# LINE vs Messenger

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Messenger at 66% against LINE's 15%. Messenger also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.2) and ratings volume (14M vs 18K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LINE sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Messenger has 14M ratings behind it against 18K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of LINE's written reviews are positive against 66% of Messenger's.

LINE ships an update every 9 days, Messenger weekly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LINE | Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line/id443904275/reviews) | **[4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18K | **14M** |
| Positive reviews | 14.8% of reviews | **66.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #45 | **#9** |
| Size | 397 MB | 255 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [LINE Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/359067226) | [Meta Platforms, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284882218) |

## What reviewers say

### LINE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line/id443904275)

**Currently charting:** #45 Top Free · Social Networking, #102 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through free voice and video calls, messages, and a wide array of stickers and themes. This communication platform offers a seamless experience across mobile, desktop, and smartwatches, with enhanced privacy features and content discovery options.

**Highlights:** Free voice and video calls, Messaging, Stickers and emojis, Customizable themes, Cross-platform compatibility, Encrypted messages, Keep Memo for storage

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| スタンダード | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| 50 LINE Coin | $0.99 | one-time |
| 70 LINE Coin | $1.39 | one-time |
| LINE Characters: All the Love | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brown & Cony's Secret Date! | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brown & Cony's Lovey Dovey Date | $1.99 | one-time |
| 100 LINE Coin | $1.99 | one-time |
| 150 LINE Coin | $2.99 | one-time |
| 200 LINE Coin | $3.99 | one-time |
| 500 LINE Coin | $7.99 | one-time |
| 800 LINE Coin | $11.99 | one-time |
| 1600 LINE Coin | $22.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great messaging app
- 🎨 Customizable with cute stickers
- 🌐 Useful for international communication
- 🔒 Secure and private

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🔑 Difficult account recovery and transfer
- 🚫 Accounts suspended without explanation
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🔍 Difficulty adding and searching for contacts

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in or sign up
- Messages not sending or receiving
- Notifications not working properly
- App crashing after updates
- Incompatibility with new devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- See who is online and typing
- Ability to translate messages
- Automatic chat history backup and sync
- Easier sticker management and organization
- More ways to earn free stickers and points


### Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Social Networking, #159 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through text, audio, and video calls. Share photos, videos, and large files, and express yourself with custom themes and animated content. Features an AI assistant for help and support.

**Highlights:** Text, audio, and video calls, High-definition photo sharing, Shared photo albums, QR code connections, Large file sharing (up to 100MB), Edit and unsend messages, Disappearing messages, AI assistant

**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 LINE free?

LINE 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, LINE or Messenger?

Messenger is rated higher. LINE averages 3.2 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Messenger averages 4.7 from 14M ratings.

### Do LINE or Messenger have ads?

Both LINE and Messenger show ads.

### Which is updated more often, LINE or Messenger?

LINE ships an update every 9 days, and Messenger weekly. Most recently, LINE was updated on September 25, 2026 and Messenger on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, LINE or Messenger?

LINE currently peaks at #45 in the App Store charts, and Messenger at #9. 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.*