[Matt:]

I must admit kik has a lot of disadvantages, seems to glitch a lot and the ads are annoying. But it is more anonymous and is better for groups, especially public groups (even if kik has restricted groups more lately)

I have no problem using google chat for 1 on 1 chat (can use a different ID/email) but yet to really find an alternative app for easily searchable public group chat, most others you really need to know others or get invites to groups.