| Core Identity |
| Developer | Chetan Shah | Meta Platforms, Inc. | Discord Inc. | Signal Foundation | Telegram FZ-LLC | Google | Slack Technologies, Inc. | Session Foundation |
| Category | Book | Social Networking | - | - | Communication | Business | Business | Communication |
| Platform | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | - | - | iOS, Android | Android, iOS | iOS, Android | Android, iOS |
| Store Metrics |
| Rating | 0.0 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 | - | - | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Ratings Count | 0 | 12,271,387 | - | - | 267,381 | 300,533 | 45,544 | 3,448 |
| Price | Free | Free | - | - | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Release Date | Mar 31, 2025 | Aug 9, 2011 | - | - | Aug 14, 2013 | Feb 28, 2018 | Mar 20, 2013 | Feb 6, 2020 |
| Last Updated | Apr 2, 2025 | May 5, 2026 | - | - | May 6, 2026 | May 4, 2026 | Apr 29, 2026 | Apr 9, 2026 |
| Sentiment & Reviews |
| Sentiment | mixed | mixed | - | - | mixed | mixed | mixed | - |
| Score | 35/100 | 55/100 | - | - | 35/100 | 45/100 | 45/100 | - |
| Praises | - Core messaging functionality provides a fast and reliable communication channel for daily social interactions
| - Reliable voice and video call quality enables consistent long-distance communication for families and friends
| - | - | - Cloud-based messaging architecture allows for instant synchronization across multiple devices without data loss
| - Direct communication via email addresses simplifies connectivity without requiring phone numbers or iCloud accounts
| - Centralized workspace organization allows teams to manage multiple projects and company channels effectively in one place
| - |
| Complaints | - Frequent session timeouts and forced logouts disrupt communication flow following the latest update
| - Persistent technical glitches and stability issues disrupt core messaging and media viewing experiences post-update
| - | - | - Aggressive account locking and banning policies prevent users from accessing their personal data
| - Post-update connectivity errors prevent users from loading messages or accessing their chat history
| - Unreliable push notifications prevent users from receiving critical messages and meeting alerts on mobile devices
| - |
| Requests | - Restoration of previous interface and feature sets to improve usability post-update
| - Native application support for wearable devices to enable message initiation from the wrist
| - | - | - Transparent account recovery and support channels for users facing unexpected bans
| - Integrated voice and video calling features are requested to restore previous communication capabilities
| - Simplified channel management tools are needed to filter relevant content and hide unnecessary workspace clutter
| - |
| Strategic Intel |
| Strengths | - Meta AI assistant expands ad-impression inventory
- Broadcast channels drive high-frequency creator engagement
| - Meta social graph integration drives high-frequency user retention
- Voice and video call reliability sustains international communication utility
| - | - | - Cloud-first architecture enables multi-device sync without phone tethering
- 200k-member group capacity creates community network effects
- Unlimited 2GB file sharing drives viral acquisition
| - Native Workspace integration creates high switching costs for existing Google users
- Gemini AI summarization embeds intelligence directly into the document lifecycle
- Cloud-native security architecture simplifies enterprise compliance requirements
| - Integration ecosystem embeds platform into existing enterprise tech stacks
- Slack Connect network effects force external partner adoption
- Intuitive interface reduces cognitive load compared to Microsoft Teams
| - |
| Weaknesses | - Frequent session timeouts post-update
- System instability causing data loss
- Perceived monetization friction
| - Persistent stability regressions post-update disrupt core messaging
- Opaque account moderation policies trigger unexplained access restrictions
| - | - | - 0.13 rating gap between iOS and Android platforms
- High volume of account-ban complaints
- Lack of transparent support channels for recovery
| - Post-update connectivity errors prevent message loading
- Threaded conversation layout lacks user-controlled toggles
- High CPU usage on iOS causes hardware overheating
| - Unreliable mobile notifications causing critical message loss
- Persistent read-state synchronization bugs across platforms
- Cluttered UI navigation for high-volume channel users
| - |
| Pricing | free | free | - | - | free | freemium | freemium | free |
| Momentum | Intense | Active | - | - | Active | Active | Active | - |
| Update Cadence | 3 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~195d avg | 5 versions, ~11d avg | - | - | 5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~10d avg | 5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~10d avg | 5 versions, ~5d avg | - |
