LINE is an all-encompassing alternative to WhatsApp that offers a wide range of features. Founded in Japan, LINE actually started out as a disaster response app following the Tohoku earthquake in March 2011. By June of that year it was live, and its popularity has grown at an unprecedented rate, even causing several crashes. Today, it has more than 700 million active users worldwide, and is available on common mobile operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and more.
LINE has a huge variety of features that make it a rival for many social networks as well as messengers. It offers standard one-to-one messaging and group messaging, along with voice and video calls. Once you’ve created an account with LINE, you can register your mobile number for your desktop computer, too, to make voice calls and video calls online. This service is free if calling other LINE users. In using the ‘LINE Out’ feature, you can take advantage of cheap rates for international calls to non-LINE users from your computer or mobile device, in the same way as Viber Out. The app also offers a backup function, known as the ‘Keep’ mode, where messages, photos, and videos can be stored.
The developers of LINE have recently incorporated another one of their apps, previously known as ‘Popcorn Buzz,’ into their flagship LINE messenger app. Popcorn Buzz was specially designed to allow group conference calls to take place with up to a remarkable 200 participants. Thanks to the app merger, this is now possible in the standard LINE app on smartphones or desktop computers, meaning that video chats in the workplace with multiple colleagues, or at home with friends and family, can be made. Like Viber, LINE offers a built-in gaming feature. It also permits file transfer, but this is only possible for photos and videos.
When it comes to safety, LINE has recently upped its game to compete with other WhatsApp alternatives. In late 2015, the developers introduced a ‘hidden chat’ mode, which allows users to turn on automatic end-to-end encryption for messages to certain contacts. Since July 2016, this has become standard for all one-to-one messages, and as of August 2016, LINE now offers end-to-end encryption for all group chats, voice calls, and video calls as well. However, LINE isn’t open source and doesn’t offer forward secrecy, screenshot protection, or self-destructing messages. It also doesn’t feature a PIN protection or any other means of encrypting stored messages.
LINE has a number of special, extra features that really set it apart from other alternatives to WhatsApp. These include a GPS coordinate tracker, allowing you to send your location to contacts (though this of course requires you to share data about your current location to LINE). LINE’s Sticker Shop offers the world’s largest collection of stickers for your messages, while their Official Accounts section acts as a sort of celebrity news feed, where you can follow your favorite stars for updates and receive special coupons from your favorite brands. It’s also possible to run your own news feed to keep friends and co-workers updated on your life – and comment on others. Since January 2015, LINE have even rolled out their own version of Uber. LINE Taxi allows you to book and pay for cabs through the LINE app. At present, this is only operational in the LINE HQ hometown of Tokyo, but they are hatching plans for expanding.
As the security features demonstrate, LINE isn’t the most protected messenger out there. But in contrast to apps like Signal, this Tokyo-based WhatsApp alternative focuses on usability and an extended range of features, at the expense of maximum security. So if you’re looking for an instant messaging client that gives you all the features of a social network, then LINE is a great option to consider.