Comparison

Messenger Kids vs Carma

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Messenger Kids

This messaging app is designed for children, offering a safe and controlled environment for them to connect with friends and family. Parents can manage contacts, monitor messages, and set usage limits, while kids enjoy fun filters and creative tools.

Highlights
  • Parental dashboard for contact management
  • Message monitoring
  • Kid-friendly filters and reactions
  • Creative tools like stickers and drawing
  • Usage limits and bedtime settings
  • No phone number required
Features
Read full description

Messenger Kids — Made for Kids. Controlled by Parents. Made for Kids. Controlled by Parents. Parent Dashboard: Parents can manage their kids' contact list, and monitor messages on the Messenger Kids app. When kids block contacts, parents are notified. Fun Filters: Kid-friendly filters, reactions, and sound effects make video chats with friends and family even better. Worry Free: Parents can set usage limits when it’s bedtime, and there are no in app-purchases or ads. Creative Convos: Stickers, GIFs, emojis, and drawing tools give kids more ways to express themselves. Easy Start: No phone number required. We’re always working to improve Messenger Kids. If you’d like to share any feedback with us or for more information, visit messengerkids.com.

About

Carma

Features
Read full description

Carma is a messaging app for drivers in New York City. See a license plate. Send a message. The driver gets it on their phone. It's built for the moments where you want to say something to another driver but have no way to: someone left their headlights on, you're boxed in by a double-parker, you saw the car that hit yours and didn't stop, or you want to thank the person who let you merge. Every message happens by plate. No phone numbers exchanged. No usernames to remember. Drivers can verify their plates with a photo so others know who's real, but you stay anonymous unless you decide otherwise. WHAT'S IN THE APP Plate messaging. Type in any New York plate and send a message. The driver sees it the next time they open Carma. Plate verification. Claim your own plate with a quick photo. Verified plates show a checkmark, get longer message retention, and earn higher Carma Scores. Community Reports. A live feed and map of tow trucks, ticket agents, double parking, and street hazards. Posted by drivers, confirmed by drivers, filterable by category and distance. Carma Score. A reputation number based on how you treat other drivers, visible to anyone who messages you. Earn it by being helpful. Lose it by being a problem. Sign in with Apple, Google, or email. WHAT IT ISN'T We don't track your location across the city. We don't sell or share your data. We don't expose phone numbers. Messages are private to the two drivers involved. Identity verification is opt-in and reversible. You can delete your account from the settings screen in two taps. HOW IT WORKS 1. Sign up with your phone or email. 2. Add your license plate. Optional, but you get more out of the app if you do. 3. Verify the plate with a quick photo. 4. Start messaging, or get notified when another driver messages you. WHO IT'S FOR Built first for New York City drivers. The app understands alternate-side parking, hydrant rules, brownstones with no driveways, and the Manhattan ritual of moving your car twice a week. Other cities are added by request. There's a feedback button in the app. PRIVACY Carma stores only what's needed to make the app work: your plate, your messages, your settings. Messages auto-expire on a schedule (48 hours for unverified users, 30 days for verified) unless both drivers choose to save them. Your location is only used when you actively view nearby Community Reports. Full privacy policy: getcarma.app/privacy-policy SUPPORT Help center: getcarma.app/help-center Email: support@getcarma.app Carma is built and supported by independent developers in New York. Suggestions, complaints, and feature requests all reach a human within 24 hours.

Screenshots

Messenger Kids4 screens
Carma4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: Messenger Kids at #74 against Carma's unranked. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 10 level
Messenger Kids versus Carma: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMessenger KidsCarma
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (117K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings117K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#74 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size163 MB13 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperMeta Platforms, Inc.Clinton Oka

Bugs and requests

Messenger Kids

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to send/receive messages and photos
  • Frequent disconnections and 'reconnecting' issues
  • Glitches with group calls and games
  • Problems with account creation and login

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow customization of chat colors, backgrounds, and emojis
  • Add a 'do not disturb' mode
  • Increase video recording time limit
  • Improve search and contact management
  • Integrate with other social platforms like Facebook

Carma

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Messenger Kids

No in-app purchases

None

Carma

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Messenger Kids free?
Messenger Kids is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Carma free?
Carma is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Messenger Kids or Carma have ads?
Neither Messenger Kids nor Carma shows ads.

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