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Communication · head to head

Mattermost vs Messenger

Mattermost logo

Mattermost

Communication

Channel-centric collaboration for secure workflows

From
On request
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: Mattermost no published pricing on public website; requires sales contact for all tiers; 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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mattermost and Messenger actually diverge.

Attributes where Mattermost and Messenger differ
AttributeMattermostMessenger
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteFree, funded by Meta's advertising business
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebiOS, Android, Web

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

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 Mattermost

Nothing recorded that Messenger does not also cover.

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.

Mattermost

  • Team messaging and collaborationnot Messenger
  • Secure enterprise communicationnot Messenger
  • On-premise or self-hosted deploymentnot Messenger

Messenger

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

Where each one falls short

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

Mattermost

  • No published pricing on public website; requires sales contact for all tiers
  • Three tiers (Professional, Enterprise, Enterprise Advanced) have feature differences but no cost transparency
  • User scaling caps differ between tiers without public price justification

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

Mattermost

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Mattermost review.

Messenger

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Mattermost if

Nothing in the data separates Mattermost from Messenger on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Mattermost 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 Mattermost or Messenger better?
Neither clearly leads. Mattermost starts at On request and Messenger at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mattermost or Messenger?
Messenger has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Mattermost and Free for Messenger.
Does Mattermost or Messenger run on more platforms?
Mattermost runs on Web. 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. Mattermost starts at On request.
What is Mattermost best used for?
Mattermost is most often used for team messaging and collaboration, secure enterprise communication, on-premise or self-hosted deployment. Of those, team messaging and collaboration and secure enterprise communication are not what Messenger is typically brought in for.
What can Mattermost do that Messenger cannot?
Messenger covers End-to-end encrypted chats, Voice and video calling, Marketplace messaging, Disappearing messages.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mattermost: What user limits apply to each Mattermost pricing tier?

Professional tier supports maximum 250 users. Enterprise scales to 50,000 concurrent users. Enterprise Advanced scales to 200,000 concurrent users. Exact per-user costs not stated.

Source
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.

Mattermost: What support response times are included with each plan?

Professional includes community support plus business hours professional support with next business day response. Enterprise includes 24x7 support with 4-hour response time. Enterprise Advanced includes 24x7 with Premier Support option.

Source
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.

Mattermost: How much does Mattermost cost for teams under 250 users?

Pricing for Professional tier with user counts under 250 is not disclosed publicly. Contact Mattermost sales for specific quotes.

Source
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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