Text messaging is far from dead thanks to advancements like RCS that have brought it up to speed with the times. Popular chat apps can be overwhelming at times, especially with all the new AI features companies are trying to cram into them. Sometimes, it's best to take a step back and communicate the good ol' fashioned way with text messaging.
There are some great Android messaging apps, some very minimal in terms of what additional features they offer. Others have custom features like chat backgrounds, fonts, and different categories. Google Messages is generally the default text messaging app in most modern Android phones, and it does a fine job. In case you're looking for something more, we've got a tried and tested list of some of the best ones on the Play Store.
Text messaging just the way you like it
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The best text messaging app also happens to be completely free
Another texting app to keep in mind is Samsung Messages. This app comes preloaded on Samsung Galaxy phones, like the high-end Galaxy S25 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 a 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 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 for your phone.
