# Messenger vs BatChat

The clearest difference is rating: Messenger at 4.7 against BatChat's 3.5. Messenger also leads on ratings volume (14M vs 99) and chart position (#8 vs unranked). BatChat's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (86% vs 66%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Messenger sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and BatChat sells 27 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 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Messenger has 14M ratings behind it against 99, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Messenger's written reviews are positive against 86% of BatChat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Messenger ships an update weekly, BatChat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Messenger | BatChat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews)** | [3.5 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/batchat-encrypted-messenger/id1661048017/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14M** | 99 |
| Positive reviews | 66.2% of reviews | **85.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 255 MB | 276 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Meta Platforms, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284882218) | [ChengDu Ciyuan zhishi Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661048019) |

## What reviewers say

### Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Free · Social Networking, #101 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


### BatChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/batchat-encrypted-messenger/id1661048017)

This secure messaging app offers end-to-end encrypted communication for both personal and professional use. It features private chat modes, encrypted file storage, and high-definition calls, ensuring data security and privacy.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Private chat mode with screenshot alerts, Encrypted local file storage, Multimedia file transfer, HD encrypted voice and video calls, Multi-device synchronization, Virtual avatar creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (27)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1月的免广告服务 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月靓号服务 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 200MB月容量套餐 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 50BF币 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 500MB月容量套餐 | $7.99 | one-time |
| 蝙蝠1个月VIP | $9.99 | one-time |
| 12个月聊天气泡 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1024MB月容量套餐 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 1月自动签到服务 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 3个月VIP | $29.99 | one-time |
| 198Bat币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 1年靓号服务 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 形象月卡 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 200M收藏容量 | $39.99 | one-time |
| 1个月群机器人 | $39.99 | one-time |
| 终身免广告服务 | $45.00 | one-time |
| 6个月VIP | $59.99 | one-time |
| 398Bat币 | $59.99 | one-time |
| 6个月的自动任务服务 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 588Bat币 | $79.99 | one-time |
| 500M收藏容量套餐 | $89.99 | one-time |
| 1年SVIP | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1年自动签到服务 | $129.99 | one-time |
| 3个月群机器人 | $129.99 | one-time |
| 1024M收藏容量 | $149.99 | one-time |
| 6个月群机器人 | $249.99 | one-time |
| 12个月群机器人 | $499.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Strong privacy and security
- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 🚀 Fast and efficient performance
- 💡 Unique features like screenshot alerts and self-destructing messages
- 💬 Good for social interaction and making friends

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login issues and network errors
- 🐛 App not working or crashing
- 🐛 Some users report it's a scam or phishing software
- 🐛 Paid features for encryption
- 🐛 Frequent ads for non-members

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot log in
- Network connection issues
- Cannot send messages
- App not opening
- Login registration fails for Chinese phone numbers

**Requested features**

- Adapt to landscape mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Messenger free?

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

### Is BatChat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Messenger or BatChat?

Messenger is rated higher. Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14M ratings, while BatChat averages 3.5 from 99 ratings.

### Do Messenger or BatChat have ads?

Messenger shows ads; BatChat does not.

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

Messenger ships an update weekly, and BatChat every 2 weeks. Most recently, Messenger was updated on September 24, 2026 and BatChat on September 21, 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.*