Messenger Apps for Android: Telegram and Facebook Messenger APK

What a messenger APK actually gives you

A messenger app is only as useful as the people who already use it. That is the first thing to keep in mind when you browse this tag: the two apps here solve the same problem in different social circles. Telegram is built around cloud-synced chats, large groups and channels, so it suits communities, news feeds and sharing big files between your own devices. Facebook Messenger is tied to your Facebook account and contacts, so it makes sense when friends and family already live there. See also the privacy and security tags.

• Latest Telegram APK (Official, Latest Version): a cloud-based messenger with groups, channels and file sharing, offered here as a direct APK for phones where the store version is unavailable or outdated.
• Official Facebook Messenger for Android: the standalone chat app for Facebook contacts, handy if you want messaging without the full social network app.

How to choose between them

Start with where your contacts are. If your group chat is on Telegram, no feature list will make Messenger better for you, and the reverse is equally true. Next, think about what you send. Telegram is comfortable with large files and long chat histories you can open from several devices. Messenger is simpler for quick one-to-one conversations and calls with people you already know on Facebook.

What to check before installing

Open the app page and read the required Android version first. An APK built for a newer system will refuse to install on an old phone, and no tweak fixes that. Check the file size against your free storage, because messengers also grow through cached media later. If you already have the same app from the store, installing an APK signed differently may be blocked, so back up your chats before removing anything.

Messengers depend on servers, so an APK needs internet to log in and sync. Be careful with any modified build of a messaging app: unofficial changes can break login or sync, and you are handing over your account. For these two pages the point is the official client, not a MOD. If you want unlocked extras in other software, browse MOD apps, or read our guides on installing APK files. More tools are on the apps page, including the VPN tag if you need a connection helper.