# Messenger vs WA Messenger Plus

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Messenger at 66% against WA Messenger Plus's 24%. Messenger also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (14M vs 2.4K). WA Messenger Plus's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Messenger sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and WA Messenger Plus sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Messenger has 14M ratings behind it against 2.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Messenger's written reviews are positive against 24% of WA Messenger Plus's.

Messenger ships an update weekly, WA Messenger Plus every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Messenger | WA Messenger Plus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews)** | [4.4 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wa-messenger-plus/id6467555424/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14M** | 2.4K |
| Positive reviews | **66.2% of reviews** | 23.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 255 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Meta Platforms, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284882218) | [Irem Bilge Gungor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708796984) |

## What reviewers say

### Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Free · Social Networking, #104 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


### WA Messenger Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wa-messenger-plus/id6467555424)

Consolidate WhatsApp, Telegram, and Line chats into one app. Features AI-powered translation, note-taking, chat analysis, and response generation for enhanced communication.

**Highlights:** Integrates WhatsApp, Telegram, and Line Web, Multiple accounts on one device, Real-time AI translation (50+ languages), AI-powered note capture and editing, WhatsApp chat analysis and insights, AI response generator, Create shareable document links

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Membership - Free Trial | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Membership | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Membership - Free Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Membership | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Membership | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $14.99 | per month |
| We Have Gift For You! | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Christmas Offer | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $149.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient to use
- 🔒 No ads
- 💡 Innovative features
- 👍 Helpful support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔍 Difficult to set up
- 🚫 Not free to use

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent disconnections
- Locked on certain screens
- Subscription issues

**Requested features**

- Video/audio calling
- Dedicated iPad app
- Easier cancellation process


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Messenger free?

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

### Is WA Messenger Plus free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Messenger or WA Messenger Plus?

Messenger is rated higher. Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14M ratings, while WA Messenger Plus averages 4.4 from 2.4K ratings.

### Do Messenger or WA Messenger Plus have ads?

Messenger shows ads; WA Messenger Plus does not.

### Which is updated more often, Messenger or WA Messenger Plus?

Messenger ships an update weekly, and WA Messenger Plus every 6 weeks. Most recently, Messenger was updated on September 24, 2026 and WA Messenger Plus on September 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*