Bitmoji

Review by eFreeware

Most emoji sets belong to everyone. Bitmoji works the other way around: you build one cartoon character that looks like you, and the stickers you send are all versions of that character. That single idea is what sets it apart from the standard keyboard on your phone, and it is the reason the app has drawn more than 100 million installs since its release in late 2014.

The appeal is easy to see. Instead of picking a generic smiling face, you send a small drawing of yourself doing something specific, and the person on the other end knows it is you. If you spend a lot of time in group chats or one-to-one messaging and enjoy reacting with images rather than words, this is the sort of tool that fits naturally into how you already talk to people.

Building a likeness and a sticker set

The first job is creating an expressive cartoon avatar. You shape a character that stands in for you, and from that point the app supplies a large library of stickers, every one of them built around your own likeness. The character is the anchor; the stickers are variations on it.

That structure is what makes the app worth returning to. A fixed set of emoji runs out of ways to say things, but a personal character can be dropped into all sorts of situations, so the same reaction reads differently depending on the conversation. The developer describes the collection as huge, and the range of scenes is the part that decides how useful the app feels over time.

Where the stickers actually get used

Bitmoji is made to be used in Snapchat and anywhere else you chat. Using it inside Snapchat adds Friendmoji, two-person stickers that feature you and a friend together. That is the feature most likely to keep a group coming back, because it turns a personal avatar into something shared.

Outside Snapchat, the stickers work through other messaging apps. The app is rated Teen, which is worth noting if you are setting it up for a younger family member.

What it costs

Bitmoji is free to download. The app is free to use, so you are not interrupted while picking a sticker. That keeps the experience simple.

The developer's most recent update lists bug fixes and improvements. For a free app, there is little risk in trying it: you either enjoy the character you build or you delete it.

How it compares with other sticker options

The closest alternatives are the sticker packs that come with messaging apps and the emoji built into your phone's keyboard. Those are broader and require no setup, but they are impersonal, which is exactly the gap Bitmoji fills. A dedicated avatar app is the other comparison, and the difference there is the Snapchat integration and the Friendmoji feature.

If you want quick reactions without creating anything, the keyboard you already have will do. If you want the reactions to look like you, and especially if you and your friends already use Snapchat, this is the more interesting choice. With a 4.5 average across more than 3.6 million ratings, plenty of people have made that call already.

A personal touch for people who chat in pictures

Bitmoji is a straightforward proposition: one cartoon version of you, a large set of stickers built around it, and no cost to use any of it. It is free, and it works in Snapchat and other chat apps, with Friendmoji adding two-person stickers when you use it in Snapchat.

It suits people who already lean on images and stickers when they message, and who like the idea of a consistent character representing them. If that sounds like your conversations, it is an easy app to try. If you prefer plain text and the emoji you already have, there is nothing here you need.

What's new in version 11.84.0.2

*Bug fixes and improvements!