BitChat Free plan 8.9 Visit Messenger
meta.com
What it is
Messenger is Meta’s free messaging app for chatting and calling friends and family on Facebook and Messenger without needing a phone number. It is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. Alongside messages and voice and video calls, it supports high-definition photos, animated stickers, GIFs, reactions, and chat themes. Stories photos and videos and shared Notes disappear after 24 hours, while sent messages can be edited for up to 15 minutes. Meta AI can answer questions, give advice, and help with homework, but is available only in select languages and countries. Meta says personal messages are becoming end-to-end encrypted by default, protecting message and call content in transit from Meta seeing or hearing it. Encrypted chat history can be saved in secure storage and accessed with a six-digit PIN or a key stored in Google Drive or iCloud. Disappearing messages are available only in end-to-end encrypted conversations and last 24 hours. The desktop apps for Windows and macOS offer group video calls, notifications, and chats synced across mobile and desktop.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Messenger is a free messaging app for staying in touch, exploring interests, building communities, and sharing.Read 8 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Support
- Meta’s Messenger site links to a Help Centre, business resources, developer resources, and privacy and safety information.Read 8 Oct 2026 · meta.com
- Headquarters
- Menlo Park, California, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · meta.com
- Founded
- 2011Read 28 Sep 2026 · meta.com
- Company
- The Messenger app is published by Meta Platforms, Inc.Read 8 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- AI assistant
- Meta AI can answer questions, give advice, and help with homework, and is available only in select languages and countries.Read 8 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Chat and calls
- Messenger lets people chat and call friends and family on Facebook and Messenger without needing a phone number.Read 8 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Desktop apps
- Meta announced Messenger apps for Windows and macOS with free group video calls, notifications, and chats synced across mobile and desktop.Read 8 Oct 2026 · about.fb.com
- Developer resources
- Meta provides a Messenger for Developers resource from its Messenger product page.Read 8 Oct 2026 · meta.com
- Editing messages
- People can edit a sent message for up to 15 minutes.Read 8 Oct 2026 · about.fb.com
- Encrypted chat limit
- Disappearing messages are available only in end-to-end encrypted conversations and last 24 hours after sending.Read 8 Oct 2026 · about.fb.com
- Encrypted chat storage
- Encrypted chat history can be saved in secure storage and accessed with a six-digit PIN or a key stored in Google Drive or iCloud.Read 8 Oct 2026 · about.fb.com
- Encryption
- Meta says Messenger personal messages are becoming end-to-end encrypted by default, protecting message and call content so Meta cannot see or listen to it in transit.Read 8 Oct 2026 · about.fb.com
- Photos and expression
- Messenger supports high-definition photos, animated stickers, GIFs, reactions, and chat themes.Read 8 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Stories and Notes
- Stories photos and videos and shared Notes disappear after 24 hours.Read 8 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Plans and prices
Messenger Free Free messaging app Read 8 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free messaging app with voice and video calls.
- Available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows.
- Sent messages can be edited for up to 15 minutes.
- Encrypted chat history can use a PIN or cloud key.
Limits
- Meta AI is limited to select languages and countries.
- Disappearing messages require end-to-end encrypted conversations.
- Stories and shared Notes disappear after 24 hours.
Who it suits
Messenger suits people who want messaging and calls across mobile, desktop, and web, including chats without a phone number. It may also suit people who want disappearing messages or encrypted chat storage, subject to the stated limits.
Verdict
Messenger brings messaging, calls, media sharing, and several privacy-related options together across five listed platforms. Note that Meta describes default end-to-end encryption as becoming available, while disappearing messages require an encrypted conversation.
Where Specifiction places it
- Encrypted Messaging Apps#17 of 438.0
