Best Kids Messenger Alternative Apps

170+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.3 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated July 2026

Finding the right kids messenger alternative apps can be overwhelming with so many options. We've analyzed 170+ apps to bring you the best choices for 2026, from free options to premium solutions with advanced features.

Compare top Kids Messenger Alternative Apps (July 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Messenger KidsMessenger KidsFree4.3★ (115K)NoNoAug 2026
2MessengerMessengerFree4.7★ (13M)YesYesAug 2026
3Stars Messenger Kids Safe ChatStars Messenger Kids Safe ChatFree4.7★ (4.8K)NoYesAug 2026
4Kinzoo: Fun All-Ages MessengerKinzoo: Fun All-Ages MessengerFree4.8★ (8.1K)NoYesAug 2026
5SodaSpeak: Family MessengerSodaSpeak: Family MessengerFree4.3★ (320)NoYesAug 2026
6JusTalk Kids - Safe MessengerJusTalk Kids - Safe MessengerFree4.5★ (16K)NoYesAug 2026
7Gabb MessengerGabb MessengerFree3.8★ (830)NoNoAug 2026
8Session - Private MessengerSession - Private MessengerFree4.3★ (4.6K)NoNoAug 2026

Top Picks for Kids Messenger Alternative

Messenger Kids#1

Messenger Kids by Meta Platforms, Inc.

The Messaging App for Kids
Editor's Choice
🌐 Social Networking
4.3😊(115K ratings)
Free
#62in Social Networking
Messenger Kids screenshot 1
Messenger Kids screenshot 2
Messenger Kids screenshot 3
Messenger Kids screenshot 4
Messenger Kids screenshot 5

A secure messaging app designed for children, offering creative tools for communication and video calls. Parents have full control over contacts and usage, ensuring a safe and worry-free experience with no ads or in-app purchases.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great for connecting with friends and family
  • 🔒 Secure and parent-controlled
  • 👍 Fun filters and stickers
  • 👍 Helpful for kids during COVID-19

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Glitches and bugs with messaging and calling
  • 🔒 Restrictive parental controls
  • 👎 Outdated or limited features
Messenger#2

Messenger by Meta Platforms, Inc.

Text, audio and video calls
Strong Contender
🌐 Social Networking
4.7😞(13M ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#13in Social Networking
Messenger screenshot 1
Messenger screenshot 2
Messenger screenshot 3
Messenger screenshot 4
Messenger screenshot 5
Messenger screenshot 6

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.

What We Love

  • 📱 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

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
  • 🔄 Unnecessary updates that remove useful features
Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat#3

Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat by Connect Star Works Incorporated

Messenger Kids + Safe Chat
Worth Considering
🌐 Social Networking
4.7😊(4.8K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat screenshot 1
Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat screenshot 2
Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat screenshot 3
Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat screenshot 4
Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat screenshot 5
Stars Messenger Kids Safe Chat screenshot 6

This app provides a secure and private messaging and video chat experience for children and all ages. It eliminates the need for phone numbers and prevents contact from strangers or ads. Parents can monitor their child's connections and activity through an optional Parent View.

What We Love

  • ⭐ Amazing app
  • 🔒 Safe and private
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💬 Great for messaging friends

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy calls and connection issues
  • 🔍 Difficult to find/add friends
  • 🔌 Drains battery quickly

More Kids Messenger Alternative apps to explore

4
Kinzoo: Fun All-Ages Messenger
Kinzoo: Fun All-Ages Messenger
Kinzoo: Fun All-Ages Messenger
Chats, Video Calls & Games
Free

This COPPA-certified messenger platform offers a safe and interactive way for families to connect. Enjoy mini-games, creative filters, and engaging activities in a private, ad-free environment. Communicate through text, video calls, and more, with parental controls for all contacts.

Interactive mini-gamesFace filters and stickersCOPPA certified safety
🌐 Social Networking
(8.1K)
free with in-app purchases
5
SodaSpeak: Family Messenger
SodaSpeak: Family Messenger
SodaSpeak: Family Messenger
Teach Kids Social Media
Free

This app helps parents teach children healthy technology habits. It focuses on building social skills and attention spans without promoting addiction. The service aims to foster balanced phone usage and encourage kids to be present.

Teaches healthy technology habitsBuilds social skillsImproves attention spans
🌐 Social Networking
(320)
free with in-app purchases
6
JusTalk Kids - Safe Messenger
JusTalk Kids - Safe Messenger
JusTalk Kids - Safe Messenger
Video Chat, Voice Calls & Text
Free

This app provides a secure platform for children to connect with family and friends through voice and video calls, and instant messaging. It includes creative tools and educational content, with robust parental controls for a safe online experience.

Parent-approved friend managementSecure voice & video callingWalkie-talkie (push-to-talk)
🌐 Social Networking
(16K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Gabb Messenger
Gabb Messenger
Gabb Messenger
Video Calls & Parent Controls
Free

This app enables safe video calls between friends and family and Gabb kids, with smart filtration to monitor for potential harm. Parents can access robust controls to manage their child's messaging, including flagged content, contact lists, and deletion settings, ensuring peace of mind.

Safe video calling with smart filtrationParental controls for messagingFlagged content monitoring
🌟 Lifestyle
(830)
free
8
Session - Private Messenger
Session - Private Messenger
Session - Private Messenger
Privacy you can trust
Free

This secure messenger prioritizes your privacy with a decentralized network and end-to-end encryption. It offers anonymous account creation, IP address protection, and private group chats without collecting any metadata. Share messages and files with confidence, knowing your communications are truly private.

