Comparison

IM+ Instant Messenger vs Messages

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

Head to head
About

IM+ Instant Messenger

Consolidate all your social media and messaging apps into a single, streamlined interface. Manage multiple accounts across various platforms, from popular social networks to instant messengers, all within one convenient application. Save time and device space by unifying your digital communication.

Highlights
  • Unified messaging and social networking
  • Support for multiple accounts per service
  • Aggregates Telegram, X, Reddit, and more
  • No unwanted ads
  • ChatGPT integration
  • TikTok support
Features
Read full description

IM+ is an all-in-one app for messaging and social networking. IM+ unites all your favorite social channels in one app. Chat on Telegram and Messenger while checking your X feeds and Reddit. And if you have to manage multiple Instagram, X, and Facebook accounts, no problem! IM+ supports multiple accounts per service in a simple interface. IM+ will save you a lot of time and space on your iPhone and iPad. List of supported services: ChatGPT, X, Telegram, Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp (iPad), Instagram, TikTok, Skype, Gmail, Slack, Reddit, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tinder, Outlook, and more to come! - Multiple accounts per service - No unwanted ads - TikTok added - WhatsApp is supported on iPad - ChatGPT support Subscription pricing and terms: * IM+ offers auto-renewing monthly and yearly subscription options. The yearly plan is $19.99, and the monthly plan is $2.99. * Payment will be charged to your App Store Account at confirmation of purchase * Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period * Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period * Subscriptions may be managed by the user, and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after purchase * Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Read more about our terms and conditions here: * Terms of service: https://www.shape.ag/en/terms/ * Privacy policy: https://www.shape.ag/en/privacy/ Please follow @implus on Twitter and like fb.com/plusim to get the latest updates from your IM+ team!

About

Messages

Communicate with contacts through unlimited texts, photos, videos, and documents. Supports iMessage for Apple devices and RCS, SMS, and MMS for others. Features include message editing, unsending, and scheduling.

Highlights
  • Send unlimited texts, photos, videos, and documents
  • iMessage, RCS, SMS, and MMS support
  • Edit and unsend messages
  • Schedule messages
  • Message effects and stickers
  • Group chat features
  • Messages in iCloud
Features
Read full description

Stay connected to the people and conversations that matter most. Send unlimited texts, photos, videos, documents, and more to any iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, or visionOS device with iMessage, or use it to send RCS, SMS, and MMS messages. Features • Send texts, photos, videos, audio messages, documents, stickers, Memoji, polls, and more to contacts using their phone number or Apple Account. • Send Messages via satellite* to stay connected with friends and family even when you are without cellular or Wi-Fi connection. • Automatically translate incoming texts, including group messages.* • On-device spam detection filters out spam from your conversations list. • Opt-in to screen messages from unknown numbers. • Tapback with any emoji or sticker for a quick reply to express what you think about a message. • Add effects to your messages like animated text effects, full-screen effects, and bubble effects to bring your conversations to life. • Schedule a message to send at a specified time with Send Later. • Your name and photo, or even Memoji, can be shared with your friends. • Edit any message for up to 15 minutes after sending it. Recipients will be able to see a record of edits made to the message. • Unsend any message for up to 2 minutes after sending it. • Mark as unread when you don’t have time to respond but want to be sure to reply to the sender later. • Name a group and add a photo to personalize the group conversation. • Mentions let you direct a message to an individual in a group conversation. • Inline replies let you reply to a specific message and see all related messages in their own view. • Pin conversations to keep up to nine of your favorite message threads at the top of the list. • iMessage apps let you quickly share photos, recently played music, stickers, GIFs, Apple Cash*, and more right from Messages. • Start a Check In with a family member or friend to let them know when you’ve arrived at a destination or set up a Check In for a time duration. • Use Messages in iCloud to keep your entire message history updated and available on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro, even when you set up a brand-new device. • SharePlay via Messages lets you share synchronized activities like movies, music, workouts, games and more while chatting with friends in Messages. • Shared with You shows content sent to you by friends in Messages conversations in a section in Photos, Safari, News*, Music*, Podcasts, or the TV app* • Collaboration lets you invite others to collaborate on a file via Messages and shares activity updates in the thread when someone makes an edit to a shared project. Apple Watch Features • Quickly read and respond to incoming messages. • Use smart replies, dictation, audio messages, stickers, #images*, Memoji, polls, or the QWERTY keyboard (Apple Watch Series 7 or later models). • Automatically translate incoming texts, including group messages.* • Start a Check In with a family member or friend to let them know when you’ve arrived at a destination or set up a Check In for a time duration. • Pin conversations to keep your favorite message threads at the top of the list. • Save photos, audio messages and videos from your messages. • Ask Siri to send a message to your contacts. • Respond to a specific message inline to keep conversations organized. • Send, receive, and request money with Apple Pay*. • Mute or delete conversations. * Not available in all regions.

