# Kik Messaging & Chat App vs Messenger

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Messenger at 66% against Kik Messaging & Chat App's 36%. Messenger also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (14M vs 486K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kik Messaging & Chat App sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Messenger sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Messenger has 14M ratings behind it against 486K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Kik Messaging & Chat App's written reviews are positive against 66% of Messenger's.

Kik Messaging & Chat App ships an update fortnightly, Messenger weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kik Messaging & Chat App | Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (486K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kik-messaging-and-chat-app/id357218860/reviews) | **[4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 486K | **14M** |
| Positive reviews | 35.6% of reviews | **66.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #108 | **#8** |
| Size | 169 MB | 277 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Medialab - Kik](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677859788) | [Meta Platforms, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284882218) |

## What reviewers say

### Kik Messaging & Chat App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kik-messaging-and-chat-app/id357218860)

**Currently charting:** #108 Top Free · Social Networking, #181 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and discover new ones through chat. Share photos, videos, games, and more without needing phone numbers. Explore interests and join groups for seamless communication.

**Highlights:** Connect with friends, Group chats, Share photos and videos, Play games, Meet new people, Username-based accounts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad Free | $2.99 | per month |
| Ad free (annual) | $32.99 | per year |
| 100 Live Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 Live credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3 Chat Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 200 Live Credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| 500 Live Credits Offer | $1.99 | one-time |
| 500 Live Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Live Credits | $14.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $14.99 | one-time |
| 3700 Live Credits | $24.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $99.99 | one-time |
| 16500 Live Credits | $99.99 | one-time |
| 70000 Live Credits | $399.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great chat features
- 🌐 Connects people globally
- 🤝 Helps make new friends

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Overrun by bots and spam
- 💤 Slow and laggy performance
- 📢 Intrusive and annoying ads
- 🔑 Account security issues
- 🔒 Lack of moderation and safety

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working properly
- Messages not sending or getting stuck
- Profile pictures not updating correctly
- Frequent app crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Improved group management tools
- Option to disable live streaming
- Better chat organization and search
- Ability to delete messages across devices
- Restore previous video chat functionality


### Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Free · Social Networking, #111 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through text, audio, and video calls. Share photos in high definition, create shared albums, and send large files. Features an AI assistant for instant answers and creative image generation.

**Highlights:** Text, audio, and video calls, High-definition photo sharing, Shared photo albums, Large file sharing (up to 100MB), AI assistant for questions and creative tasks, Disappearing messages, Customizable chat themes

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Avatar Item | $0.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $1.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $2.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $3.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $4.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $6.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $7.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $8.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $9.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Useful for staying connected with friends and family
- 🗣️ Enables easy communication through text, voice, and video
- 💬 Convenient group chat features
- 🌐 Works across multiple devices and platforms

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 🔄 Unnecessary updates that remove useful features
- 📤 Issues with message delivery and notifications
- 🗂️ Cluttered interface and poor organization of chats

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in or access account
- Messages failing to send or receive
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to delete or unsend messages
- Improve search functionality for chat history
- Introduce customizable notification settings
- Bring back old features like emoji reactions and location sharing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kik Messaging & Chat App free?

Kik Messaging & Chat App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Messenger free?

Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Kik Messaging & Chat App or Messenger?

Messenger is rated higher. Kik Messaging & Chat App averages 4.3 out of 5 from 486K ratings, while Messenger averages 4.7 from 14M ratings.

### Do Kik Messaging & Chat App or Messenger have ads?

Both Kik Messaging & Chat App and Messenger show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kik Messaging & Chat App or Messenger?

Kik Messaging & Chat App ships an update fortnightly, and Messenger weekly. Most recently, Kik Messaging & Chat App was updated on October 31, 2026 and Messenger on October 31, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Kik Messaging & Chat App or Messenger?

Kik Messaging & Chat App currently peaks at #108 in the App Store charts, and Messenger at #8. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*