Five Google Messages alternatives for Android, from Textra to Signal

Why look beyond Google Messages

Google Messages is the default texting app on most Android phones, and much of its appeal comes from RCS, the modern messaging standard that brings typing indicators, high-quality photos and read receipts to carrier texting. According to Android Authority, Google's app is now the only true RCS option on Android, since Samsung no longer supports the standard directly in its own software.

Not everyone has bought into RCS, though, and the site argues that plenty of other apps are worth a look. Its roundup mixes two approaches: apps that replace the SMS experience itself, and internet-based messengers that ignore carrier texting entirely. The trade-off is the same for every pick in the list: none of them support RCS.

Textra SMS: customisation first

Textra SMS leads the field on personalisation. Android Authority counts more than 180 Material Design themes, along with bubble colours, custom fonts and other tweaks. Settings can be applied across the whole app or set per contact, which is unusual for a texting app.

The app is also described as fast and lightweight, able to handle very large message histories without slowing down. Extras such as scheduled texts give it more depth than a basic SMS client.

There are limits. Textra has no web or desktop companion, and it shows light adverts that can be removed with a one-time purchase. Like everything else in the roundup, it does not support RCS.

Pulse SMS and Fossify: syncing versus privacy

Pulse SMS takes a different route, focusing on modern features rather than theming. Its headline trick is multi-device syncing, letting you text from PCs, tablets, web browsers and even Android TV. Android Authority also notes cloud backups, server-side end-to-end encryption, per-conversation themes, password-protected lockers for private contacts and a folder system for organisation.

Fossify sits at the opposite end of the scale. It is an open-source SMS app that is completely free and free of adverts. Notably, it lacks Android internet permissions, so it works entirely offline and your messages never sit in a cloud database. Local backup and restore tools let you export your SMS history to a file and import it on a new phone.

The trade-off is clear. Fossify offers minimal customisation, no RCS and no cross-device syncing. Android Authority frames it as a back-to-basics choice for people who want to step away from Google or cloud servers altogether.

Signal and WhatsApp: leaving SMS behind

SMS itself has weak security, so Android Authority points readers towards enclosed platforms for genuine privacy. Signal encrypts every call, file transfer and message end to end, and it does not log metadata, the information about who contacted whom and when. It also offers anonymity tools such as unique usernames that let you hide your phone number from regular contacts. Its media features are closer to what RCS offers than any SMS app can manage.

The catch is reach. Signal has no carrier SMS support at all, so you can only message other Signal users over mobile data or Wi-Fi. It refuses cloud backups and requires registration with a phone number, which limits its usefulness if your contacts have not installed it.

That is where WhatsApp comes in. It is the most popular messaging app worldwide and works across phones, computers, tablets and browsers. Content is end-to-end encrypted using the same Signal protocol, and the core app is free of adverts and clutter. The main concern, as Android Authority notes, is ownership: WhatsApp belongs to Meta, and although message content is encrypted, the service still collects extensive metadata such as who you talk to, how often, from which device and from which IP address.

Which app fits which user

The roundup amounts to a simple decision guide. If you mainly want a better texting app on your phone, Textra offers the deepest customisation, while Pulse adds syncing across devices and Fossify maximises privacy by staying offline.

If you are willing to abandon carrier texting entirely, Signal is the strongest choice on privacy, provided enough of your contacts use it. WhatsApp is the most practical internet option for broad reach, but readers worried about corporate data collection should weigh Meta's metadata practices before switching. In every case, the defining compromise is the same: leaving Google Messages means leaving RCS behind.