Messenger vs Telegram vs Viber: which messaging app should you choose?
Messenger suits Facebook-connected chats, Telegram offers cloud access and large file sharing, and Viber is a strong pick for encrypted calls and messaging.
At a Glance
| App | Google Play rating | 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 chats and calls, available across mobile platforms. All have more than a billion Google Play installs, but they differ in privacy features, file sharing, advertising, and how you connect with people.
This comparison weighs their Google Play ratings and store details alongside their stated features and data safety declarations, so you can decide which trade-offs fit your priorities.
How we compared them
We compared the Google Play ratings, install counts, prices, in-app purchase ranges, and ad status recorded on 2026-11-07. We also considered the apps’ stated features and the strengths and limitations relevant to everyday messaging, calls, privacy, and cross-device use.
For data safety, we included only each app’s Google Play declaration: what it says it shares or collects, whether data is encrypted in transit, and whether deletion can be requested. These declarations are not a complete measure of privacy or a substitute for reviewing each app’s settings.
Best forkeeping in touch with Facebook contacts
Messenger
Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Google Play
- 4.7 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age Rating
- Everyone
Messenger is the most direct fit if your friends are already on Facebook: its contact integration and approachable interface make chats easy to start. It supports group chats, video calls, stickers, emojis, and customizable themes, and its 4.7 Google Play rating is the highest of the three.
The trade-off is its close connection to Facebook: a Facebook account is required to sign up, and notifications can feel frequent. Its Play safety declaration says it shares identifiers and contact details, collects a broad range of information, encrypts data in transit, and lets users request deletion.
What We Like
- Highest Google Play rating of the three
- Easy access to Facebook contacts
- Group chats, video calls, and customizable themes
What to Know
- Facebook account required to sign up
- Notifications may be overwhelming
Best forsharing large files across devices
Telegram
Telegram FZ-LLC
- Google Play
- 3.8 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age Rating
- Mature 17+
Telegram combines cloud-based access across devices with file sharing up to 2GB, giving it an edge for moving large files between chats and devices. It also offers customizable themes and privacy features, and its Play declaration says it shares no data with third parties.
A key privacy distinction is that end-to-end encryption is not the default for all Telegram chats; it is available in Secret Chats. Its 3.8 Google Play rating is the lowest here, and its Mature 17+ content rating may make it less suitable for younger users.
What We Like
- File sharing up to 2GB
- Cloud access across devices
- Play declaration says it shares no data with third parties
What to Know
- End-to-end encryption is limited to Secret Chats
- Lowest Google Play rating of the three
Best forprivate voice and video calls
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Viber Media
- Google Play
- 4.1 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age Rating
- Teen
Viber is a compelling choice for people who value end-to-end encryption alongside voice and video calling. It adds group messaging, communities, stickers, and GIFs, and its Teen content rating sits between Messenger’s Everyone rating and Telegram’s Mature 17+ rating.
Viber requires a phone number to register and is the only one of these three apps marked as containing ads. Some features are behind in-app purchases, and its Play rating of 4.1 is below Messenger’s but above Telegram’s.
What We Like
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls with group messaging
- Communities, stickers, and GIFs
What to Know
- Contains ads
- Phone number required to register
Which One Should You Pick?
Best for Facebook contacts
Messenger
Best for large file sharing
Telegram
Best for encrypted calls
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Frequently Asked Questions
01Which app has the highest Google Play rating?
Messenger has the highest rating of the three at 4.7, compared with Viber at 4.1 and Telegram at 3.8.
02Which app is best for privacy?
Viber offers end-to-end encryption for messaging and calls. Telegram also has end-to-end encryption in Secret Chats, while Messenger’s stated strengths here focus on Facebook-connected communication rather than end-to-end encryption.
03Which app is best for sharing large files?
Telegram is the clearest choice for large files, with file sharing up to 2GB and cloud access across devices.
04Which app contains ads?
Viber is marked as containing ads on Google Play. Messenger and Telegram are both marked as not containing ads.
About This Comparison
Appwesome 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 are shown for reference and can change.