Best for Facebook-connected messaging
Messenger vs Telegram vs Viber: which messaging app should you choose?
Choose Messenger for Facebook-connected chats, Telegram for large groups and cloud-based messaging, or Viber for international calls and contact-based communication.
At a glance
| App | Google Play | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MessengerMeta Platforms, Inc. | 4.7 out of 5114,813,598 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.05 - $7,999.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 TelegramTelegram FZ-LLC | 3.8 out of 517,343,583 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.31 - $289.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Mature 17+ |
 Rakuten Viber MessengerViber Media | 4.1 out of 516,690,539 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.99 - $99.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
How we compared them
Messenger, Telegram, and Rakuten Viber Messenger are free communication apps for text, calls, and group conversations. All have more than a billion Google Play installs, but they differ in their social features, privacy approach, ads, and audience ratings.
This comparison weighs their Google Play ratings and pricing alongside their strengths, trade-offs, and declared data safety practices, so you can find the one that fits the way you communicate.
How we compared them
We compared the Google Play ratings, install counts, price, in-app purchase ranges, and ad status shown on November 7, 2026. We also considered each app’s stated features and the strengths and weaknesses identified for this comparison.
For data safety, we report only what each app declares on Google Play: the data it shares or collects, whether it says data is encrypted in transit, and whether users can request deletion. These declarations are not a guarantee of privacy or a direct measure of security.
Messenger
Meta Platforms, Inc.
4.7 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forkeeping in touch through Facebook
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 114,813,598
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Everyone
Messenger is the clearest fit for people whose friends and conversations are already tied to Facebook. Its intuitive interface, free messaging and calls, privacy controls, and broad range of stickers and emojis make everyday chats approachable. Its 4.7 Google Play rating is higher than Telegram’s and Viber’s.
That convenience comes with a Facebook account requirement and a declared sharing of identifiers and contact details, among other collected data. Messenger can also be demanding on battery, and its listed strengths include fewer customization options than Telegram’s themes. It contains no ads, though ads can still be intrusive within the experience.
What we like
- Highest Google Play rating of the three
- Facebook integration and easy-to-use interface
- Free calls, messages, stickers, and emojis
What to know
- Requires a Facebook account
- Can drain battery and offers limited customization
Telegram
Telegram FZ-LLC
3.8 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forlarge groups and customizable chats
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 17,343,583
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Mature 17+
Telegram offers a strong mix of speed-focused messaging, large group chats, cloud-based storage, and customizable themes. It is the strongest choice here for people who value those group and personalization features, and Google Play says it shares no data with third parties.
Its 3.8 rating is the lowest of the three, and its privacy appeal needs a qualification: end-to-end encryption is not on by default. Some features can be hard to navigate, notifications may be inconsistent, and it can be resource-heavy on some devices. It is free and contains no ads.
What we like
- Supports large group chats
- Cloud-based storage and customizable themes
- Declares no third-party data sharing and contains no ads
What to know
- End-to-end encryption is not enabled by default
- Lowest Google Play rating of the three
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Viber Media
4.1 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forinternational calls and contact-based chats
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 16,690,539
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Teen
Viber is a good fit for people who want to call contacts internationally and add personality to chats with stickers and GIFs. It combines voice and video calls, group messaging, and communities, with a user-friendly interface and strong encryption identified among its strengths.
Unlike Messenger and Telegram, Viber contains ads. Its video-call features are limited, and it can have connectivity and battery issues. Its 4.1 Google Play rating sits between Messenger’s and Telegram’s, while its Teen content rating is also between their Everyone and Mature 17+ ratings.
What we like
- Free international calls
- Strong encryption, stickers, and GIFs
- Contact integration and communities
What to know
- Contains ads in the free app
- Limited video-call features
Which one should you pick?
Best for large groups and themes
Telegram
Best for international calls
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Frequently Asked Questions
Which app has the highest Google Play rating?
Messenger has the highest rating at 4.7, compared with Viber at 4.1 and Telegram at 3.8. These figures were read from Google Play on November 7, 2026.
Which app is best for privacy?
Telegram declares that it shares no data with third parties, but its end-to-end encryption is not on by default. Messenger and Viber also offer privacy-related strengths, so compare each app’s privacy settings and data safety practices with your needs.
Are Messenger, Telegram, and Viber free?
All three are free to download. Each offers in-app purchases, and Viber is the only one of the three that contains ads.
Which app is best for international calls or large groups?
Viber is a strong choice for free international calls, while Telegram is the better fit for large group chats and customizable themes.
ViaAPK compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details and prices are shown for reference and can change.