RCS chat has ushered in an era where text messaging on Android is finally competing with iMessage. From stickers and emoji reactions to file sharing and voice notes, the best text messaging Android apps bring many functional and exciting features to the table these days.
There are some great Android messaging apps with plenty of tools and options, and 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 the default text messaging app in almost all Android phones, and it does a fine job. Now that Samsung Messages has been discontinued, Samsung phones will default to Google's messaging app as well. 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.
Keep in mind, this list is only for SMS text messaging apps, so some of your favorite messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram may not make the cut, but it doesn't mean they're not great!
Text messaging just the way you like it
A note on the discontinuation of Samsung Messages
Samsung Messages used to be a very popular texting app, but it has been discontinued. This app used to come preloaded on Samsung Galaxy phones and had chat features like read receipts and RCS. Samsung now defaults to Google Messages with its latest models.
Now that the plug on Samsung Messages has been pulled, what happens to your messages and chat threads? Well, you can transfer them over to Google Messages pretty easily. Of course, you can also choose to switch over to any of the excellent messaging apps listed here to use as an alternative.
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.
FAQ
What is the best messaging app for Android?
The best messaging app for Android is Google Messages, which 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, including its consistent updates and feature additions from Google.
You can use the Messages app from your computer, reply to individual threads, give emoji reactions, utilize chat bubbles, star important messages, and much more. It's also the primary way to utilize RCS messaging, which Google is heavily involved with and continues to enhance with additional capabilities to ensure seamless and secure communication with iPhones.
What's the best text messaging app for iPhone?
While we mostly focus on Android, there's no avoiding the fact that you're likely going to be texting someone with an iPhone or may one day purchase one yourself. If you're looking for the best text messaging app for iPhone, then look no further than the built-in Apple Messages app.
If you're in the U.S., this will likely be the predominant way that you communicate with others. Thanks to iMessage capabilities, you can send high-quality media, reactions, stickers, and view typing indicators and read receipts. It's a very powerful app!
And with built-in RCS, texting with Android users is nearly as good as texting an iPhone user, especially if they're using Google Messages, as it enables many of the same capabilities found in iMessage.
How to change default messaging app on Android
Changing the default messaging app on Android is simple. If you download a new messaging app from the Play Store, open it and you'll be greeted with a dialogue to change your default texting app to the one you're in. In most cases, the texts from the other app should populate in the new app, so long as SMS permissions are granted.
Another way to change your default messaging app is to to do via your phone settings. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Default apps > SMS app, then select the app you want to use from the list of available messaging apps.
What's the best app for voice to text?
If you're looking for the best app for voice to text, Android users should look no further than Gboard. The voice-to-text capabilities are pretty impressive on most Android phones, as they even allow you to dictate punctuation to some extent.
If you own a Pixel phone, this gets even better, thanks to Advanced voice typing. This automatically adds punctuation, lets you dictate emojis and edits, and keeps the mic on if you want to type part of the sentence out. It's also more accurate than voice typing on non-Pixel devices and stays mostly on-device.
This can be enabled on the Pixel 6 and newer, Pixel Fold devices, and the Pixel Tablet. In the keyboard, tap the Settings icon, then Voice typing, where you can toggle Advanced voice typing features on or off.
How to backup text messages on Android without app
Many Android phones have built-in backup functionality. On Pixel phones and other Android devices, navigate to Settings > System > Backup and toggle it on if it isn't already. You'll have to sign into your Google account if you haven't when you set the phone up, and ensure that you check the option for Other device data. After you sign in, your data will automatically back up.
On Samsung phones, you can do the same by navigating to Settings > Accounts and backup, where you can set up backups with both a Samsung account and a Google account. With Samsung Cloud, you can toggle on the data you want backed up. With Google, you'll need the Google One app for more granular control over your storage.
Some Messaging apps, like WhatsApp, have a built-in backup functionality of their own.
Where is the messaging app on Android?
After you set up your Android phone, you'll normally find your messaging app automatically on your home screen. If you can't see it there, open your app drawer and scroll until you find it. Long-pressing it should allow you to drag and drop it to your home screen for easier access.
What is the best free text messaging app for Android?
Google Messages is the best free text messaging app for Android, although it comes preinstalled on most, if not all, Android phones. For free text messaging apps that don't come preinstalled, we would recommend Pulse SMS, which is user-friendly, secure, and very customizable. It's also free, although there is an optional subscription for access to additional features.
How to get Messages app back on Android
First, check if the app is in your app drawer. You may have accidentally removed or hidden the Messages app from the home screen, so if it's in your app drawer, then just long-press it and drag it to your preferred spot on the home screen. On Samsung phones, you can also try navigating to Settings > Home screen > Hide apps on Home and Apps screens, then uncheck the Messages app if it's selected.
If you still can't find it, navigate to Settings > Apps > See all, then try to locate the app. Once you do, make sure it's not disabled; if it is, enable it.
You can search for the app in the Play Store to check for any pending updates. Alternatively, you can navigate to the Play Store > profile icon > Manage apps & device > Manage, then tap Archived to see if it appears there. If so, re-download the app.
What messaging app should I use on Android?
If you're wondering what messaging app you should use on Android, it depends on where you are and/or who you're trying to contact. If you're in the U.S., you'll likely want to use the built-in messaging app, which in most cases is Google Messages.
If you're abroad, live outside the U.S., or speaking to someone who lives outside the U.S., you'll want to use an app like WhatsApp. There are hundreds of millions of WhatsApp users, and because messages are sent over IP, you can take advantage of features like typing indicators, read receipts, high-quality media, and more. It's also free to use and end-to-end encrypted, so your messages are secure.
What's the best AI texting app?
If you want the best AI texting app, you'll want something like Google Messages or WhatsApp. The former lets you chat with Gemini to do things like draft messages and brainstorm. However, you can also use features like Magic Compose to rewrite your responses in different styles.
WhatsApp is integrated with Meta AI, which does a lot of the same things as Gemini like planning and solving problems. However, you can also generate images on the fly, summarize long conversations, or edit your photos.
