Best for Facebook-connected messaging
Messenger vs Telegram vs Viber: which messaging app should you choose?
Messenger suits Facebook-connected chats, Telegram is the pick for large file sharing and privacy options, and Viber appeals to people who want free voice and video calls with communities.
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 | Everyone | |
 TelegramTelegram FZ-LLC | 3.8 out of 517,343,583 ratings | Free | Yes$0.31 - $289.99 per item | Mature 17+ | |
 Rakuten Viber MessengerViber Media | 4.1 out of 516,690,539 ratings | Free | Yes$0.99 - $99.99 per item | Teen |
Ratings and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
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How we compared them
Messenger, Telegram, and Rakuten Viber Messenger all offer messaging, calls, and multimedia sharing across mobile platforms. All three are free to download, but they differ in audience, privacy features, file sharing, ads, and Google Play ratings.
This comparison breaks down those differences, including each app’s declared data practices, so you can choose the one that fits how you communicate.
How we compared them
We compared Google Play ratings, install counts, prices, in-app purchase ranges, and ad status, using figures read on November 7, 2026. We also considered each app’s communication features and the strengths and trade-offs relevant to choosing between them.
For privacy context, we included only the data-safety declarations shown for each app on Google Play. These are app-declared details, not independent security assessments.
Best forpeople who chat through Facebook and want familiar social connections
Messenger
Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Google Play
- 4.7 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Installs
- 5B+
- Age rating
- Everyone
Messenger’s strongest advantage here is its integration with Facebook, making it a natural way to connect with friends already in that network. Its user-friendly interface, varied chat features, and customizable notifications also make it a flexible everyday option. It has the highest Google Play rating of these three, at 4.7 from 114,813,598 ratings, and 5 billion-plus installs.
The trade-off is that Messenger’s declared data practices include sharing several identifiers and collecting a broad range of information, including contacts, photos, videos, and calendar events. It can also be data-intensive, has a noted battery-use drawback, and has a smaller file-sharing limit than Telegram. It is free, has no ads, and offers in-app purchases.
What we like
- Strong Facebook integration
- Highest rating and install count of the three
- Customizable notifications and varied chat features
What to know
- Declared data sharing and collection cover many data types
- Limited file sharing compared with Telegram
Best forpeople who share large files and want extensive messaging options
Telegram
Telegram FZ-LLC
- Google Play
- 3.8 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Installs
- 1B+
- Age rating
- Mature 17+
Telegram is the strongest choice of the three for sharing large files, and it combines that with group chats, media sharing, and customizable chat backgrounds. Its Google Play declaration says it shares no data with third parties, while noting collection of contacts, location, files, messages, and other data. It has 1 billion-plus installs.
Telegram’s Google Play rating is 3.8 from 17,343,583 ratings, lower than Messenger’s and Viber’s. Its content rating is Mature 17+, and voice call quality can vary. Telegram is free, has no ads, and offers in-app purchases.
What we like
- Supports large file sharing
- Declares no data sharing with third parties
- Customizable chat backgrounds and broad group-chat features
What to know
- Lowest Google Play rating among the three
- Mature 17+ content rating
Best forpeople who prioritize free calls and community conversations
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Viber Media
- Google Play
- 4.1 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Installs
- 1B+
- Age rating
- Teen
Viber combines free voice and video calls with end-to-end encrypted chats, multimedia sharing, and communities. That makes it a good fit for people who want calling and group discovery alongside one-to-one messaging. Its Google Play rating is 4.1 from 16,690,539 ratings, and it has 1 billion-plus installs.
Compared with Messenger and Telegram, Viber’s clearest trade-off is that it contains ads. Users may also encounter notification delays, and it requires a stable internet connection for its communication features. It is free to download and offers in-app purchases.
What we like
- Free voice and video calls
- End-to-end encrypted chats
- Communities alongside multimedia sharing
What to know
- Contains ads, unlike Messenger and Telegram
- Can have notification delays
Which one should you pick?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which app has the highest Google Play rating?
Messenger has the highest rating of the three, at 4.7 from 114,813,598 ratings. Viber is rated 4.1, while Telegram is rated 3.8.
Which is better for sharing large files?
Telegram is the clearest choice for large file sharing; this is one of its main advantages over Messenger and Viber.
Which app declares that it shares no data with third parties?
Telegram’s Google Play data-safety declaration says it shares no data with third parties. Messenger and Viber have different declarations, and these statements are not independent security assessments.
Which app has ads?
Viber contains ads. Messenger and Telegram do not.
Reviewed 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.