With so many messaging apps available today, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. Two of the most popular options are Facebook Messenger and Facebook Messenger Lite. But what exactly is the difference between these two apps? And which one is ultimately better?
What is Facebook Messenger?
Facebook Messenger is Facebook’s flagship messaging app. It was originally built into the Facebook app, but was spun off into its own separate app in 2014. Here are some key features of Facebook Messenger:
- Send and receive messages, photos, videos, audio clips, GIFs, stickers
- Make voice and video calls
- Create group chats with up to 250 people
- Integrates with Facebook ecosystem – easily message Facebook friends
- Supports chat bots and business features
- End-to-end encryption available in Secret Conversations
What is Facebook Messenger Lite?
Facebook Messenger Lite is a stripped-down version of the Messenger app. It was designed for people using phones with limited data, storage space, or slower internet connections. Here are the key features of Messenger Lite:
- Send and receive text messages, photos, links
- Make voice calls
- React to messages with emoji
- Turn on notifications
As you can see, Messenger Lite lacks many of the advanced features of the full Messenger app, like video calling, group chats, chat bots, business features, etc. The focus is entirely on fast, reliable messaging.
Messenger vs Messenger Lite: Key Differences
Let’s summarize the key differences between Messenger and Messenger Lite:
| Messenger | Messenger Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Full suite of messaging features like video/voice calling, group chats, stickers, bots, payments | Stripped down to basic messaging |
| App Size | 113MB on Android, 244MB on iOS | 8.7MB on Android, 29.7MB on iOS |
| Data Usage | Can use large amounts of data for images, video, file sharing | Light data usage as limits sharing options |
Which app has more users?
Facebook Messenger is by far the more widely used app between the two. As of Q2 2022, Messenger had over 1 billion monthly active users. Meanwhile, Facebook has not released official user numbers for Messenger Lite, but given its limited feature set, it can be assumed the Lite version has significantly fewer users.
Messenger’s broad feature set and integration with Facebook has given it a dominant position globally across both iOS and Android. Lite offers a stripped back experience primarily aimed at emerging markets where data costs and low-end devices are barriers to the full Messenger app.
Messenger pros
There are many good reasons for the popularity of the Messenger app:
- More features and capabilities – You get access to full set of messaging tools like video/voice calls, group chats, stickers, chat bots, payments and more.
- Larger user base – Over 1 billion people use Messenger monthly, so there is a good chance your contacts already have it.
- Works great on all devices – Messenger works smoothly on both high-end smartphones and older low-spec devices thanks to optimization.
- Integrated with Facebook – Conveniently message your Facebook friends without needing their phone number.
- Customizable appearance – Change chat bubble colors, background colors, themes to personalize the look.
Messenger cons
On the flip side, here are some of the potential downsides of Messenger:
- Large app size – At over 100MB, Messenger takes up a lot of storage space on your device.
- Data intensive – All those photos, videos, voice notes can rack up your data usage.
- Occasional bugs – A complex app like Messenger sometimes experiences glitches and crashes.
- Privacy concerns – Some privacy advocates express concern over how much data Facebook collects.
Messenger Lite pros
Here are some of the advantages of using Messenger Lite:
- Small app size – At under 10MB, it takes up very little storage space.
- Data efficient – The simple text messaging uses a fraction of the data of the full Messenger.
- Fast and smooth – Leaner apps tend to perform better on low-end devices.
- Easy to use – The pared back interface is quicker to navigate for some users.
Messenger Lite cons
Some disadvantages of choosing Messenger Lite include:
- Limited features – No video calling, group messaging, stickers, chat bots, payments, etc.
- Smaller user base – Less likely your contacts will be on Messenger Lite.
- Harder to discover – Messenger Lite has minimal marketing from Facebook.
- Only on mobile – There is no desktop version of Messenger Lite.
Security and privacy
Many users have concerns about the security and privacy of messaging apps. Here is how Messenger and Messenger Lite compare in these areas:
- Both apps use secure end-to-end encryption for Secret Conversations.
- Messenger requires users to enable encryption, while it is on by default in Lite.
- Facebook collects more user data through Messenger for ads and recommendations.
- Lite was designed to collect less user information due to data minimization.
- Neither app offers complete protection against government surveillance if legal orders are issued.
In summary, Lite has a slight edge on privacy as encryption is on by default and far less user data is collected. But neither app can be considered highly private compared to some other secure messaging apps.
Conclusion
So which app is better in the end – Messenger or Messenger Lite?
For most users in developed countries with modern smartphones and affordable mobile data, Messenger is the better all-round messaging app. It simply offers far more features to take advantage of, and the larger user base means you can easily chat with more people.
Messenger Lite makes more sense for the following groups:
- People using low-end, older Android phones with limited storage or processing power.
- Those who need to tightly limit mobile data usage due to costs or network constraints.
- Users concerned about Facebook’s data collection who prioritize privacy.
But for the majority around the world using modern devices and networks, Messenger delivers the richest messaging experience with all the bells and whistles expected today.