Voice Chats VS Text Chats – Which is Better?

In today’s online world, communication can be everything.

Whether you’re sharing an image on or asking for a Pinterest invite, uploading a photo to Instagram, or checking in on Foursquare, you’re communicating something to the online world.

With the increasing number of people and blogs, it is becoming more important than ever to realize what you prefer, and how to use that preference, in your online communication.

For many people, communicating by writing is the way to go. They prefer the text, and prefer the details and privacy they can accomplish through it.

For many other people, communicating by having voice chats is what they thrive on. They prefer talking and listening, and they prefer the direct offline element it brings to online communication.

Is one format better than the other, though? Do people who voice chat better than people who do not voice chat?

Let’s go through the different benefits of voice chats and text chats to see what you think.

To clarify, by voice chats, I’m referring to any kind of video chat, audio chat, webinar, podcast, or audio file through which someone can hear you talking.

By text chats, I’m referring to any kind of text messages, e-mails, chat messages, or any text writing in which someone reads what you wrote.

5 Benefits of Voice Conversations over Text Messages/Chats

1. Clarity of tone.

   The tone of almost any message can usually be better understood, by many people, through voice than through text.

   For example: an e-mail criticizing someone can sound much more hostile compared to you telling the person, via a voice chat, what you didn’t like about their recent action.

2. Clarity of message.

   When you’re speaking to someone via voice, you can explain your thoughts more per each sentence you say. With text, each sentence sent is a complete thought which can result in less clarification if you’re not clear in your writing.

3. Direct Interaction

   In my view at least, it seems voice interactions can allow for more direction interactions between the people involved than through text messages.

   Anyone can speak up (hint hint: “interrupt” as many people say, or even jump in) and share their thoughts, helping manage or affect the flow of the conversation.

4. It requires, and usually results in, more attention.

   In direct voice conversations, you usually don’t have the luxury of walking away or responding later. You have to think on the spot, you have to pay attention to everything being said, and you have to actually think before you speak too.

   For many people, this is actually a bad thing, which we’ll discuss below when we go through the 5 good things about text chats.

5. Fewer chances of misinterpretation because of being more direct and personal.

   With text chats, even good things can be misread. With a voice chat, you can be direct and more personal because of our association with sounds in the offline world.

5 Benefits of Text Messages/Chats over Voice Conversations

1. It’s a time saver.

   Admit it. We want more time in the day. Text chats are quick. You can reply to a chat message later on, instead of immediately within 3 seconds of someone else.

2. You can multitask with text chats

   While a growing number of people are starting to realize that Multitasking may not always be good (raises hand!), we all do multitask in almost everything we do (eating while answering an e-mail, listening to music while writing a blog post, looking at notes while talking to someone, etc).

   Text chats allow you to do more than one thing at once. You can reply to an email or a chat question while listening to music or having YouTube running in the other window.

3. Text chats can be started, responded to, and ended at any time of the day from either party.

   Unlike voice chats, text chats can be started at any time, replied to at any time and a solution/resolution/end/etc found at any time too. Two or more people do not have to be on at the same time to communication via a text chat.

4. Text chats make it easier to meet new people

   Text chats are good ice breakers and great ways to meet new people. For many people, it’s easier to send an e-mail or text chat online compared to starting a voice chat. You can send an e-mail at 2am, and get a text message next day at 4pm.

5. Text chats keep things organized.

   Text chats can make things very organized. You can share lists, bullet points, links, images, video, voice recordings, and more, all via text chats, emails and other textual avenues.

Which do You Prefer – Voice or Text?

In the end, it usually boils down to what you prefer and what the audience (one person, entire generation, etc) prefers. Some people like text chats, while others prefer voice chats or video chats (which includes voice by default almost all the time).

Do you prefer writing emails? Or do you prefer talking to someone? Do you prefer reading what someone writes, or do you prefer hearing people online?

Which form of communication do you prefer the most?

Please share your thoughts and any questions about this topic by commenting below. You can use text to describe yourself, or attach a YouTube video reply (or any video/voice reply) link in your comment.

Thanks for reading!