The best Google Messages alternative depends on what you need to replace. If you need an app for the phone’s SMS/MMS inbox, compare Android SMS clients such as Pulse SMS, Textra SMS, Chomp SMS, and Handcent Next SMS. If you want private conversations over the internet, Signal is an option—but it cannot send or receive SMS/MMS. WhatsApp and Telegram are also separate messaging services, not replacements for your SMS app.
Choose an alternative by the kind of messaging you need
SMS/MMS, RCS, and internet messaging are different systems. An SMS client handles the phone-number-based text inbox. RCS adds features such as typing indicators and high-resolution photo sharing when the participants and services support it. Internet messengers use their own networks and generally require the other person to use the same service.
- Keep SMS/MMS: Look at Pulse SMS, Textra SMS, Chomp SMS, or Handcent Next SMS, then confirm the app still supports your phone and needs.
- Prioritize private app-to-app messaging: Consider Signal for conversations with people who also use it; it is not an SMS replacement.
- Keep RCS features: Check whether the alternative supports RCS on your device, carrier, and region rather than assuming it does.
- Use a separate messaging network: WhatsApp and Telegram may suit you if your contacts are willing to use that service too.
Android SMS apps to compare
These apps are candidates for people who want an SMS client rather than a separate internet messenger. The feature descriptions below come from Android Central’s guide, last updated July 28, 2026; they are not hands-on test results. Check each app’s current Play Store listing for availability, permissions, Android compatibility, pricing, and account or subscription requirements.
| App | Potential fit | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Pulse SMS | Customization and messaging across devices. | Current feature set and subscription terms. |
| Textra SMS | Visual and notification customization, scheduling, and per-contact settings. | Current feature and Android compatibility; do not assume it provides Google Messages-style RCS or encryption. |
| Chomp SMS | Customization, scheduling, passcode lock, and dual-SIM support. | Current feature and Android compatibility. |
| Handcent Next SMS | SMS features and extras such as desktop notifications and cloud backups. | Current feature set and any account requirements. |
All four are presented here as options to investigate, not as independently verified current recommendations. Before switching, check whether the app can become your default SMS app and whether it supports the functions you rely on, such as dual-SIM handling or desktop access.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What RCS support and encryption mean
Google says RCS chats support file sharing, high-resolution photos, typing indicators, and read receipts. Everyone in a conversation needs RCS enabled for messages to use RCS; otherwise, messages can fall back to SMS or MMS. See Google’s RCS security documentation.
Encryption depends on the message type and the services involved. Google says RCS chats between Google Messages users are end-to-end encrypted by default. When end-to-end encryption is unavailable, Google’s RCS chats use TLS to protect messages between the user and Google. That statement does not establish that all RCS clients provide the same protection, and SMS/MMS does not gain RCS encryption simply because it appears in a messaging app.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Google announced on May 11, 2026, that end-to-end encrypted RCS between Android and iPhone users was beginning a beta rollout. The announcement specified iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest Google Messages, with availability rolling out over time and depending on device support and E2EE availability. Check Google’s announcement for current eligibility. As Elmar Weber, GM, Android and Business Communications, put it in that announcement: “Google Messages has had end-to-end encrypted messaging between Android devices for years, but we knew we couldn’t stop there.”
Signal is for Signal conversations, not the SMS inbox
Signal Support says the app cannot send or receive SMS/MMS; its former Android SMS feature was removed. For private messages and calls, both people need Signal. That makes Signal a candidate for private app-to-app communication, but not a drop-in replacement when you need ordinary texts to and from any phone number. See Signal Support’s explanation.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
WhatsApp and Telegram use separate networks
WhatsApp and Telegram are internet messaging services, not Android SMS clients. They can be useful when the people you communicate with use the same service, but they do not take over the phone’s SMS/MMS inbox. If you choose one of them, keep a separate SMS app for messages that still arrive through your phone number.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check your phone’s default app and migration needs
Android Central’s July 2026 guide reports that Samsung Messages was discontinued and Samsung phones were moving to Google Messages; it also says message threads can be transferred and the default SMS app can be changed in Android settings. Timing and availability can vary by device and region. Check your phone’s settings and current manufacturer guidance before changing apps. When you switch, confirm that your existing threads are visible in the new app and that it is set as the default SMS app if you want it to handle ordinary texts. The guide is at Android Central.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Use this checklist before switching
- Does the app send and receive SMS/MMS through your phone number?
- Does it support RCS on your device, carrier, and region, and what happens when RCS is unavailable?
- Which message types are end-to-end encrypted, and does the recipient need the same app?
- Do you need desktop or tablet access, customization, scheduling, spam controls, or dual-SIM support?
- Have you checked current availability, pricing, permissions, backups, Android requirements, and migration behavior?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
