Best Emoji Apps for Android to Use in Messages and Social Media

Android’s default emoji set is fine for basic use, but if you want animated stickers, emoji mashups, custom AR avatars, or the latest emoji before your phone’s OS gets them — these apps have you covered.

1. Gboard — Best Built-In Emoji Experience

If you use Gboard (Google’s keyboard, pre-installed on Pixel phones and available free on all Android), you already have powerful emoji tools:

• Emoji search: Tap the emoji icon and type a word — instantly find any emoji by description
• Emoji Kitchen: Tap one emoji, then another — Gboard creates a mashup sticker combining the two. Thousands of combinations available.
• Sticker packs: Browse and download free sticker packs directly in the keyboard

2. Bitmoji — Best Personalised Avatar Stickers

Bitmoji lets you create a cartoon avatar that looks like you, then use it as stickers in messages, Snapchat, and other apps. The library has thousands of situational stickers — your avatar in different scenarios (waving hello, working out, eating). Integrates directly with Gboard for keyboard-level access.

• Price: Free
• Best for: Personal stickers featuring a customised self-avatar
• Works with: WhatsApp, Snapchat, Slack, Gmail, most messaging apps

3. Tenor — Best for GIFs and Animated Stickers

Tenor (owned by Google) is the GIF search engine built into Gboard and many Android keyboards. It has animated emoji and GIFs for every reaction. If you want to react to a message with a GIF instead of a static emoji, Tenor’s library is the most comprehensive available.

• Access: Built into Gboard (GIF button), standalone app, or via Tenor.com
• Price: Free

4. WhatsApp Stickers

WhatsApp has a massive built-in sticker library — tap the sticker icon in any chat to browse and download packs. Third-party sticker packs can be added via the + button in the sticker browser. The selection spans creative, funny, cultural (including Indian regional sticker packs), and animated stickers.

5. Emoji Maker — Create Custom Emoji

Emoji Maker (free on Play Store) lets you create custom emoji from your own photos or from scratch. Upload a photo, crop your face, add effects, and save as a PNG sticker. You can then share it in any app that supports image stickers. Useful for creating inside-joke stickers for group chats.

6. Samsung AR Emoji (Samsung Galaxy Only)

Samsung Galaxy phones have built-in AR Emoji that creates an animated 3D avatar from your selfie. The resulting avatars can be used as stickers in messages, as video call backgrounds, and as animated profile pictures. Access it via the Samsung Keyboard emoji panel or the AR Emoji app.

Getting More Emoji on Android Without an App

Android gets new emoji in each OS update. If your phone is running an older Android version, you’ll be missing recent emoji (shown as blank boxes or ?):

• Update Android to the latest version: Settings → Software update
• If your phone doesn’t receive OS updates anymore, Gboard’s emoji set updates independently of the OS — updating Gboard via the Play Store adds new emoji support

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some emoji show as blank boxes on my Android?

The recipient’s device doesn’t have that emoji in its font. This happens when someone sends a newer emoji to a phone running an older Android version. Update Android or Gboard to get the latest emoji characters rendered correctly.

Can I use Bitmoji stickers in WhatsApp?

Yes. In WhatsApp, tap the sticker icon → tap the + button → find Bitmoji → download. Your Bitmoji stickers appear in the WhatsApp sticker panel. You need the Bitmoji app installed and linked first.

What is Emoji Kitchen?

Emoji Kitchen is a Google feature built into Gboard that combines two standard emoji into unique mashup stickers. For example: 🌶️ + 😂 = a chilli emoji laughing. There are thousands of combinations. Access it by tapping two emoji in quick succession in Gboard.

Conclusion

Gboard already gives you powerful emoji tools if you haven’t explored them — Emoji Kitchen and the emoji search are genuinely fun and useful. Bitmoji is the best personalised sticker option. For animated reactions, Tenor’s GIF library (built into Gboard) covers most situations without installing any additional app.

For more Android customisation tips, see our guides on Android tips and tricks and the best Android apps.

Get Bitmoji Free ↗ ↗More Android Tips