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Telecommunications · head to head

8x8 vs Messenger

8x8 logo

8x8

Telecommunications

Enterprise-grade unified communications

From
$29.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Messenger logo

Messenger

Communication

Meta's standalone messaging app for Facebook, with end to end encryption on by default since 2023

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Messenger has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 8x8 listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited; Messenger while message content is end-to-end encrypted by default since December 2023, metadata such as who messaged whom and when is not encrypted and remains visible to Meta.
  • They diverge on capability: 8x8 covers Voice calling, Messenger covers End-to-end encrypted chats.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 8x8 and Messenger actually diverge.

Attributes where 8x8 and Messenger differ
Attribute8x8Messenger
Starting price$29.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree, funded by Meta's advertising business
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
CategoryTelecommunicationsCommunication
Founded1987Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 8x8

  • Voice calling
  • Video meetings
  • Team messaging
  • Call recording
  • Voicemail
  • Call routing
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce

Only in Messenger

  • End-to-end encrypted chats
  • Voice and video calling
  • Marketplace messaging
  • Disappearing messages
  • Cross-app chat with Instagram
  • Business messaging

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

8x8

  • Business communicationnot Messenger
  • Customer contactnot Messenger
  • Remote worknot Messenger
  • Continuitynot Messenger

Messenger

  • Messaging friends and family who primarily use Facebook rather than a phone number based appnot 8x8
  • Coordinating a buy or sell exchange through Facebook Marketplace messagingnot 8x8
  • Making free video or voice calls to contacts without needing their phone numbernot 8x8
  • Messaging a business through its Facebook Page for customer servicenot 8x8

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

8x8

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited

Messenger

  • While message content is end-to-end encrypted by default since December 2023, metadata such as who messaged whom and when is not encrypted and remains visible to Meta.
  • Full functionality generally assumes a linked Facebook account, which ties messaging to a broader social profile many users would rather keep separate.
  • Cloud chat backups, if enabled, are protected by a PIN the user sets, and losing that PIN without a recovery key can mean losing access to backed-up chat history.
  • As a Meta product, its business model depends on the surrounding Meta advertising ecosystem, and account-level data outside message content still feeds that system.
  • Group chat and calling features have historically launched later or with more limitations on Messenger than on some competing apps built encryption-first from the start.

Pricing, plan by plan

8x8

$29.99/month
  • Pro$29.99/month
    • Calling and meetings
    • Video conferencing
    • Team messaging
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced analytics
    • Dedicated support

Messenger

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited messaging, calling and group chats
    • No subscription tier

Which should you pick?

Choose 8x8 if

  • You need voice calling.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video meetings.
8x8 review

Choose Messenger if

  • You need end-to-end encrypted chats.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want voice and video calling.
Messenger review

Questions people ask

Is 8x8 or Messenger better?
Neither clearly leads. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month and Messenger at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8x8 or Messenger?
Messenger has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/month for 8x8 and Free for Messenger.
Does 8x8 or Messenger run on more platforms?
8x8 runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Messenger runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Messenger for free?
Yes. Messenger has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month.
What is 8x8 best used for?
8x8 is most often used for business communication, customer contact, remote work, continuity. Of those, business communication and customer contact are not what Messenger is typically brought in for.
What can 8x8 do that Messenger cannot?
8x8 covers Voice calling, Video meetings, Team messaging, Call recording. Messenger covers End-to-end encrypted chats, Voice and video calling, Marketplace messaging, Disappearing messages.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Messenger: Is Messenger encrypted by default now?

Yes, since December 2023 personal chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default, moving on from the earlier opt-in Secret Conversations mode.

Messenger: What can Meta still see if chats are encrypted?

Metadata such as who is messaging whom, when, and group membership is not encrypted and remains visible to Meta, even though message content is.

Messenger: Do I need a Facebook account to use Messenger?

In some markets Messenger can be used with just a phone number, but most features assume a linked Facebook account.

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