Messenger

At a glance

• Editor score
  6.7 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Free basic social messaging
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Founded
  2004 · Menlo Park, California, United States
• Facts checked
  24 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Supports one-to-one texts and group conversations
  • Includes voice and video calls plus photo and video sharing
  • Personal chats and calls have end-to-end encryption

• Where it doesn't

  • Focuses on social messaging rather than a broader work toolkit
  • End-to-end encryption is subject to feature and account limitations
  • Support channels listed are documentation

Our verdict on Messenger

Messenger is Meta’s messaging service for people who want to communicate through one-to-one chats or group conversations. It is available on the web, iOS and Android, with conversations synchronized across devices. The feature set covers text messages, voice and video calls, photo and video sharing, stickers, GIFs and message reactions. Its free offering makes it suited to basic social messaging for individuals and small groups rather than organizations seeking a broader collaboration suite.

The core feature mix keeps messaging and calls together: users can switch between text, voice and video conversations and share photos and videos within chats. Personal chats and calls have end-to-end encryption, though Meta describes feature and account limitations. That makes Messenger a reasonable fit for people who want everyday conversations with an encryption option, but buyers should not assume that every conversation or feature has the same encryption coverage.

Messenger is offered as a free Meta service, and the published offering has no paid tiers to compare. It runs through a web interface and mobile apps, while the listed support channel is documentation. Those characteristics favor people looking for a free, familiar social messaging service; they are less compelling for teams evaluating business-focused controls, expanded support, or a wider work platform. Choose Messenger for personal chats, media sharing and calls across web and mobile, not as a substitute for a specialized team communication system.

Your product? Our editors can test Messenger in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Messenger pricing

Messenger fact sheet

Alternatives to Messenger

• WWhatsAppA free, cross-platform messenger for personal chats, calls, groups, and sharing.9.4
• TelegramA free, cloud-synced messenger built for large groups and access across devices.9.3
• SignalPrivate, free messaging with encrypted calls and an optional paid media backup tier.9.2

See all Messenger alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Messenger is listed in our Instant Messaging Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update