Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Messenger vs Facebook

Messenger 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Messenger
Facebook 4.5★ · Free + IAP 60

Messenger is the better choice for dedicated communication, offering clearer calls and customization, while Facebook struggles with an overwhelming number of ads and persistent bugs.

Full reviews: Messenger · Facebook

Messenger, with a lifetime rating of 4.66, is generally preferred for its communication features, including clear calls and customization options, despite some recent glitches. Facebook, rated 4.52, faces significant criticism for an excessive number of ads, algorithm issues, and account problems, making it less appealing for many users.

Head to head

Features edge: MessengerR14R17R22R26
Messenger Messenger users appreciate its communication capabilities, especially for long-distance calls with good clarity and no delay R14R22R26. The ability to customize chat backgrounds and emojis is also a liked feature R17.
Facebook Facebook is valued for connecting with friends globally and finding relatable information . However, users report issues with Marketplace functionality, such as inability to list in groups or receive reviews , and problems with story features like adding music or text .
Ease of Use edge: MessengerR1R6R12R15
Messenger Messenger is described as easy to use by some R12R15, but others find it buggy, with messages disappearing, drafts vanishing, and issues with editing messages R6. Some users also experience problems with notifications and auto-logout R1.
Facebook Facebook users find the app cluttered and difficult to navigate due to too many ads and suggested content R64R75R81. There are also complaints about verification processes making it hard to log in and issues with opening responses .
Reliability tieR1R6R10R13
Messenger Messenger has significant reliability issues, including missing notifications, audio problems in calls, blurry pictures, auto-logout, and messages disappearing or not showing up instantly R1R6R10R13.
Facebook Facebook also suffers from reliability problems, with users reporting issues like gray images and videos, camera function not working for stories, and the app getting worse with updates . Account suspensions and hacking are also significant concerns R67.
Price/Value tieR7R64R75R81
Messenger Messenger is a free app with in-app purchases. Users express concern that Meta apps, including Messenger, consume and steal data without providing sufficient value R7.
Facebook Facebook is also a free app with in-app purchases. Many users feel the value is diminished by an overwhelming number of ads, which detract from the user experience and make it difficult to see friends' content R64R75R81R84.
Support tieR4R9R46R65
Messenger Messenger users report issues with identity verification R4 and unknown account suspensions without clear reasons R9. There's a general sentiment that Meta, the parent company, has terrible customer service R46.
Facebook Facebook users frequently complain about a lack of support for account issues, including hacking R67, and suspensions from Marketplace without explanation . Users also note issues with verification codes not working and an inability to use real names for account creation .
Pick Messenger if

you prioritize direct, clear communication, especially for long-distance calls, and appreciate some customization options for your chats R14R17R22R35.

Pick Facebook if

you primarily use the platform for general social networking, connecting with a wide range of friends, and accessing community features like Marketplace, despite its flaws .

Evidence note: Both apps are free with in-app purchases, so there is no free-vs-paid asymmetry to consider. The evidence for both apps highlights significant issues with bugs, reliability, and customer support, suggesting a broader problem with the Meta ecosystem.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for making calls?
Messenger is generally better for making calls, with users praising its clear audio and lack of delay, even for long-distance conversations R22R26R35R41.
Does Facebook have too many ads?
Yes, Facebook users frequently complain about an excessive number of ads, stating that they see more ads than content from friends and that ads often interrupt their experience R64R75R81R84.
Are there issues with account security or support?
Both Messenger and Facebook users report significant issues with account security and support, including identity verification problems, unknown account suspensions, hacking incidents, and a general lack of helpful customer service from Meta R4R9R46R67.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R14] Messenger 5/5 · US Sisters!: I wonderful way to have a long chat with my sister in Australia.
  2. [R17] Messenger 4/5 · US The extra stuff: I love how you can customise the background into teams and each team has their own custom emoji and I love it
  3. [R22] Messenger 2/5 · US The Clarity!: I’m in Los Angeles and I just talked to my wife in Paris on messenger and the clarity was unbelievable, and there was absolutely no delay in the phone call whatsoever, which really is amazing. We downloaded another Messenger so that we could talk, but nothing beats Facebook
  4. [R26] Messenger 5/5 · US Long distance call: It was good everything
  5. [R1] Messenger 2/5 · US Missing notifications: This is more on Facebook page where I have a notification that somebody replied to my comment and then I click on it and it's somebody else or it won't show the person. HUGE BUG!
  6. [R6] Messenger 3/5 · US Glitches: Recently due to lot of glitches many msgs r being auto removed.
  7. [R12] Messenger 3/5 · US Good job and easy: Thanks
  8. [R15] Messenger 3/5 · US Average: Please make it more easier
  9. [R10] Messenger 1/5 · US no audio: i can't get my audio to work in messenger calls anymore?
  10. [R13] Messenger 1/5 · US Can’t hear: Can’t hear
  11. [R7] Messenger 1/5 · US Not useful: I am not understanding the utility of any of these META apps. They consume and steal your data and use it to keep you on the app yet all the content is pretty meh and underwhelming. The messenger is just another way for META to have access to your data. If only META used their money to improve the apps and provide value rather than to make it more engaging with less value.
  12. [R64] Facebook 1/5 · US Too many ads , algorithm not refined enough: Title says it all
  13. [R75] Facebook 3/5 · US Great App but…: I do love Facebook but I have to say lately the ads are getting ridiculous. I get that with ads is how you can make it free but literally ever other post is an ad. I don’t even see friends stuff much anymore. It’s frustrating
  14. [R81] Facebook 3/5 · US Ads: Too many ads
  15. [R4] Messenger 1/5 · US Identity: I have identified my identity 5 times which is ridiculous. I have had this account 15 years or longer,
  16. [R9] Messenger 3/5 · US Unknown Suspension: Suddenly unable to respond in messenger, account is on hold for 30 days but unknown why? Just keeps showing community standards info!
  17. [R46] Messenger 1/5 · US Meta sucks: Meta is a terrible company with even worse customer service!
  18. [R65] Facebook 4/5 · US Help Facebook: I really need to get info my other account but can’t remember old info cause sum1 stole my phone and it had all my acct on it😒
  19. [R35] Messenger 5/5 · US Great calling option!: iPhone to android wifi calling option is great for face to face calling.
  20. [R41] Messenger 5/5 · US Loveeeeeee itt: This is the best app ever I love to use it and all the other stuff you should really use it too no problems or nothing perfect calling
  21. [R84] Facebook 3/5 · US Ugh: I used to enjoy it, but now it’s filled with nothing but Adds
  22. [R67] Facebook 1/5 · US Meta Hack and lost over 20 Years of work: A boy name Gabriel Solis QuisQuina hacked into my Meta Account and posted some things involving a minor. When I try to retrieve this download report, it will not allow me to review it. Meta is a generated A.I. that will allow a person to hacked and retrieve people’s data and it will take months to get an account back. This really piss me off

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store