LINE: Calls & Messages
“Stay in touch with your friends and family using LINE!”
Quick Info
Screenshots
“The interface that ate your evening, lovingly photographed.”
Rating Comparison
“How hard it grabbed, broken down by how hard they fell.”
The Pitch & The Reality
Stay in touch with your friends and family using LINE!
“A tiny rectangle that knows you better than your friends.”
Side effects include lost hours, vivid FOMO, and one (1) existential question.
“We definitely don't sell your data. (We absolutely sell your data.)”
AI Review Summary
Based on analysis of 13952896 reviews
LINE: Calls & Messages is a popular communication app, particularly favored by those connecting with contacts in Japan and other Asian countries. While some users praise its reliable messaging and helpful customer support (in some cases), many have reported significant frustrations with recent updates. Key complaints revolve around unreliable notifications, login difficulties (especially after device changes), and issues with sending or receiving messages, leading some to abandon the platform altogether. The app's intrusive monetization through forced premium upgrades and ads also attracts criticism.
- Useful for keeping in touch with international friends, especially in Japan.
- Offers a wide variety of fun and expressive stickers and emojis.
- Some users report helpful customer support when facing account recovery issues.
- Provides voice and video call features for convenient communication.
- Generally stable performance for basic messaging functionality.
- Frequent notification issues cause missed messages and delayed delivery.
- Login problems and account recovery are frustrating, especially after device resets.
- Recent updates introduced bugs affecting message sending and receiving.
- Premium subscriptions are aggressively pushed, limiting features.
- The app consumes excessive device storage due to message caching.
LINE is a decent messaging app hampered by technical issues and aggressive monetization. If you need it to connect with people in specific regions where it's popular, it might be worth the hassle. Otherwise, consider exploring more reliable alternatives.
What People Say
“International Connections: Users appreciate that LINE allows them to easily communicate with friends and family abroad, especially in Japan and other Asian countries.”
“Stickers and Emojis: The wide variety of expressive stickers and emojis is a popular feature, allowing users to add personality to their conversations.”
“Notification Problems: Many users complain about unreliable notifications, causing missed messages and significant delays.”
“Account Recovery Issues: Users struggle to recover their accounts after device resets or losing access to their old phones, often being locked out for extended periods.”
“Aggressive Monetization: The app pushes premium subscriptions and limits features like unsending messages, leading to frustrations with the monetization strategy.”
About This App
LINE: Calls & Messages is a communication platform developed by LINE (LY Corporation), designed to connect individuals globally through free voice and video calls, instant messaging, and a variety of expressive stickers. Originally gaining prominence as a means to stay connected in regions like Japan, Thailand, and other Asian nations, LINE aims to bridge distances between family, friends, and loved ones. The app is available on mobile, desktop, and Wear OS, making it accessible across different devices.
While LINE offers the core functionalities of a standard messaging app, it distinguishes itself with its unique sticker ecosystem and various integrated services. It aims to provide a fun and convenient communication experience by offering customizable themes, emojis, and a platform for official accounts and groups.
