Chances are pretty good that you already have the official Facebook app downloaded to your mobile device and that you know it like the back of your hand, but how familiar are you with Facebook’s extended family of mobile apps? Some of these Facebook extensions are incredibly helpful for advertisers or offer new ways for users to communicate with each other, while others exist simply to have fun with creative photo effects and cartoon stickers. Unlike the majority of social media platforms, Facebook regularly releases valuable new expansion apps, and while some apps aren’t available across all platforms, our guide showcases their current library of apps, from most to least essential:
It’s exactly what you’d expect the official Facebook app to do: You can view and interact with all of Facebook’s desktop features, including viewing updates from friends, playing games and commenting on posts.
(Available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry)
Facebook Pages Manager
A streamlined app designed to assist Facebook Page Managers with keeping tabs on posts, messages, insights, notifications, likes and other stats, such as optional push notifications to ensure that you are always aware of the current status of your account.
Facebook Ads Manager
An app that serves up a range of useful options for anyone working with Facebook Ads; it displays how well current ads are performing, keeps track of spending, sends out a notice when ads are about to expire, and most importantly, allows users to create and edit ads via your mobile device.
(Available on iOS)
Facebook at Work
Only available through businesses that create a work account for their employees, this app is a version of Facebook set aside for coworkers to collaborate, communicate and find out the latest news about their workplace.
Messenger
Facebook’s instant messaging app includes the ability to call and text anyone on your friends list, send images, talk via HD video chats, forward payments, manage Facebook Groups, and attach stickers to your messages.
(Available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry)
Facebook Groups
An app dedicated to managing the various Facebook Groups that you participate in, whether you want to create a new Group, find new Groups that shares your interests, or contribute to an existing Group.
Facebook Mentions
Only usable by popular public figures, such as musicians, actors and athletes, with a verified Facebook Page. This special app allows the privileged few with additional sharing and posting options that the average Facebook user doesn’t have access to.
(Available on iOS)
Hello — Caller ID & Blocking
A Messenger expansion that allows users to call and text other Facebook friends using your smartphone for free. Hello also integrates caller ID, phone blocking and basic Facebook services into your phone.
(Available on Android)
Paper
An app that combines a personalized news feed, a Pinterest-like service, and your Facebook feed in an updated collection of everything that you care about. Paper readers are able to interact with other users just like they could with the stand-alone Facebook app, all while discovering the latest updates about all of their favorite topics.
(Available on iOS)
Home
Home displays a personalized stream of the latest content from people you follow on Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr, Tumblr, and Instagram on your mobile device’s lock screen.
(Available on Android)
Rooms
This unique section of the Facebook community feels like a collection of specialized discussion forums. Users can create visually customizable “rooms” dedicated to certain topics, such as cake decorating, scuba diving and mobile gaming, where other enthusiasts can chat, share, and post images related to the room’s subject matter with other fans.
(Available on iOS)
Slingshot
A Snapchat-like app that connects to your Facebook account to deliver a constant steam of the latest uploaded images from the people you follow, while giving you the option to sling your own customized photos their way. Images uploaded to Slingshot stick around for 24 hours, or until you discard them.
Sound Clips for Messenger
This app is an expansion to Messenger that easily allows users to attach a wide range of sound effects to outgoing messages, such as bird chirps, car horns and other recognizable sounds.
Stickered for Messenger
An expansion for Messenger that lets users decorate photos with Facebook’s expansive gallery of cute cartoon stickers. Other than plastering images with resizable stickers, “Stickered” gives photo editors an option to instantly upload their designs to Facebook and Instagram.
Strobe for Messenger
An expansion for Messenger that creates easily sharable GIFs using a series of your photos.
Riff
An interesting app that asks users to upload videos, hoping that their Facebook friends will add onto the video with their own content, and that their friends will continue the video, and so on… All videos posted to Riff are visible to everyone, but only friends can build upon them.
Selfied for Messenger
A Messenger expansion that lets users create a series of custom stickers using selfies to convey concepts like “Happy,” “Sad” and “Thumbs Up” with their own facial expressions.
Shout! for Messenger
A silly Messenger add-on that lets users place bold text and large emoji over photos.