A lot of people feel the standalone Facebook Messenger app was unnecessary, but there’s actually a lot of useful features and functionality built into it. Today, Facebook made Messenger even more useful by allowing anyone to use it, with or without a Facebook account.
If you’re in the United States, Canada, Peru, or Venezuela, all you need now is a phone number to use Messenger. Download the Facebook Messenger app, select the “Not on Facebook?” option, and enter your phone number and name. That’s it. You can upload and send photos, videos, start group chats, and use voice and video calling without ever having to sign up for a Facebook account. Of course, having a Facebook account still has some benefits, like being able to message Facebook friends, view past Facebook messages, and have access to mutli-device messaging. You can download Facebook Messenger for free on iOS in the App Store and on Android in the Google Play Store.
Sign Up for Messenger, Without a Facebook Account | Facebook Newsroom