# Messenger vs Google Meet

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Meet at none against Messenger's 10. Google Meet also leads on ads (none vs shown). Messenger's advantage is review sentiment (66% vs 46%) and ratings volume (14M vs 2.3M). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Messenger sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Google Meet asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Messenger against 4.8 for Google Meet. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Messenger has 14M ratings behind it against 2.3M, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Messenger's written reviews are positive against 46% of Google Meet's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Messenger | Google Meet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-meet/id1096918571/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14M** | 2.3M |
| Positive reviews | **66.2% of reviews** | 46.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | #10 |
| Size | 255 MB | 327 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Meta Platforms, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284882218) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Social Networking, #145 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


### Google Meet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-meet/id1096918571)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Free · Social Networking, #178 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with friends, family, and colleagues through high-quality video calls and meetings. Schedule calls, send video messages, or join spontaneous conversations. Enhance interactions with features like real-time captions, in-call chat, and engaging effects.

**Highlights:** High-quality video calls, Scheduled meetings, Video messages, Real-time translated captions, In-call chat, Screen sharing, Stackable effects

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 High-quality video and audio
- 💡 Cross-platform compatibility
- 🤝 Allows communication with non-iPhone users
- 😊 Overall positive experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent freezing and disconnections
- 🔋 High battery drain
- 🔇 Audio issues like echoes and delays
- 📵 Inability to use without a phone number
- 🤔 Confusing UI and limited features compared to competitors

**Reported bugs**

- Video freezes when moving away from WiFi
- Inability to answer calls or end them properly
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

**Requested features**

- Add screen sharing capability
- Implement group chat and texting features
- Allow customization of user profiles and group chats
- Improve compatibility with older devices and operating systems


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Messenger free?

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

### Is Google Meet free?

Google Meet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Messenger or Google Meet?

Google Meet is rated higher. Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14M ratings, while Google Meet averages 4.8 from 2.3M ratings.

### Do Messenger or Google Meet have ads?

Messenger shows ads; Google Meet does not.

### Which is updated more often, Messenger or Google Meet?

Messenger ships an update weekly, and Google Meet weekly. Most recently, Messenger was updated on September 24, 2026 and Google Meet on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Messenger or Google Meet?

Messenger currently peaks at #9 in the App Store charts, and Google Meet at #10. 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.*