If you are a user of multiple messenger service to keep in contact with office colleagues, Facebook friends, WhatsaApp, Slack, WeChat and much more, it is very hard to manage all messaging services with different apps installed on a PC or Mac. If you are looking for a complete all in one solution to maintaining all messenger services in one place, we are here to solve your problem. Franz is a one stop solution for your messaging needs; it simplifies your messaging tasks in a single app.
Installation
Franz Multi Messenger Backpack
Franz; Telegram: Built-in themes: Configurable: JavaScript Rendering: Multi Channel: Multi-messenger: Support for Multiple protocols: Multiple Account support: Portable: Publish on LinkedIn: Skype integration: Slack integration: Web application wrapper: Unified search: Quick switching using hotkeys: Unified inbox: Extensible by Plugins. This said, Franz's most important characteristic is the fact that it comes with support for Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Telegram, Skype, Slack, WhatsApp, HipChat, GroupMe, WeChat and Grape. Franz is an application for computers running Windows, macOS or Linux, which combines popular instant messengers in one interface: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Skype, Slack, HipChat, Google Hangouts and Grape. Franz is a client that allows you to use all of your instant messaging apps on one single interface. For now, the list of supported apps includes: Slack, Whatsapp, WeChat, HipChat, Facebook, Messenger, Telegram, Google Hangouts, GroupMe, Skype and Grape.
In the installation guide, we used Mac OSX; all screenshots are related to Mac. Installation of the Fraz is normal like other installations. After installation, you can find the app in Mac Finder.
User Interface
User Interface of Franz carries pretty simple options. In the first run, you will see available services to add. Franz currently supports Slack, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, WeChat, HipChat, ChatWork, Hangouts, GroupMe, Grape, Gitter, Steam Chat, and Discord.
Franz Multi Messenger Bag
To add a service to Franz, simply click on the service name. For example, clicking on the Skype will open a new window like below screenshot. Here, you can change the name or keep it like same. This feature is created for multi-account users; it will differentiate the name in tabs. For example, if you are using three different Skype accounts for Family, Business, and Personal use, you can name it as Skype-Family, Skype-Business or Skype-Personal for easy access. After, clicking on the “Add Skype” it will create a tab in the main user interface. You can add as many as Skype accounts in Franz, multi-account is available for all 14 services.
In below screenshot you will see added services. Now, the user has to add the credentials to start using services. I tested the Franz using multiple accounts and all available services once. The app works like a charm, and it didn’t get any error or lag during the testing. Franz lacks settings option to tweak the program, from the menu available you can zoom in and zoom out, toggle screen options only.
Franz allows you to add each service many times. This makes Franz the perfect tool to manage multiple business and private accounts at the same time. You could even use five different Facebook Messenger accounts at once, if some inexplicable reason urges you to do so.
Conclusion
Overall, Franz is a fantastic messenger app available for Windows/Mac/Linux platforms. It is a must-have messenger app for every multi-messenger service user. You can grab the Franz app from the link provided below.
Multi-Messenger apps aren’t a new concept. Even though XMPP died out, ever since apps like Messenger, Slack and WhatsApp bet their desktop farms on the web, there have been Chrome extensions, Windows Store apps and other apps that take advantage of the open nature of the web. They provide apps which offer fast switching, easy access to notifications, and a global settings menu.
Franz is another such app, a good looking app that works with most well used messaging services and others which go overlooked by most conventional multi-Messenger apps like Tweetdeck, Android Messages and Discord.
Franz Multi Messenger Crossbody
Like these apps, if you don’t often work with multiple messaging apps in your work day, you’re likely not going to get much value of it. If you do, you’ll find it a lifesaver.