it unique.

Why Use Allo?
Allo is going to have to work hard to win us over from WhatsApp, but it is possible if they provide a ridiculously good service. So, is it worth it?

The Smart Reply feature is supposedly a big draw, as it learns from you to provide an enhanced predictive messaging service. It won’t be producing paragraphs, but it’s a good way to speed up communication with a few taps. (It also has a lot of scope in the future as it improves.)

The Google Assistant is an integrated add-on that should also make a few users make the jump across. It means you have to allow access to your search history and location, but it’s not that different than something like Facebook or Twitter that ask for fairly similar permissions.

It’s really easy to get used to it, and when used with Smart Reply, it can lead to helpful suggestions that should get better with more use. It does mean that you’ll be giving Google access to your messages, so it depends on your personal stance regarding privacy. (Some people prefer to keep their private messages private.)

You can also alter the size of text for emphasis, and that can’t be done on WhatsApp. However, you won’t be able to make phone calls from the app, which is a deal-breaker for many users that have come to expect it as standard.

Conclusion
It’s still in the early days, and there’s no reason why Allo can’t be refined into an all-purpose messaging app to suit all of our needs. The added features will probably give it an edge in the future, but there’s no reason to replace WhatsApp for now.

The Google Assistant and Smart Reply features are obviously what Google is banking on to draw us over, but it’s hard to say whether it’ll be more than just a fad (especially when you consider the bad press and middling reviews it received during launch).

There’s a reason why WhatsApp is so popular. Everyone has it, and it can be trusted to get the job done, especially considering the ability to make calls via the app. Allo does have a chance to supplant it in the future as it keeps adding features, but there’s a chance it could just feel more bloated in comparison to the current number one.

Personally, I’ll probably keep using the Google Assistant for now, but if I need to send a message I’ll be opening WhatsApp instead.

People won't use the allo app unless they sort out their privacy issue. Google have a long history of abusing people's privacy. And to add salt to the injury, a former NSA agent SNOWDEN (you might have heard of him, he is currently on exile in russia for leaking US secrets) have warned people about the allo app.

Google has to come up with something supported on Java, Symbian and Blackberry OS to actually steal the market.

am yet to be convinced

BLINGZ88:
People won't use the allo app unless they sort out their privacy issue. Google have a long history of abusing people's privacy. And to add salt to the injury, a former NSA agent SNOWDEN (you might have heard of him, he is currently on exile in russia for leaking US secrets) have warned people about the allo app.

oh? I am never getting this pointless app then.

somehowpenis:
oh? I am never getting this pointless app then.

Do you have privacy.? Lol.. Na naija we dey.

Mafia4life:
Do you have privacy.? Lol.. Na naija we dey.

Don't always automatically assume bro. Thanks

Try using gb whatsapp MOD app, and you won't see why all should replace whatsapp.

BLINGZ88:
People won't use the allo app unless they sort out their privacy issue. Google have a long history of abusing people's privacy. And to add salt to the injury, a former NSA agent SNOWDEN (you might have heard of him, he is currently on exile in russia for leaking US secrets) have warned people about the allo app.

Then Allo is an app for most Nigeria girls because Google won't find anything useful in their chat history. The much they will see is all these Hmmmm, k, kk, yup, wot, , , , response to guys' chats and some useless gossips with female friends.



But if Google carry dia poking nose enter their gallery then they will have a hard time deleting dik pic, boobs pics and other porns.

Every male worker on at Google will definitely go home with a bonner.

Unlimited22:
Try using gb whatsapp MOD app, and you won't see why all should replace whatsapp.

Really?

Google Allo all day nd everyday

DesChyko:
Google has to come up with something supported on Java, Symbian and Blackberry OS to actually steal the market.

Who cares about these dead platforms?

ollah1:


Who cares about these dead platforms?

The owners.

DesChyko:


The owners.

