A terminal, a message distribution system, a message distribution method, and a message distribution program are provided, which are capable of reliably delivering a push message to the terminal from a push server, regardless of a type of network utilized by the terminal, while reducing a processing load of the push server.The terminal includes a network status detection unit 11 which detects a status of a network connecting the terminal and a distribution device performing push-type message distribution, and a reception unit 12 which determines, based on a result of the detection, whether the terminal and the distribution device are located in a same IP address space, selects, if the terminal and the distribution device are not located in the same IP address space, a first communication method utilizing a pre-established TCP session, selects, if the terminal and the distribution device are located in the same IP address space, a second communication method utilizing a TCP session between the distribution device and the terminal, which is newly established by the distribution device when a message is distributed, and receives a message from the distribution device.