Screenshots

IM+ Instant Messenger4 screens
Messages4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Messages at 4.1 against IM+ Instant Messenger's 3.5. Messages also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (39K vs 10). IM+ Instant Messenger's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (69% vs 46%). On price and ads 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. IM+ Instant Messenger sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Messages asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Messages holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Messages has 39K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of IM+ Instant Messenger's written reviews are positive against 46% of Messages's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IM+ Instant Messenger ships an update every 5 weeks, Messages every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
IM+ Instant Messenger versus Messages: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIM+ Instant MessengerMessages
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (10 ratings)4.1 (39K ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.8% of reviews — better45.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1039K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS15.610.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB9 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperSHAPE GmbHApple

Customer experience

IM+ Instant Messenger

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews2,218 reviews
Positive68.8%
Neutral12.6%
Negative18.7%

Messages

All ratings39,067 ratings
Positive75.3%
Neutral6.1%
Negative18.6%
Written reviews4,941 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative42.0%

User reviews

IM+ Instant Messenger

From 10 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works well
  • 👍 Convenient all-in-one messaging
  • 💡 Integrated web browser
  • 👍 Customizable backgrounds

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Disconnects and logs out often
  • 🐛 Unreliable notifications
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly
  • 👎 Ads and paywalls

Messages

From 39K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and reliable messaging
  • 🔒 End-to-end encryption
  • 👍 Seamless integration with Apple devices
  • 💡 Fun features like Memoji and stickers
  • 🤝 Easy group chat management

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 🔍 Limited search functionality
  • 📤 Inability to delete messages for others
  • 🔔 Lack of typing indicators in group chats
  • 📱 Incompatibility with non-Apple devices

Bugs and requests

IM+ Instant Messenger

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues
  • Messages not syncing or disappearing
  • Freezing and crashing
  • Incorrect online/offline status display

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to change display name and status
  • Group chat support
  • Improved contact management
  • Landscape mode support
  • Skype integration

Messages

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Messages not delivering consistently
  • App crashing or freezing on launch
  • Issues with iCloud sync and message history
  • Problems with location sharing and privacy

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to schedule messages
  • Option to lock specific conversations
  • More customization options for Memoji
  • Improved voice message functionality
  • Expanded reaction/emoji options

In-app purchases

4 purchases

IM+ Instant Messenger

Subscriptions4
  • IM+ Pro Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • No Ads Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • No Ads Yearly7 Days trial$16.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • IM+ Pro Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
None

Messages

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is IM+ Instant Messenger free?
IM+ Instant Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Messages free?
Messages is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, IM+ Instant Messenger or Messages?
Messages is rated higher. IM+ Instant Messenger averages 3.5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Messages averages 4.1 from 39K ratings.
Do IM+ Instant Messenger or Messages have ads?
Neither IM+ Instant Messenger nor Messages shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IM+ Instant Messenger or Messages?
IM+ Instant Messenger ships an update every 5 weeks, and Messages every 6 months. Most recently, IM+ Instant Messenger was updated on October 24, 2026 and Messages on November 1, 2026.

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