Anonymous account creationDecentralized server networkNo metadata logging
🌐 Social Networking
(4.6K)
free
9
nandbox Messenger:Chat & Calls
nandbox Messenger:Chat & Calls
nandbox Messenger:Chat & Calls
Video calls, Chat, & Channels
Free

This messaging app offers enhanced privacy and communication features. Enjoy multiple profiles, large group chats, and interactive channels for community building. It also allows message editing and recall for better control over your conversations.

Multiple profilesInteractive channelsLarge group chats (up to 10,000 members)
🌐 Social Networking
(1.5K)
free
10
Marco Polo - Video Messenger
Marco Polo - Video Messenger
Marco Polo - Video Messenger
Helping you feel close
Free

Connect face-to-face with loved ones through private, ad-free video messages. This app allows for asynchronous conversations, letting you send and receive video messages on your own schedule, fostering deeper connections without social media pressures.

Asynchronous video messagingPrivate, ad-free communicationOne-on-one and group chats
🌐 Social Networking
(2.2M)
freemium
11
Fennec Messenger - Family Chat
Fennec Messenger - Family Chat
Fennec Messenger - Family Chat
Connecting parents and kids
Free

This app provides a secure instant messaging platform for families to connect. It offers features like video calls, photo sharing, and voice messages, with enhanced safety controls for children and location tracking.

Group chatFree video callsVoice messages
🌐 Social Networking
(120)
free
12
Xooloo - Messenger for Kids
Xooloo - Messenger for Kids
Xooloo - Messenger for Kids
Safer Messaging app for kids
Free

This app provides a secure messaging platform for children to connect with friends and family. It features audio/video calls, customizable avatars, and birthday reminders, all without requiring a phone number or social media account. Parents can manage contacts while ensuring chat privacy.

Audio and video callsGroup callsCustomizable Xavatars
🌐 Social Networking
(322)
free
13
ChatDip Messenger
ChatDip Messenger
ChatDip Messenger
Private Chat Messenger
Free

Connect privately with friends and family through secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging. Share various media types, utilize disappearing messages, and manage your online presence with customizable availability modes.

End-to-end encrypted messagingDisappearing messagesPhoto, video, and voice message sharing
🌐 Social Networking
(13)
free
14
IM+ Instant Messenger
IM+ Instant Messenger
IM+ Instant Messenger
Social Browser & Aggregator
Free

Consolidate all your social media and messaging apps into a single, streamlined interface. Manage multiple accounts across various platforms, from popular social networks to instant messengers, all within one convenient application. Save time and device space by unifying your digital communication.

Unified messaging and social networkingSupport for multiple accounts per serviceAggregates Telegram, X, Reddit, and more
🌐 Social Networking
(8)
subscription
15
Delta Chat
Delta Chat
Delta Chat
Decentral Private Messenger
Free

This decentralized messenger offers private, secure, and reliable instant messaging. It allows for easy setup on multiple devices and supports multiple chat profiles without requiring a phone number. Enjoy end-to-end encryption and the flexibility to run it with your own email or server.

Decentralized instant messagingPrivate onboarding without phone numberEnd-to-end encryption
🌐 Social Networking
(121)
free
16
kChat Messenger - chat safely
kChat Messenger - chat safely
kChat Messenger - chat safely
A safe place for families
Free

This messaging app prioritizes child safety with robust parental controls, allowing parents to manage contacts and settings. It offers creative communication tools like drawing and stickers, and can be used by multiple children on a parent's device without needing individual phone numbers.

Full parental control over settings and friend requestsKids can use parent's device without their own numberCreative tools: drawing, stickers, photo sharing
🌐 Social Networking
(42)
free
17
Messenger Web
Messenger Web
Messenger Web
Use WhatsApp and Telegram Web
Free

Access WhatsApp and Telegram via a web browser interface on your device. Manage multiple messaging accounts without needing separate phones. Offers daily quotes and status messages.

Access WhatsApp WebAccess Telegram WebManage multiple accounts
🌐 Social Networking
(715)
subscription
18
wim messenger
wim messenger
wim messenger
Chat Messenger
Free

A free messaging app offering text, picture, audio, and video messages. It features a one-handed camera with zoom, private messaging modes, and secure viewing for important content. Users can also set an 'away' status for specific durations.

100% free messagingOne-handed camera with zoomPrivate mode for messages
🌐 Social Networking
(1)
free
19
JusTalk Family Messenger
JusTalk Family Messenger
JusTalk Family Messenger
Family Locator & Tracker
Free

Connect with family through high-quality video calls, secure messaging, and real-time location tracking. Enjoy parental controls, share memories, and play interactive games to strengthen family bonds.

High-quality video and voice callsRich messaging with photos, videos, and stickersReal-time GPS location tracking
🌐 Social Networking
(240)
free with in-app purchases
20
CloudVeil Messenger
CloudVeil Messenger
CloudVeil Messenger
by Cloud Veil
Free

A secure and simplified messaging application designed for users who prioritize privacy and a distraction-free experience. It offers core messaging functionalities while disabling features like inline bots, in-app browsers, and global search to enhance safety.

Fully compatible with TelegramBlocked inline botsDisabled in-app browser
🌐 Social Networking
(154)
free

FAQ about Kids Messenger Alternative

What are the best kids messenger alternative apps for iPhone?
Messenger Kids tops our kids messenger alternative apps ranking as of July 2026, with a 4.3-star average from 115K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top kids messenger alternative apps we rank are free to download, including Messenger Kids and Messenger.
Messenger Kids has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of July 2026.
We track 170+ kids messenger alternative apps on the iOS App Store as of July 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Messenger Kids is a free messaging and video calling app designed specifically for children. It allows kids to connect with friends and family in a safe, controlled environment. Parents can manage contacts, monitor messages, and set usage limits.
Parents have a dedicated Parent Dashboard where they can manage their child's contact list, approve or deny new contacts, and monitor message activity. Parents are also notified when a child blocks a contact, ensuring transparency and control.