Lol. U r kidding right

ollah1:



Lol. U r kidding right

Seriously, you think it's easy on those bb users who're trading in their hard-earned phones for scrap these days?

Or for those old-timers who're enjoying Whatsapp on their easily operable Java phones?

These are enough to drive the Allo demand up.

It's gonna be buried soon like its uncles bbm,Hangout,messanger etc lol

DesChyko:


Seriously, you think it's easy on those bb users who're trading in their hard-earned phones for scrap these days?

Or for those old-timers who're enjoying Whatsapp on their easily operable Java phones?

These are enough to drive the Allo demand up.

nah it is not.. you are using Nigeria as your case study, while Whatsapp are obviously using the World , marjoly the united states, as their case study.

somehowpenis:
nah it is not.. you are using Nigeria as your case study, while Whatsapp are obviously using the World , marjoly the united states, as their case study.

Can you make a rough estimate of how many Africans are on Whatsapp? Can you pinpoint how many can comfortably afford a smartphone that meet Whatsapp specs? Can you analyse how many would actually prefer a low-end phone?

Add your guess to the current number of Google Allo downloads should it be made available to them.

DesChyko:


Seriously, you think it's easy on those bb users who're trading in their hard-earned phones for scrap these days?

Or for those old-timers who're enjoying Whatsapp on their easily operable Java phones?

These are enough to drive the Allo demand up.

Common think about the future. Whatsapp is even discontinuing it on those platforms.

DesChyko:


Can you make a rough estimate of how many Africans are on Whatsapp? Can you pinpoint how many can comfortably afford a smartphone that meet Whatsapp specs? Can you analyse how many would actually prefer a low-end phone?

Add your guess to the current number of Google Allo downloads should it be made available to them.

the total number of africans on whatsapp is not even up to Two major states in the United states. And using your statistics to answer you half of the African populace are using an Android Chinese mtk phones that support whatsapp, 1/3rd are on highend smartphones, while the remaining are the blackberry /older phone models, all these statistics were put in place before whatsapp CEO decided to take the decision.. .

Simeony007:
It's gonna be buried soon like its uncles bbm,Hangout,messanger etc lol

pls, remove messenger from ur list.....it has 1billion users.same with whatsapp

somehowpenis:
the total number of africans on whatsapp is not even up to Two major states in the United states. And using your statistics to answer you half of the African populace are using an Android Chinese mtk phones that support whatsapp, 1/3rd are on highend smartphones, while the remaining are the blackberry /older phone models, all these statistics were put in place before whatsapp CEO decided to take the decision.. .

poor statistics....whatsapp is the main messeaging app in europ,africa,india,arab world and south america...USA doesnt use whatsapp they use messenger and imessage

somehowpenis:
nah it is not.. you are using Nigeria as your case study, while Whatsapp are obviously using the World , marjoly the united states, as their case study.

get ur fact right...USA is not a whatsapp nation

martineverest:
poor statistics....whatsapp is the main messeaging app in europ,africa,india,arab world and south america...USA doesnt use whatsapp they use messenger and imessage

your statistics are correct but my points remain unchanged on the statistics of smartphone usage.

somehowpenis:
the total number of africans on whatsapp is not even up to Two major states in the United states. And using your statistics to answer you half of the African populace are using an Android Chinese mtk phones that support whatsapp, 1/3rd are on highend smartphones, while the remaining are the blackberry /older phone models, all these statistics were put in place before whatsapp CEO decided to take the decision.. .

Can you please point me to the direction of your source. I would love to go through the means of data collation.

Although, the internet seem to portray that Americans hardly use Whatsapp.

ollah1:



Common think about the future. Whatsapp is even discontinuing it on those platforms.

That is my point.

Allo can step in to gain popularity. It's a virgin market as itvis.

DesChyko:


That is my point.

Allo can step in to gain popularity. It's a virgin market as itvis.

Nobody cares about dead platforms. Why would Google wanna waste their resources on them ?

Only 10% of my address book has allo. But I like the assistant.