# Garmin Messenger™ vs WAVE Intercom

The clearest difference is rating: Garmin Messenger™ at 4.6 against WAVE Intercom's 3.7. Garmin Messenger™ also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (13K vs 15). WAVE Intercom's advantage is review sentiment (36% vs 16%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Garmin Messenger™ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Messenger™ has 13K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 16% of Garmin Messenger™'s written reviews are positive against 36% of WAVE Intercom's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Garmin Messenger™ ships an update every 3 weeks, WAVE Intercom monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Messenger™ | WAVE Intercom |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-messenger/id1550351929/reviews)** | [3.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-intercom/id6670228363/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 15.5% of reviews | **35.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#60** | — |
| Size | 106 MB | 108 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Sena Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/888785841) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Messenger™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-messenger/id1550351929)

**Currently charting:** #60 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Communicate globally with friends and family, even without cell service. Pair with a compatible satellite communicator for secure messaging and SOS capabilities. Enjoy automatic network switching for reliable connectivity and real-time location sharing.

**Highlights:** Global messaging, Interactive SOS, Group messaging, Photo and voice messaging, Automatic network switching, Real-time location sharing (LiveTrack)

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great messaging functionality
- 👍 Seamless cellular and satellite communication
- 🚀 Consolidated messaging experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**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

**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


### WAVE Intercom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-intercom/id6670228363)

Stay connected with your motorcycle group using this app that leverages cellular networks for communication. It offers features like geo-based and friends-based intercom, live location tracking, and intelligent switching between communication modes. Enjoy cross-brand compatibility for seamless group rides.

**Highlights:** Geo-based intercom within a radius, Friends-based limitless communication, Live location display on map, Intelligent Wave to Mesh conversion, Cross-brand compatibility, Group ride organization and safety

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Cross-manufacturer communication
- 👍 Great concept for motorcycle comms
- 🗺️ See friends on map
- 🆘 Emergency help button
- 🚀 Mesh and cellular combined

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection drops
- 🎧 Poor audio quality
- ⏳ Significant audio delay
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 📱 Overheats phones

**Reported bugs**

- Intercom down error
- Connections frequently drop
- No automatic reconnection
- Scratchy audio quality
- App crashes

**Requested features**

- CarPlay support
- German language option
- More language options
- Ability to listen to music simultaneously
- Automatic reconnection over Bluetooth


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Messenger™ free?

Garmin Messenger™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is WAVE Intercom free?

WAVE Intercom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Garmin Messenger™ or WAVE Intercom?

Garmin Messenger™ is rated higher. Garmin Messenger™ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while WAVE Intercom averages 3.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do Garmin Messenger™ or WAVE Intercom have ads?

Neither Garmin Messenger™ nor WAVE Intercom shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Garmin Messenger™ or WAVE Intercom?

Garmin Messenger™ ships an update every 3 weeks, and WAVE Intercom monthly. Most recently, Garmin Messenger™ was updated on September 26, 2026 and WAVE Intercom on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*