Best for straightforward, ad-free messaging
WhatsApp vs LINE vs Messenger: which messaging app should you choose?
WhatsApp suits private, straightforward messaging, LINE fits sticker fans and large group chats, and Messenger appeals to people who want expressive chats with a huge user base.
At a glance
| App | Google Play rating | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp MessengerWhatsApp LLC | 4.6 out of 5246,492,605 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.40 - $199.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 LINE: Calls & MessagesLINE (LY Corporation) | 3.1 out of 513,759,359 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.29 - $394.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 MessengerMeta Platforms, Inc. | 4.7 out of 5114,813,598 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.05 - $7,999.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Everyone |
Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
How we compared them
WhatsApp, LINE, and Messenger are free communication apps for messages and calls, with versions for Android and iOS. All support multimedia sharing, and each has end-to-end encryption among its strengths.
Their main differences are audience, features, and trade-offs: WhatsApp keeps things simple and has no ads, LINE adds a broad sticker selection and large group chats, while Messenger pairs a wide user base with expressive multimedia features. This comparison weighs those differences alongside Google Play ratings, installs, pricing, and declared data safety.
How we compared them
We compared each app’s Google Play rating and install band, free price, in-app purchase range, and ad status, along with its communication features and the strengths and drawbacks described here. Store figures were read on November 7, 2026.
Google Play’s declared data safety says WhatsApp shares no data with third parties and encrypts data in transit; Messenger declares sharing some identifiers and also encrypts data in transit. No data safety declaration was provided for LINE in this comparison, so we do not draw a comparison about its data practices.
WhatsApp Messenger
WhatsApp LLC4.6 out of 5 on Google Play
Best for simple, private-feeling chats with a broad circle of contacts
WhatsApp is the clearest choice for straightforward messaging: it combines text, voice, video, and multimedia sharing in a user-friendly app, with end-to-end encryption among its strengths. Its 10 billion-plus installs give it the largest reach of these three, and it has no ads.
The trade-off is that signup requires a phone number, and file sharing has size limits. Messaging depends on an internet connection, while group limits and metadata privacy concerns may matter to some users. Google Play reports a 4.6 rating from 246,492,605 ratings.
- Price
- Free, no ads
What we like
- Largest install reach: 10 billion-plus
- No ads and free to download
- End-to-end encryption and multimedia sharing
What to know
- Phone number required to sign up
- File-size and group-chat limits
LINE: Calls & Messages
LINE (LY Corporation)3.1 out of 5 on Google Play
Best for sticker lovers and people who want large group chats
LINE brings free voice and video calls together with messaging, a wide variety of stickers, and support for large group chats. Those social features make it a stronger fit than WhatsApp or Messenger for people who want expressive conversations and big groups.
Its drawbacks include ads, a large app size, battery consumption, and occasional connectivity issues. LINE is free to download, has 1 billion-plus installs, and holds a 3.1 rating from 13,759,359 Google Play ratings—the lowest rating of these three.
- Price
- Free, with ads
What we like
- Wide variety of stickers
- Large group-chat support
- Free voice and video calls
What to know
- Contains ads
- Large app size and battery consumption
Messenger
Meta Platforms, Inc.4.7 out of 5 on Google Play
Best for expressive multimedia chats with a wide social network
Messenger combines fast message delivery, rich multimedia support, and a wide user base. Its user-friendly interface and expressive chat features make it a natural pick for people who want more than basic text messaging; its 5 billion-plus installs and 4.7 rating from 114,813,598 Google Play ratings are the strongest figures among these three apps.
Messenger’s trade-offs include battery consumption, frequent updates, and the potential to become distracting. Its declared Google Play data safety says it shares several identifiers, collects a broad range of information, encrypts data in transit, and lets users request deletion. It is free to download and contains no ads.
- Price
- Free, no ads
What we like
- Highest Google Play rating of the three
- Rich multimedia and expressive chats
- No ads and a wide user base
What to know
- Declared sharing of several identifiers
- Can drain battery and feel distracting
Which one should you pick?
Best for stickers and large groups
LINE: Calls & Messages
Best for expressive multimedia chats
Messenger
Frequently Asked Questions
Which app has the highest Google Play rating?
Messenger has the highest rating of these three at 4.7, followed by WhatsApp at 4.6 and LINE at 3.1.
Which app is best for large group chats?
LINE is the strongest fit if large group chats are a priority. WhatsApp has group-chat limits, while Messenger’s strengths here are its wide user base and multimedia features.
Which app has no ads?
WhatsApp and Messenger contain no ads. LINE contains ads.
Which app has the clearest declared data-sharing information?
WhatsApp declares that it shares no data with third parties and encrypts data in transit. Messenger declares sharing several identifiers and also says data is encrypted in transit.