# Marco Polo - Video Messenger — Helping you feel close > Asynchronous video messaging app for private, ad-free connections. (iPhone/iPad app by Joya Communications.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marco-polo-video-messenger/id912561374 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Joya Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/530046419) - Category: Social Networking, Photo & Video - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.80/5 from 2,157,621 App Store ratings · 1,361 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 222 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2014-10-07 - Data updated: 2026-08-29 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marco-polo-video-messenger/id912561374/reviews.md ## What is Marco Polo? Marco Polo is the video chat app that brings you closer to the people who matter most without asking you to compromise on trust. ONE VIDEO IS WORTH A THOUSAND TEXTS Communicate face-to-face in a private, ad-free space with no interruptions or intrusions. This award-winning video chat app isn’t social media. There are no “likes” or comparisons, and there are no tricks to keep you on the app for longer than you wish. SIMPLE, CONVENIENT, ANYTIME CONNECTION Send a video. Get one back. Talk one-on-one or in groups. Continue the conversation on your own schedule. YOU DON’T HAVE TO COMPROMISE ON TRUST Our purpose? To help people feel close. To fulfill it, Marco Polo does things differently. We monetize responsibly. The Marco Polo Plus subscription plan allows us to make money in a way that’s true to our purpose – no ads, no selling your data – while maintaining a free service for the majority of our community. We hold ourselves accountable. Earning your trust is vital to our team, from the technology we create to the business decisions we make. We measure our impact. Does our product deliver on our promise and our purpose? Does it make people happier? Research indicates yes, and we commit to conducting this research regularly to ensure we stay on track. CHOOSE THE VERSION THAT FITS YOUR LIFE Marco Polo is FREE, with: Unlimited chats and groups Emoji reactions and fun special effects Sharecast, our newest feature. Send one video to everyone in your circle, and only you see reactions and replies. It’s the convenience of groups with no cross-conversations. Marco Polo Plus offers premium features including: 1.5-3x speed control Background listening Custom and animated emojis 6 Plus Passes so you can share 2 months free with friends and family Marco Polo Plus Family Save with up to six memberships with one plan. Plus Family is not limited to members within one household. - Payments are charged to the user's Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscriptions automatically renew unless the user cancels at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - The account is charged for renewal within 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Users can manage and cancel subscriptions in their account settings on the App Store. Terms of Service: https://www.marcopolo.me/terms/ ## Key features - Asynchronous video messaging - Private, ad-free communication - One-on-one and group chats - Emoji reactions and special effects - Sharecast feature - Speed control - Background listening ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Marco Polo Plus | $9.99 | per month | | Marco Polo Plus | $9.99 | per month | | Marco Polo Plus - Family Plan | $19.99 | per month | | Marco Polo - Unlimited Storage | $47.99 | per year | | Marco Polo - Unlimited Storage | $7.99 | per month | | Marco Polo Plus | $79.99 | per year | | Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan | $159.99 | per year | | Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan | $19.99 | per month | | Marco Polo Plus | $79.99 | per year | | Marco Polo Plus – Family Plan | $159.99 | per year | **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Plus Guest Pass | $14.99 | one-time | ## Chart rankings - #79 in Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store) - #16 in Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store) ## What do users think of Marco Polo? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 👍 Great for long-distance communication - 🚀 Convenient video messaging - 💡 Allows asynchronous communication - 👍 Easy to use - 👍 Helps maintain relationships - 👍 Useful for stay-at-home moms - 👍 Fun features like filters and voice changers **Cons** - 🔒 Expensive subscription model - 🐛 Video and audio quality issues - 🐛 Bugs and glitches - 🔋 High data usage - 🔒 Removing previously free features - 🐛 Inconsistent user experience after updates **Commonly reported bugs** - Videos stopping or going black during playback - Issues with marking messages as unwatched - Inconsistent behavior after app updates - Forced upgrade to paid version without warning **Most requested features** - Add text messaging capabilities - Improve video/audio quality - Bring back previously free features - Add option to save/download videos - Improve navigation and playback controls - Expand emoji and reaction options ## Recent user reviews (10 of 1,361) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marco-polo-video-messenger/id912561374/reviews.md ### 2/5 — It’s too expensive *2026-08-23, version 0.1588.0* It costs WAYYY to much to unlock most of the features on this app but it’s good if u don’t want to be able to do anything except film videos also i got a cat stand at five below and a Shakespeare book at Barnes and nobles ### 5/5 — GREAT *2026-08-23, version 0.1588.0* I wanted to talk to my bff but I don’t have like the call app or text so I downloaded this and I thought this would be a normal text app, NO this is an amazing way to get to talk there is sometimes a bug but I can always work around it! I have had this app for 6 years and I still love it! ### 5/5 — Marco Polo *2026-08-23, version 0.1588.0* Marco Polo is such an amazing way to connect with my friends even if they live really far away ### 5/5 — Love it! *2026-08-22, version 0.1588.0* Great app ### 3/5 — Glitch *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* I love Marco Polo, but sometimes it glitches ### 4/5 — Marco Polo *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* Marco Polo makes me look so chopped sometimes ngl😭🤣 ### 5/5 — fun *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* it’s so quick and fun to do ### 2/5 — Fix basic issues before you raise the subscription *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* I use Marco Polo because it’s the app many ASL users prefer for video messaging. I subscribe because it’s the only way to speed up the videos, but that alone is not worth a subscription increase when BASIC features are missing, ie. NOT mirroring video (why is that not just the default?!?) and better quality video. I have an iPhone 17 Pro Max on high speed internet and my videos consistently look like I’m on an old dialup connection. The stuttering and dropped frames are a problem when trying to communicate via a visual language. Fix these issues and I’ll consider keeping my subscription. ### 5/5 — Great tool *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* I love that I can keep up with friends and family, see their faces, hear their voices, and listen/watch when I can. Better than email- Videomail ### 4/5 — Fun little app! *2026-08-21, version 0.1588.0* Very cool ## Frequently asked questions about Marco Polo ### What is this app? This app is a video chat application designed to help you feel closer to the people who matter most. It focuses on private, ad-free communication through asynchronous video messages, allowing you to connect face-to-face on your own schedule. ### What are the key features? Key features include sending and receiving video messages asynchronously, private and ad-free one-on-one or group chats, emoji reactions, special effects, and a unique Sharecast feature. Premium features offer speed control and background listening. ### How much does it cost? The app is free to use with unlimited chats and groups, emoji reactions, and the Sharecast feature. A premium subscription, Marco Polo Plus, offers additional features like speed control and background listening, with options for individual or family plans. ### What devices is it compatible with? While not explicitly stated in the description, mobile applications of this nature are typically compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Users can manage subscriptions through their App Store account settings. ### What are common use cases for this app? Common use cases include staying in touch with distant family members, sharing daily updates with friends, having private conversations without the pressure of real-time video calls, and easily communicating with groups without cross-conversations. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 0.1589.0 — 2026-08-24 Marco Polo is updated weekly with new fun features and faster, more reliable experiences. This release includes general bug fixes and improvements. ### 0.1588.0 — 2026-08-17 Marco Polo is updated weekly with new fun features and faster, more reliable experiences. This release includes general bug fixes and improvements. ### 0.1587.0 — 2026-08-10 Marco Polo is updated weekly with new fun features and faster, more reliable experiences. This release includes general bug fixes and improvements. ### 0.1586.1 — 2026-08-06 Marco Polo is updated weekly with new fun features and faster, more reliable experiences. This release includes general bug fixes and improvements. ### 0.1586.0 — 2026-08-03 Marco Polo is updated weekly with new fun features and faster, more reliable experiences. 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User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*