How many people use messaging apps in the UK? Which apps dominate, and how is usage changing? We analyzed the latest Ofcom data to answer the questions about messaging in Britain.
Top Apps
What Are the Most Popular Messaging Apps in the UK? (2025)
WhatsApp is the most used messaging app, reaching 90% of UK online adults. For more detailed WhatsApp statistics, see our [UK WhatsApp statistics](/research/uk-whatsapp-statistics/).
Facebook Messenger is second with 58% reach. Messenger visitor numbers fell 7% (-2.1 million) year-on-year, continuing a 9% (-3.0 million) drop in 2024.
Discord and Telegram are growing while traditional messengers decline.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ipsos iris
Which Messaging Apps Are Growing? (2025)
Google Messages added 7.7 million visitors (+61%) compared to May 2024. Discord added 1.2 million visitors (+21%).
Telegram added 0.8 million visitors (+26%).
Google Messages is seeing explosive growth as the default Android messaging app, likely driven by RCS adoption.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025
Daily Usage
How Many People Use WhatsApp Daily? (2025)
74% of UK online adults access WhatsApp daily, representing 36.1 million people. That is up from 64% (30.4 million) in May 2024.
WhatsApp average time spent is 7 hours 41 minutes per visitor per month in 2024.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024
How Many People Use Facebook Messenger Daily? (2025)
Facebook Messenger daily reach is 23% (11.4 million), down from 30% (14.4 million) in May 2024.
Facebook Messenger average time spent is 3 hours 39 minutes per month, less than half of WhatsApp's engagement.
Messenger is losing ground to WhatsApp as the primary messaging app in the UK.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024
Demographics
Who Uses Discord and Telegram? (2025)
67% of Telegram visitors are men. 65% of Discord visitors are men.
59% of Discord visitors are aged 18-34. 40% of Telegram visitors are aged 18-34.
14% of 18-34 year olds visit Discord daily. Both platforms appeal primarily to younger men.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025
What Messaging Apps Do Young People Use? (2024)
Among 16-24 year olds, Instagram DM is the second-highest-reaching messaging service at 71%. Snapchat messenger is third at 62%.
57% of 16-24 year old Snapchat users sent disappearing images or videos. Only 9% of WhatsApp users use this feature.
Young people use multiple messaging platforms for different purposes rather than consolidating on one app.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024
Smaller Apps
How Popular Are Video Calling Apps? (2024)
Zoom reached 14% (6.7 million), down 400,000 year-on-year. Zoom average time spent is 45 minutes per month.
Google Meet reached 6% (3.0 million), down 300,000 year-on-year. Skype reached 4% (1.7 million), down 200,000.
Video calling apps are declining as the pandemic-driven surge subsides.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024, Ipsos iris
How Popular Is Signal in the UK? (2024)
Signal reached 2% of UK online adults (1.2 million), up 100,000 year-on-year.
Signal average time spent is 2 hours 24 minutes per month. Users who choose Signal for privacy tend to be engaged.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024, Ipsos iris
Broadcast Channels
Do People Follow Broadcast Channels on Messaging Apps? (2024)
24% of UK internet users aged 16 and over followed a broadcast channel on Meta services. 17% followed a channel on WhatsApp.
14% followed a channel on Instagram. 13% followed a channel on Facebook Messenger.
42% of 16-24 year olds followed at least one broadcast channel, compared to just 19% of those aged 55 and over.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024
What Broadcast Channels Are Most Popular? (2024)
Football was the most popular broadcast channel topic at 36% of channel followers.
Tennis was second at 9%, followed by cricket at 8%. Sports dominates broadcast channel content.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024
- [Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/online-research/online-nation/2025/online-nations-report-2025.pdf)
- [Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/online-research/online-nation/2024/online-nation-2024-report.pdf)
- Ofcom Adults' Media Literacy Tracker
- Ipsos iris