8 free emoji apps beyond what's pre-loaded in your phone

Move over, standard list of emoticons keyboard — smartphone users have many more options.

If you're tired of expressing yourself with the same old emoji, it's time to check out what else is out there. From 3D-animated emoticons to emoji text, there are several new and creative ways for you to get your message across.

SEE ALSO: 10 EMOJIS WE WISH EXISTED

We've rounded up eight free specialty emoji apps that will take your conversations to the next level.

• 1. Emojidom Smileys

  
  Add some fun to your text messages with Emojidom, which has more than 2,000 smiley faces and stickers. From character favorites like Spiderman to smiley faces eating McDonald's, you're bound to find one you like from its collection. The app also has a handful of emoji from various ethnic backgrounds.
  Emojidom Smileys is available for iOS and Android devices.

  IMAGE: PLANTPURPLE B.V.

• 2. 5000+ Emoji New

  
  Impress your friends by sending them 3D-animated emoji and text art. These icons can be used in text messages, WhatsApp, Kik, WeChat and other messaging platforms.
  Emojidom Smileys is only available for iOS devices.

  IMAGE: EMOJI

• 3. Emoji

  
  With more than 20 categories to choose from, this easy-to-use app lets you select your favorite icon and send it through any messaging application. You can convey how you're feeling through emoji with facial expressions, beer, fruit, pumpkins and more. If you don't know where to start, you can choose from these categories: happy, sad, good, angry, surprise and love.
  Emoji is only available for Android devices.

  IMAGE: GALAXY MOBILE STUDIO

• 4. Emoji Free

  
  Looking for cartoon emoji? Emoji Free has a wide selection of cartoon expressions with cats, rabbits, rubber ducks and more. Choose from static or animated emoji, emoji art and even cool emoji fonts.
  Emoji Free is only available for iOS devices.

  IMAGE: SIMON HUANG

• 5. Emoticons for Chats

  
  Express what you're feeling through giraffes, pandas, bear and even water droplets. This app contains more than 2,000 emoticons, smiley faces and stickers, and can be shared on any messaging application.
  Emoticons for Chats is only available for Android devices.

  IMAGE: ART AND SOUL. PERIOD

• 6. Emoticon Art

  
  Emoticon Art lets you spice up plain symbols like checkmarks, question marks and arrows. Select from more than 1,000 special symbols, 150 funny emoticons and 300 smiley icons.
  Emoticon Art is only available for iOS devices.

  IMAGE: JESSIE TAO

• 7. Emoticons 344+

  
  Emoticons 344+ has more than just yellow smiley faces – the app offers you 3D smileys in vibrant colors.
  Emoticons 344+ is only available for Android devices.

  IMAGE: CROMOS ENTERTAINMENT

• 8. Imoji

  
  Have you ever wanted to transform your selfies, friends and pets into an emoji? Here's your chance. Upload any image and Imoji will turn it into a sticker that you can text to others. You can also browse through other stickers that have been created.
  Imoji is only available for iOS devices.

Emoji that look just like you are hilarious, slightly creepy

If you're an list of emoticons fan, imagine how fun it would be to could create your own personalized versions.

Well, thanks to Bitmoji, now you can.

SEE ALSO:    

The company behind popular comic-creation app Bitstrips has taken its cartoon skills and applied them to the world of the emoticon.

No more generic yellow smileys — you can star in your own set of customized emoji with this fun, free app.

The app

IMAGE: BITMOJI

Bitmoji is available for free on iOS and Android.

If you previously created a Bistrips avatar, it will load automatically once you sign into the Bitmoji app with Facebook.

Making your avatar

IMAGE: BITMOJI

If you want to start from scratch with a Bitmoji avatar, the app will walk you through the setup. As you can imagine, it's a simple process to build your virtual self.

IMAGE: BITMOJI

To make your cartoon you, you can choose from a variety of face shapes, skin tones, hair color, eyebrow shapes, noses, mouths, makeup or facial hair, height, and build. The final step in the process is to select an outfit.

Enabling the Bitmoji keyboard

IMAGE: BITMOJI

On iOS, you have to enable the Bitmoji keyboard in order to use it. Simply go to Settings > General > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and select Bitmoji.

Your customized Bitmoji

IMAGE: BITMOJI

Your personalized set of Bitmoji are now ready to go. iOS users have built-in sharing options for Whatsapp, Twitter, Messages, Facebook and Facebook Messenger, as well as the options to save to Camera Roll and copy.

Android users can copy and paste into any chat, messaging or social application.

Below, we made a list of our current favorite Bitmoji.

What is the full list of emoticons?

Feeling ? Or having a  moment? Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Use Skype emoticons to liven up your instant message conversations, or add them to your mood message to let your friends know how you’re feeling.

You can select the emoticon you want to use from the palette in the IM window (by clicking on the smiley in the chat window) or use the keyboard shortcut – a set of characters or a specific word in brackets. If you hover over an emoticon in the palette, you’ll see its keyboard shortcut.

There are loads of visible emoticons, hidden emoticons, country flags and Mojis to choose from.

We are adding new emoticons to our collection all the time, so be sure to check the Featured tab to see our most recently added emoticons.

All visible list of emoticons : 

You'll find the latest emoticons we've added in the palette:

Icon	Name	Shortcuts
	Dancing Gran	(gran)
	Super Mom	(hero)
	Busy day	(busyday)
	Thanks	(thanks)
	Sloth	(sloth)

Smilies

You'll find these smilies in the palette:

Icon	Name	Shortcuts
	Spoiler alert	(shock)
	Cold shivering	(shivering) (cold) (freezing)
	Listening	(listening)
	Hungover	(morningafter) (hungover)
	Listening to headphones	(headphones)
	Smile	:) :=) :-)
	Sad	:( :=( :-(
	Laugh	:D :=D :-D :d :=d :-d
	Cool	8=) 8-) B=) B-) (cool)

You'll find these People and Objects in the palette:

Icon	Name	Shortcuts
	Who's this	(whosthis)
	Unsee	(unsee)
	TV Binge	(tvbinge)
	Angry Red	(red)
	Silly Pig	(pig)

Flags are a great way of letting people know where you are or where you’re going. Just type the keyboard shortcut into your mood message or IM conversation.

Icon	Name	Shortcut
	Afghanistan	(flag:AF)
	Albania	(flag:AL)
	Algeria	(flag:DZ)
	American Samoa	(flag:AS)
	Andorra	(flag:AD)
	Angola	(flag:AO)
	Anguilla	(flag:AI)
	Antarctica	(flag:AQ)
	Antigua and Barbuda	(flag:AG)