SMS isn’t as popular as it used to be in many places because messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are becoming more popular. The best messaging apps for android is still very popular in places like the US, so that doesn’t mean it’s going away. Even though your friends and family may not text you as much, you probably still get dozens of text messages from companies and service providers every day. You can always use the SMS app that came with your phone, but if you want to keep track of all your texts, we suggest getting something better and more reliable.
Communication apps are great for staying in touch because they have features like conference calls and group chats that can be used for both business and personal talks. Given how useful and popular messaging apps are, it can be hard to find good ones in the sea of messaging services. That’s why the Associated Press put together this list of our favorites. Below we have mentioned the best messaging apps for android.
Best Messaging Apps for Android Comparison Table
Platform | Price | Official Website |
---|---|---|
Google Messages | Free | Visit Website |
Chomp SMS | Free with ads, $2.99 | Visit Website |
Pulse SMS | Free with ads, $0.99/mo | Visit Website |
QKSMS | Free | Visit Website |
Microsoft SMS Organizer | Free | Visit Website |
Google Messages
Features
- SMS and MMS texts can be sent and received
- Photos, videos, and voice messages can be shared, among other things.
- Messages or information can be found through a search that is built in.
- Spam protection is built in to screen out unwanted messages.
- End-to-end encryption for private talks between two people
- Use of voice requests through Google Assistant
- Chat tools can be turned on for a better messaging experience.
Google’s Messages app, which used to be called Android Messages, is the main app for texting and RCS messages from the company. It comes pre-installed on Google’s Pixel phones and a few other phones, but Android users can get it from Google Play if they don’t have one of those phones. Still, this is one of the best messaging apps for android you can install right now.
It’s also available on Google’s Wear OS, so Android users who wear smartwatches can use it. With the Google Messages app, you can send text messages from your computer or just about any other device with a web browser. There are also basic choices for themes, search support, protection against spam, and a lot more. You can also use the app to send group texts, emojis, GIFs, stickers, videos, and voice notes.
Notably, you can also use Google Assistant within the app to help you with things like quick answers, finding places, saving notes, and more. Google adds new features and fixes to the app all the time, so you can expect it to change even more over time. In the past few months, some important new features have been added, such as the ability to star important talks and AI-powered messaging sorting.
Pros
- Google services and gadgets work well together.
- Features for rich media messages
- RCS texting is supported for a better messaging experience.
Cons
- Offers a web-based app that lets you text from your computer
- Few ways to change things
- Not available on all Android devices
Chomp SMS
Features
- SMS notes and reminders that you set up
- Quick write makes it easy to send messages.
- Passcode lock for privacy
- Phones with two SIM card slots can use dual-SIM.
- Messages can be backed up and restored.
- You can get and send texts from your wrist with Android Wear.
Chomp SMS is a popular choice that has been around for more than a decade and is always listed as one of the best calling apps on the platform. The app comes with a passcode lock, scheduled texts, and a quick reply popup, all of which are very useful. Overall, this is one of the best messaging apps for android you can install right now.
It works perfectly with devices that have two SIM cards, and it can be used for group texting, MMS, blocking SMS, and a lot more. Chomp is also great for making changes. You can change the color of the notice LED, the ringtone, and the way the phone vibrates for each sender. The app also works with PushBullet, Yappy, and Wear OS to send and receive alerts and replies.
Pros
- Themes and fonts make it easy to make changes.
- Features for privacy, like a blocklist and scheduled texts
- Messages can be sent via SMS and MMS.
Cons
- Some tools need to be bought within the app.
- Not available on iOS devices
Pulse SMS
Features
- SMS and MMS texts can be sent and received
- Sync messages on many devices, such as tablets and computers.
- Messages can be set up to be sent later.
- Notifications have a quick-reply function that makes it easy to message.
- Look for certain messages or parts of talks
- Notifications for different types of information that can be changed
- Spam protection is built in to screen out unwanted messages.
Pulse SMS is another great app for Android that lets you chat. It works well and has a lot of tools that are useful. With Pulse, you can send text messages from any platform, customize them per friend, add them to a blocklist, and back up and restore them.
Smart answers, web previews, scheduled messages, delayed sending, and search are also possible. You can also put a password on talks you don’t want other people to see. Pulse SMS’s style is based on Material style, which makes it look simple and classy. Currently, this is one of the best messaging apps for android you can install right now.
Pros
- Cross-platform accessibility with a web-based client and apps for various platforms
- Supports GIFs and lets you schedule messages, among other things.
- Messages can be stored and backed up and synced.
Cons
- Some tools require a subscription
- Not available on iOS devices
QKSMS
Features
- Material design for a sleek and modern look
- Quick write makes it easy to send messages.
- Night mode makes reading easier when there isn’t much light.
- Themes and color choices that can be changed
- Automatic back up of messages to Google Drive
- Blocklist to stop unwanted calls or texts
- SMS scheduling and choices to send later
QKSMS is a simple app that is free to use. It’s easy to use because it’s clean and easy to understand, and it supports MMS, group texting, scheduled texts, and search. You can also back up and restore your texts, block certain chats, and make a list of numbers you don’t want to talk to.
In addition to these features, QKSMS uses the ‘Should I Answer’ service to filter out spam texts and is compatible with Wear OS. The app also has a night mode and several accessibility choices to make it easier to use. For now, this is one of the best messaging apps for android you can install right now.
Pros
- Interface that is easy to use and clean
- Theme customization choices are available.
- Free to use and open source
Cons
- Some of the more advanced functions can only be used if you pay.
- Microsoft SMS Organizer: Not as full of features as some other texting apps.
Microsoft SMS Organizer
Features
- Sorts texts automatically into folders like “personal,” “transactional,” and “promotional.”
- Possibility of making your own groups to organize messages
- Messages that remind you of important things, like bills or meetings
- Spam protection is built in to screen out unwanted messages.
- Links and movies can be previewed within the app.
Microsoft’s SMS Organizer is one of the best SMS apps out there. In fact, it is one of the best texting apps out there. A lot of its growth is focused on India, but its features will work just as well outside of the country. But you can only use SMS Organizer in certain countries, like Australia, India, the UK, and the US. Thus, this is one of the best messaging apps for android you can install right now.
The best thing about the app is that it can help you keep track of things. It intelligently sorts your messages into different parts, such as personal, offers, reminders, and texts from financial organizations. All of this is meant to help you clean up your email inbox and get things done on your computer. You also get a dark theme, auto-backup, the ability to stop senders, and a lot of ways to change the way the app looks.
Pros
- Organizes and sorts messages automatically.
- It reminds you of bills and events coming up.
- Spam can be found and stopped.
Cons
- Only for Android phones and tablets
- Few ways to change things
FAQs
These messaging apps range in how safe they are. Some of them, like Signal, put security and privacy first by encrypting all texts from end to end. Some, like Facebook Messenger, might not be as safe.
Many of these chat apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Signal, Viber, Google Messages, Line, WeChat, and Skype, let you make voice and video calls.
Many of these chat apps can be used on a computer with a desktop version or a web-based version. For example, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Signal, and Skype all have versions that you can use on your PC or on the web.