Messenger review
A broad free messenger with default encryption for personal chats and calls.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Messenger is Meta’s consumer messaging app for connecting with friends, family, communities and creators. It combines text messaging, group chats, photo and video sharing, file sharing, voice and video calls, shared albums, message editing, unsending, reactions and broadcast channels. Personal messages and calls use end-to-end encryption by default, while disappearing messages are available in end-to-end encrypted chats. With web, iOS and Android access, Messenger suits people who want free social messaging with encrypted personal conversations rather than a narrowly focused private messenger.
The published offering is free, with no paid tiers described. Its feature set covers everyday communication broadly: high-definition photo and video sharing, files up to 100 MB, chat themes, stickers, GIFs, group conversations and communities. Secure Storage can preserve encrypted chat history, adding continuity for people who want to retain conversations across access points. The platform therefore works well for households, friend groups and communities that need calls, media and group features alongside encrypted chats without a subscription.
Messenger’s main trade-off is focus. It includes broadcast channels, communities and creator connections, so its identity extends beyond private encrypted messaging. It is also not open source, which may matter to buyers who prioritize publicly inspectable software. Backup handling deserves attention: Messenger documents Secure Storage as end-to-end encrypted, but a backup key stored in iCloud or Google Drive is not protected by Messenger’s end-to-end encryption. Choose Messenger for broad social communication with default encryption; choose a more specialized alternative if open-source software or a narrower encrypted-messaging experience is the priority.
Messenger pros and cons
- Where it wins
- End-to-end encryption is enabled by default for personal messages and calls
- Free messaging, group chats, voice and video calls, and media sharing
- Disappearing messages, Secure Storage, editing, unsending, and shared albums
- Where it doesn't
- Not open source
- Social features can make it less focused on encrypted messaging
- Secure Storage keys in iCloud or Google Drive are outside Messenger's encryption
Messenger fact sheet, pricing and score →
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