Top 8+ Best SMS Apps for Android

If you enjoy communicating via text messages, the default app in your device can’t give you the quality of service you deserve. For android users, there are plenty of third-party messaging apps that allow you to keep in touch with anyone, anywhere. However, with thousands of them out there, you can be spoilt of choices when choosing the best.

The type of app you select may depend on your unique needs or preferences. While some apps are primarily designed for privacy and security, others emphasize broader communication by offering additional features such as audio and video calling.

(Or learn how to build your own Android app.)

Regardless of what you are looking for, here are the best 8 SMS apps for Android:

Chomp SMS

While Chomp SMS is one messaging app that has been existence since the early days, its popularity continues to surge for several reasons. For starters, it allows users to customize the app with over 100 themes/skins which are provided for free. Secondly, it boasts a vast database of Android, Emoji One, iOS, and Twitter emojis. It also features advanced features such as privacy options, passcode app lock, scheduled SMS senders, backup, and blacklisting features that help block texts.

Pricing: Free

Pros

• Highly customizable
• Comes with blacklisting feature
• It is available for free

Cons

• Users on the other end also need to have the app installed in their devices
• It doesn’t offer free international messaging.

Handcent Next SMS

Another texting app that has been around since the” good old days” is Handcent Next SMS. This SMS app brings next-gen texting to Android-powered devices. Although Handcent was established in 2010, it has been updated with a new design, which gives it a fresh and modern appeal. It incorporates outstanding features such as built-in spell checking, theme support, password protection, group texts, and much more. It also allows you to send eCards, make free calls over the internet, and backup your text messages.

Price: Free for the standard version. The pro version is not free.

Pros

• Includes a privacy box that can only be opened using a unique pre-set code
• It comes with a feature that helps pin your favorite contacts on top
• Boasts several emojis and stickers

Cons

• The pro version is not free

WhatsApp

WhatsApp boasts a perfect balance of features, convenience, and security. With a distinctive look and feel, this app supports basic text chat, as well as video, photo, and voice messaging. It can also allow group chats of up to 256 participants, and also features end-to-end encryption, which secures all messages sent via this platform.

Price: Free

Pros

• Robust security settings
• Allows international messaging
• Users get a notification if there is something wrong

Cons

• It’s not entirely open source
• No web texting without 3rd party app

Google Messenger

Google messenger is also another top-tier SMS app for Android. The app comes with high-end features that help provide an unmatched text messaging experience. Besides the eye-catching design and free texts, Google Messenger allows users to send audio recordings, take photos, block SMS, and share your location. It is the best Google fi SMS app.

Price: Free

Pros

• You can archive messages
• Auto backups for all texts
• More outstanding group texts than other apps

Cons

• Doesn’t have schedule text messaging feature
• It can overcomplicate things when used with inappropriate hangout qualities

Textra SMS

Renowned for being the first SMS app to embrace the new Material Design, Textra SMS adorns a crisp and fashionable dark theme and comes with customizable color accents. It also boasts additional features such as SMS blocking, scheduled SMS, blacklisting, GIFs, 21 text sizes, and robust emoji database.

Price: Standard version free; pro version subscription starts from $2.89

Pros

• Best android app to block text messages
• Highly customizable
• Clean, minimalist design

Cons

• The free version comes with adds
• Cant schedule messages

Pulse SMS

Pulse SMS app synchs texts from all the devices you use, including tablets, phones, or computers. The app is highly customizable, as it features tons of themes, GIFs, and sound effects. Its additional features include spam blocking, delayed SMS sending, and advanced search in contacts and messages. Its exclusive feature is that it allows you to customize every conversation.

Price: Free

Pros

• Boasts tons of customization
• Delayed messages
• Excellent material design user interface

Cons

• Lacks adequate support

Mighty Text

Mighty Text is a free text message app that allows you to sync texts in your phone, tablet, and the web interface. It will enable you to send and receive SMS and MMS from your tablet or computer, and receive notification from your phone or computer. It also boasts other features such a message scheduling and sending of web pages, photos, or apps to your phone.

Price: Standard version is free; Pro version $5/month subscription

Pros

• Great Gmail plugin
• Easy to schedule message
• Instance sync & easy sharing of videos and photos from phone

Cons

• You need the pro version to access all the app’s features

QKSMS

Although it is not as popular as many of the apps in this article, QKSMS is a good option for those with android devices. The app features a clean and attractive material design and a ton of other exciting features. These include over 200 themes, android wear support, and night mode, among others. The app is entirely open source, and all its features are available in the free version.

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Pros

• Allows you to reply to messages without opening the app
• It boasts per-conversation notification setting
• Convenient Android Wear support

Cons

• Has limited features when compared to other SMS apps

Related Resources

• Free SMS APIs
• SMS Category

Summary: Best Android SMS APPs

Website	Pros	Cons
Chomp SMS	Highly customizable Comes with blacklisting feature It is available for free	Users on the other end also need to have the app installed in their devices It doesn’t offer free international messaging.	Browse SMS APIs
Handcent Next SMS	Includes a privacy box that can only be opened using a unique pre-set code It comes with a feature that helps pin your favorite contacts on top Boasts several emojis and stickers	It doesn’t offer free international messaging.	Browse SMS APIs
WhatsApp	Includes a privacy box that can only be opened using a unique pre-set code It comes with a feature that helps pin your favorite contacts on top Boasts several emojis and stickers	The pro version is not free	Browse SMS APIs
Google Messenger	The pro version is not free	Robust security settings Allows international messaging Users get a notification if there is something wrong	Browse SMS APIs
Textra SMS	Robust security settings Allows international messaging Users get a notification if there is something wrong	It’s not entirely open source No web texting without 3rd party app	Browse SMS APIs
Pulse SMS	It’s not entirely open source No web texting without 3rd party app	You can archive messages Auto backups for all texts More outstanding group texts than other apps	Browse SMS APIs
Mighty Text	You can archive messages Auto backups for all texts More outstanding group texts than other apps	Doesn’t have schedule text messaging feature It can overcomplicate things when used with inappropriate hangout qualities	Browse SMS APIs
QKSMS	Doesn’t have schedule text messaging feature It can overcomplicate things when used with inappropriate hangout qualities	Best android app to block text messages Highly customizable Clean, minimalist design	Browse SMS APIs