5 apps you can use instead of Google Messages

Google Messages is easily one of the best messaging apps for Android, and RCS support is a large part of the reason. While Samsung used to support RCS directly, these days the only true RCS solution for Android is Google’s official app. As much as RCS has improved Android messaging, I understand that not everyone has bought into the standard. If you’re not concerned about RCS support, there are plenty of other great messaging apps out there as well. 

Let’s take a look at a few of the best messaging apps out there. To keep things interesting, we’ll take a look at both SMS-based apps and those that use proprietary formats via the web. 

Textra SMS offers extensive customization, with over 180 Material Design themes, bubble color options, customizable fonts, and more. Unlike some messaging apps, you can apply these customizations universally or at the individual contact level.

It’s not just a customizer’s dream; it’s also an extremely fast, lightweight app that can easily handle massive chat archives without slowing down a beat. There are even features like scheduled text messaging that make it feel like a deeper experience than your average SMS app. 

As much as Textra SMS is a good alternative, it’s far from perfect. Like every other messaging app on this list, Textra doesn’t support RCS, and it is completely lacking when it comes to web or desktop support. There are also some light ads, which might turn off some users, though you can remove them with a one-time purchase. 

While Textra wins out in terms of customization options, Pulse SMS focuses on modernizing the SMS experience with multi-device syncing around PCs, tablets, browsers, and even Android TV. There are also cloud backups and end-to-end encryption on the server side for greater privacy. 

Pulse still has some decent per-conversation themes, password-protected lockers for sensitive contacts, and a decent folder system for keeping things organized. It’s also fairly fast and fluid with a solid UI. 

Be aware that to make the most of this app, you’ll not only need a free account, but you’ll probably want to sign up for a premium account to use multi-device syncing features. 

While the other two SMS options on the list are all about adding customization or even modernizations that aren’t normally part of the experience, Fossify is a much simpler affair. This open-source app is completely free to use and 100% ad-free as well. 

The app lacks Android internet permissions, which means it is completely offline and therefore you don’t have to worry about your messages leaking from a cloud database somewhere. It also has local SMS backup and restore options that make it easy to export and import an SMS database into a local file for quickly setting up new devices.

With more minimalized customization, no RCS support, and no cross-device syncing, you’ll find that Fossify is all about privacy and nailing the back-to-basics. This could be a turn-off for some, but those looking to break away from Google or cloud servers might welcome the simplicity. 

While some of the earlier messaging solutions promise improved security over standard SMS, your data is still more vulnerable than it would be on a more enclosed platform like Signal.

With Signal, every call, file transfer, or text uses end-to-end encryption, and there’s no metadata logging. There are even enhanced anonymity tools like the ability to choose a unique username and hide your phone number from everyday participants. Signal’s proprietary system also handles rich modern media features that none of the above SMS apps can offer and is closer to RCS in capability.  

Keep in mind Signal doesn’t have unified carrier SMS support at all, so you’ll only be able to contact other Signal users over cellular data or Wi-Fi. Signal completely rejects cloud backups and requires you to register with your phone number. This makes it a great platform, but only if you know enough users with the app. 

Signal is highly secure and supports modern features SMS doesn’t, but some users might find it hard to connect with others. If this is your situation, you might want to look at WhatsApp instead.

The most popular messaging app globally, WhatsApp also rejects RCS and SMS in favor of its own technology. It also supports a massive range of devices from computers to tablets, phones, and web browsers. While it doesn’t center of privacy the same way, it does still feature end-to-end encryption via the same industry-standard Signal protocol. Best of all, the core app is free from ads and clutter.

As for the downside: it’s owned by Meta. For those who are leaving Google Messages for greater privacy and to feel “less spied on”, you are basically trading one giant for another. While WhatsApp might encrypt your content, it still tracks and logs extensive communication metadata such as who you are talking to, how often, the device used, and the IP address. You might want to pass if you don’t like the idea of big companies holding that much personal data.