Best Free Message Apps

248+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated September 2026

Telegram Messenger is the household name in free message apps, but it's far from the only option. We track 248+ alternatives and competitors on iOS β€” many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Compare top Free Message Apps (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Telegram MessengerTelegram MessengerFree4.0β˜… (280K)NoYesSep 2026
2Messages: SMS & Text MessagingMessages: SMS & Text MessagingFree4.6β˜… (389)YesYesSep 2026
3Google ChatGoogle ChatFree4.6β˜… (306K)NoNoSep 2026
4Messenger for MessagesMessenger for MessagesFree4.4β˜… (328)YesNoSep 2026
5MessagesMessagesFree4.1β˜… (38K)NoNoSep 2026
6Signal - Private MessengerSignal - Private MessengerFree4.7β˜… (1.1M)NoYesSep 2026
7Text Free: Second Phone NumberText Free: Second Phone NumberFree4.7β˜… (603K)YesYesSep 2026
8Courier - Group MessagingCourier - Group MessagingFreeβ€”NoYesMay 2026

Top Picks for Free Message Apps

Telegram Messenger#1

Telegram Messenger by Telegram FZ-LLC

Fast. Secure. Powerful.
4.0😊(280K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#4in Social Networking
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A fast, secure, and powerful instant messaging app synced across all devices. It offers unlimited media and file sharing, robust encryption, and extensive group chat capabilities. Enjoy a simple, private, and customizable communication experience.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Fast and efficient
  • πŸ”’ Secure and private
  • πŸ‘ Customizable and user-friendly
  • πŸ’‘ Innovative features like channels and bots
  • 🌟 Great overall messaging experience

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Buggy and unstable at times
  • πŸ”‹ Battery life issues
  • 🚫 Lack of video calling feature
  • πŸ“‚ Issues with media uploads and downloads
  • πŸ” Inadequate search functionality
Google Chat#3

Google Chat by Google

Efficient Team Communication
Worth Considering
πŸ’Ό Business
4.6😐(306K ratings)
Free
#32in Business
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Connect, collaborate, and accomplish tasks with AI-powered messaging. Streamline teamwork with integrations and smart features. Securely communicate with your team, whether in real-time or asynchronously.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Convenient for contacting friends
  • πŸ‘ Easy to use
  • πŸš€ Efficient messaging
  • πŸš€ Seamless integration with Google Suite
  • πŸ‘ Useful for business communication

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Glitchy and unreliable
  • πŸ€” Confusing layout and UI
  • πŸ”’ Concerns about privacy and security
  • πŸ”‹ High battery drain
  • πŸ€” Lacks key features from previous Google messaging apps

More Free Message Apps apps to explore

FAQ about Free Message Apps

What are the best free message apps for iPhone?
Telegram Messenger tops our free message apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.0-star average from 280K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Telegram Messenger has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 248+ free message apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Telegram Messenger is a fast, secure, and powerful instant messaging application that syncs seamlessly across all your devices. It prioritizes speed, security, and user privacy, offering features like unlimited file sharing and large group chats.
Key features include cross-device synchronization, unlimited sending of media and files up to 2GB, highly secure encryption for all chats, large group chats for up to 200,000 members, customizable themes, animated stickers, and bots for task automation.