# Garmin Messenger™ — user reviews > 419 indexed App Store user reviews of Garmin Messenger™ by Garmin, rated 4.60/5 from 13,016 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-messenger/id1550351929/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-messenger/id1550351929.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 10,815 · 4★ 854 · 3★ 403 · 2★ 219 · 1★ 725 ## What do users think of Garmin Messenger™? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Excellent app - 👍 Easy to use - 🚀 Great messaging functionality - 👍 Seamless cellular and satellite communication - 🚀 Consolidated messaging experience **Cons** - 🐛 Activation and verification issues - 🐛 Pairing problems with InReach devices - 🐛 Buggy and unstable app - 👎 Difficult to use and navigate - 👎 Lack of support for older InReach models - 👎 Expensive subscription plans **Commonly reported bugs** - No verification code received - App freezes during activation - Inconsistent behavior between app and device - Messaging not working in areas with no cell coverage **Most requested features** - Ability to message non-Messenger contacts - Improved contact management and syncing - Apple Watch compatibility - Ability to delete messages on paired devices - Better integration with Garmin Explore app ## Newest reviews (14 of 419) ### 3/5 — Badges not showing *2026-09-01, version 3.0.1* Functional, but badges don’t show on app icon. So if I miss the lockscreen notification, I don’t see that a new message has come in. ### 2/5 — Inaccurate customer service *2026-08-22, version 2.8.1* Customer helpline says help is available after hours for a fee then instructs you to press 2. Then it cycles tou back to the original message. Great customer service for those who don’t live in the central time zone and are further west! Our personal safety is indeed your priority. ### 2/5 — Terrible app *2026-08-13, version 2.8.1* Can’t find any stats on my hike really very intuitive. Sucks ### 3/5 — Telefonnummernbindung und Werbung *2026-08-04* Ich weis nicht warum man zu den Messengern die man eh auf dem Telefon hat noch einen weiteren haben soll. Habe ich Netz nutze ich keinen Garmin Messenger. Dazu noch der nervige Punkt „Freunde Einladen“, warum sollte man jemand dazu einladen, hat jemand ein inreach kann er das selber entscheiden. Aus meiner Sicht zuviel unnötiges Zeug für nen Outdoor Messenger, irgendwie das Ziel verfehlt. ### 2/5 — Very slow *2026-07-30, version 2.8.1* it works but it takes a long time to send and receive anything ### 1/5 — Pas ergonomique pour changer de plan *2026-07-19* Pas ergonomique sur l ensemble de vos n sites un dédale catastrophique ### 1/5 — It is very frustrating! *2026-07-14, version 2.8.1* I have been trying for two days to get my Inreach Mini 2 to connect to my iPhone 15. I may just have to sell it at a loss, just because it has such a buggy activation process. ### 1/5 — Lame tech *2026-07-14, version 2.8.1* Too many setting apps websites hard to use not intuitive, asks for the same info over and over. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-07-12, version 2.8.1* Can’t use it with 3+. HUGE WASTE OF MONEY!!!!! ### 1/5 — Works poorly and sporadically *2026-07-12, version 2.8.1* This app is sketchy at best for texting. Hopefully I don’t need the sos ever. ### 1/5 — Garbage *2026-07-11, version 2.8.1* Get help from Apple with your software!!!! ### 1/5 — Not a good app *2026-07-11, version 2.8.1* Not user friendly. Unable to delete threads. Turn off unwanted notifications. Earthmate is better. ### 1/5 — Broke *2026-07-11, version 2.8.1* Want to add contacts from your iPhone? Too bad, screen goes blank if you scroll down. But garmin will still gladly bump your subscription prices as they abandon any attempt at keeping their platform working. ### 1/5 — Garbage *2026-07-10, version 2.8.1* Total garbage. Use the satellite SOS on your iPhone ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Totally sucks *2026-09-05, version 3.0.1* Doesn’t work at all ### 1/5 — 한글좀 쓸 수 있도록 해주세요 *2026-08-24* 업데이트 때 한글 키보드좀 사용할 수 있게 해주세요 ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2026-08-21, version 2.8.1* Terrible. The software geeks totally screwed up when they went to messenger from Earthmate. Not user friendly. Unable to delete threads. Not possible to turn off unwanted notifications. Locations for messages sent are off by more than a mile. Earthmate is better. ### 1/5 — Wish it worked! *2026-08-16, version 2.8.1* Half the time this app doesn’t work! Very frustrating to use! ### 1/5 — Hard to set up *2026-08-16, version 2.8.1* I had a hard time getting it set up ### 1/5 — Приложение *2026-08-09* Не войти ### 1/5 — Useless feature *2026-08-03, version 2.8.1* Your contacts have to download garmin maessenger and open the app every time they want to text you. You will not receive text they send using their phone only. Useless feature for garmin watch. Very disappointed. ### 1/5 — We rely in your technology to just work *2026-08-02, version 2.8.1* Every Garmin product I have purchased (and that is over $1,000) fail when I need them the most. From my Nav6 that I have sent back twice and even asked for a refund on. Garmin said no…sent me yet another faulty Nav6. To my InReach Mini2 that will not connect to my phone anymore. Tells me to download software when I am out in the bush. Isn’t that the reason you buy an inReachMini? DO BETTER GARMIN. You have lost me as a customer. ### 1/5 — Same old same old *2026-08-01, version 2.8.1* Simply awful software as usual from garmin ### 1/5 — I purchased *2026-07-30, version 2.8.1* Thought it was working now it says it’s not activated ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Incomprehensible *2026-09-03, version 3.0.1* This device is impossible to figure out. Instructions and app are useless. I can’t get anything to work. ### 5/5 — Garmin Satellite Texting and tracking *2026-08-04, version 2.8.1* Fantastic app to connect to Garmin Inreach devices. Keeps me connected to my family during hiking, fishing and back country trips in areas of the Southern Appalachian Mountains like the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounding National Forest and Wilderness’s ### 5/5 — it's really good *2026-07-27, version 2.8.1* it's really good because you can text on your watch and people can text back ### 5/5 — Felizian *2026-07-19* Ich kann mit meinem Cousin in der Schule immer schreiben ### 5/5 — Son’s vacation *2026-07-14, version 2.8.1* Why my son was on vacation. I was able to keep track of him and correspond with each other. It was totally amazing. We both love this. I would highly recommend it. ### 5/5 — Messenger *2026-07-13, version 2.8.1* It works great ### 5/5 — Andrew Snape *2026-06-28, version 2.8* This messenger is a brilliant way to keep in contact with your kids ### 5/5 — Very good *2026-06-07, version 2.8* Perfect ### 5/5 — Great device! *2026-05-22, version 2.8* Awesome gear, totally worth the investment if you’re going deep in the backcountry with no service! Great to be able to check in with others and feel safe in the process. Doesn’t hurt to connect with loved ones for a bit. Definitely recommend! ### 5/5 — Хорошо *2026-05-05* При правильном подходе все работает --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-07.*