# Is there an alternative to kik that doesn't delete old messages? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 3, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-alternative-to-kik-that-doesnt-delete-old-messages/813521 "2018-05-03T16:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-alternative-to-kik-that-doesnt-delete-old-messages/813521/1 "2018-05-03T16:50:15Z")
Kik deletes all messages that are over 200 messages old. Is there an android alternative that lets you archive old messages (and preferably also use avatars)? ---
**Author:** ![HelenTroy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helentroy/32/86_2.png) [@HelenTroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenTroy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-alternative-to-kik-that-doesnt-delete-old-messages/813521/2 "2018-05-03T19:07:49Z")
Have you tried Hangouts? I use the stand alone app and via gmail. You can see the entire archive via gmail or scroll back forever on the app and it has avatars. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-alternative-to-kik-that-doesnt-delete-old-messages/813521/3 "2018-05-03T22:05:10Z")
Does Signal do what you want? Truly secure, but I don’t know if it exactly matches the features of Kik.