When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
The love for texting predates Android by years, but with smartphones and advancements like RCS, staying in touch with your friends and family with the best text messaging apps is better than ever. Although it's true that encrypted messaging apps are replacing traditional texting for many, there's a nice simplicity about basic texting that just uses a phone number without making an account or scanning QR codes.
There are a lot text messaging apps out there, but not all of them are going to be a good fit, and some are packed with ads that bog down your experience. Some native apps can have trouble with MMS (especially when RCS is involved), while others are just poorly laid out or lack basic features. However, if you're looking for the best Android messaging app, you have a wide range of third-party options to pick from.
While some of these text messaging apps embrace minimalist design, others are packed with features like custom chat backgrounds, fonts, and helpful categories. In the end, on Android there's enough choice that it comes down to what you want from your messaging app. Read about them all and take your pick!
Why you can trust Android Central
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Google Messages
Messages is Google's official SMS app, featuring a simple interface and loads of features like high-quality video sharing, emoji reactions to messages, and much more. It also supports Google's RCS standard, which allows for iMessage or WhatsApp-like features such as read receipts and larger file transfers. The best part is, this text messaging app is completely free to use.
Pulse SMS
Pulse SMS is an interesting and extensively customizable text messaging app for Android, but that's not its real draw. Pulse helps bring your text messages to all of your other devices, from tablets to computers. It also offers a password-protected private conversations box in case you need to protect the identity and messages of your sources, for example.
Textra SMS
A long-time favorite, Textra is a clean-looking SMS app loaded with plenty of features for hardcore users. Textra offers a slew of customization options with various theme colors, notifications, and per-contact settings. There's even built-in SMS scheduling, quick replies, improved group messaging, SMS blocking, and a whole lot more.
Chomp SMS
Chomp SMS is one of those apps that have seemingly been around since the dawn of the Google Play Store. It comes with features such as passcode lock, dual-SIM support, birthday reminders, scheduled messaging, and more. While Chomp SMS works great as a default SMS client, you can also take advantage of its integration with services like Pushbullet or MightyText for cross-platform support.
SMS Organizer
SMS Organizer started off as a Microsoft Garage project and has turned into quite a popular SMS app alternative for Android. It automatically organizes your inbox, while offering smart assistant options. These include creating tasks if you need to pay a contact back, for example. You can also automatically backup your messages to Google Drive to keep them secure in the cloud.
Handcent Next SMS messenger
Handcent is another app that has seen quite a transition over the years. The texting app is now named Handcent Next and comes with major features such as desktop notifications, cloud backups, and more. Handcent Next continues to add features and customization options like ChatGPT support, the ability to use stickers and GIFs, and passcode-locked conversations.
Another texting app to keep in mind is Samsung Messages. This app comes preloaded on Samsung Galaxy phones, like the high-end Galaxy S24 Plus as well as cheaper Samsung phones like the affordable Galaxy A series. This messaging app has supported chat features, like read receipts, for a while now, but has added RCS for better compatibility.
Samsung defaults to Google Messages with its latest models, but you can still use Samsung Messages by switching your default SMS app in settings. If you like the Samsung Messages app but were thinking about switching for RCS support, you can try enabling RCS in the settings first.
If you're looking for an app that you can also use on your PC, like the messages app on Mac computer, you can use the Link to Windows app to read and respond to texts from your PC.
There are so many different SMS applications on the Google Play Store, so deciding on the best texting app for Android can be quite a difficult task. But one of the best may already be installed. Google's Messages app comes pre-installed on most (if not all) of the best Android phones and is a great way to send/receive text messages. It has many great selling points that make it the best text messaging app for Android.
Google has done such a great job with Messages over the years. Starting from RCS chatting features to file sharing and video calling, the app has really grown into its own. What was once a bare-bones texting app has now become one of the best Android apps out there. You can use the Messages app from your computer, view YouTube videos in-app, reply to individual threads, give emoji reactions, chat bubbles, star important messages, and do a lot more.
If, for some reason, you don't want to use Google Messages, we recommend Pulse SMS as the next best messaging app. This comes from the makers of Talon for Twitter and is just as customizable, if not more. All your conversations are secured by end-to-end encryption, and you can easily set up and take advantage of the web app to manage texting on your computer instead of reaching out for your phone.
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
