WhatsApp Battery Use Killing Me - recommended alternative?

[YKinase]

I've been using WhatsApp for about 2 years and it has consistently been the worst app for sucking battery down. Presently on my Lumia 950, it accounts for ~18% battery use in a 24 hour period with only <1% background activity.

I was hoping for better performance on the new phone, but unfortunately it's just not there. I have no expectations that WhatsApp will acknowledge or fix the issue.

What app would you recommend as a backup? While text messaging and Skype are perfectly fine, I need to find something that works on iOS and is not SMS/MMS or Skype.

Thanks!

 

[EspHack]

fb messenger

 

[YKinase]

Thanks - I've used facebook messenger but would like something separate. I've just found 'Telegram' - will try that one!

 

[Erick Rmz]

Telegram is an option, too. Same problems here with whatsapp battery drain in my 920, WP 8.1. Not noticeable when stand by, but once I open the app and start a chat, battery charge drops dramatically.

cheers

 

[YKinase]

UPDATE: So Telegram is as bad or perhaps a little worse on battery drain. I'm growing increasingly frustrated with messaging on windows phone. Regular Messenger also sucks down battery if I'm on it a while. Strangely, the battery use report breakdown shows 70% of battery use by the app is in the display??
Anyway, without using messenger app, battery drain is 2.46%/hour. Totally reasonable. With a messaging app (WhatsApp / Telegram), it's average is around 12%/hour, though I've seen it peak at 23%/hour. Ugh.

 

[amitnahar]

Try Hike. Its really nice.