Google Messages is Google's official Android texting app and the best messaging app for Android users overall. Users can use Wi-Fi or data to send and receive messages, share high-quality images and videos, send GIFs and stickers, and sync their contacts across devices. Google Messages protects you from scams with advanced group messaging features and built-in spam protection.

Google Messages is also unique in that it integrates Google Assistant, allowing you to search without leaving the messaging app. You can save time by sending Smart Replies, and if you don't have your phone with you, you can respond to messages on your computer.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• Subscription plans: None
• Support available: Email, Help Center, Help Community

Pros

• Google Assistant integration
• Smart Replies
• Easy photo and video sharing

Cons

• End-to-end encryption not available in group chats

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://messages.google.com/

Users who are concerned about the privacy of their data and messages should choose Signal Private Messenger. The app is totally free to use, and it encrypts your messages and conversations using the open-source Signal Protocol. Signal offers the highest level of privacy compared to other encrypted messaging apps by encrypting both voice calls and messages. You don't have to worry about your data being sold for profit because Signal doesn't have any ads or trackers and runs as a nonprofit.

On Signal, you can make video calls, use your current phone number and contacts, and create unique alerts for each contact. A built-in photo editor is also available in Signal for sending high-quality images. Signal Private Messenger is considered one of the best messaging apps for Android.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• Subscription plans: None
• Support available: Email, Help Center, Ticket

Pros

• Open-source encryption protocol
• Encrypted voice calls
• Built-in image editor

Cons

• Doesn’t support scheduled messages

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thoughtcrime.securesms&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://signal.org/

Pulse SMS is a feature-rich messaging app that competes with Google's own messaging app. It's completely free to use and includes everything you need for a great messaging experience, such as per-conversation customization, password-protected conversations, and image, video, and GIF sharing. Because the app automatically backs up your conversations, if you lose your messages, you can easily restore them.

Pulse SMS also distinguishes itself with Smart Replies, which provide personalized reply suggestions based on keywords, the contact, your location, and other factors. To avoid scams and fraud, users can easily block spammers and preview web links in the app.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• Subscription plans: $1.99/month
• Support available: Email, Help Center

Pros

• Advanced Smart Replies
• Password-protected conversations
• Automatic message backups

Cons

• Includes in-app purchases

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.klinker.messenger&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://pulsesms.app/login

The Android messaging app QKSMS is open-source and completely free of advertisements. Users can schedule messages, backup and restore their messages, create custom themes, easily search messages, send quick replies to save time, and schedule messages. You can enable automatic night mode to safeguard your vision in low light conditions and set up per-contact notifications to further personalize your experience.

Due to its support for both dual-SIM and multi-SIM phones, QKSMS stands out among other messaging apps. With the integration of Should I Answer?, QKSMS also makes it simple to block contacts and detect spam automatically.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• In-app purchases: $0.99 – $9.99 per item
• Support available: Email

Pros

• Automatic spam filtering
• Ad-free and open-source
• Multi-SIM support

Cons

• Can’t pin important messages

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moez.QKSMS&hl=en&gl=US

Website: NA

Another name among the best messaging apps for Android is Textra SMS. Textra SMS is the best option if you want the most customizable messaging app for Android. Textra SMS, in particular, includes over 180 customizable themes and app icons. You can change the color of the app, the colors of text bubbles, the styles of emoji, and more. Textra also includes 21 different font sizes and styles, as well as the ability to choose different themes for each conversation.

Textra users can send quick responses, voice memos, images and videos, as well as group messages. The app's main drawback is that it contains occasional ads, which can be removed with a one-time purchase.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• In-app purchases: $4.49 per item
• Support available: Email, Knowledge Base, Forum

Pros

• 180+ customizable themes
• Per-conversation customization options
• Android Wear support

Cons

• Requires one-time purchase to remove ads

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.textra&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://www.textra.me/

Chomp SMS is a highly customizable messaging app with robust security features, including a passcode lock to protect your messages and conversations, that many other messaging apps don't offer. Users have the option to backup messages, schedule messages, stop texts from sending, pin their most crucial conversations, stop texts from sending, block spammers, and send quick replies from the lock screen.

You can send high-quality videos, send multiple images at once, and personalize the app by selecting a background image. Chomp does have ads, and while they can be removed with a single in-app purchase, many users would rather use a messaging app that is totally ad-free.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• In-app purchases: $1.59 – $2.99 per item
• Support available: Email, Knowledge Base, Forum

Pros

• Highly customizable
• Passcode protection

Cons

• Contains ads

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.p1.chompsms&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://www.chompsms.com/

Handcent Next SMS is a feature-rich messaging app for Android that is an excellent choice for users looking for a Wear OS-integrated app. Handcent Next SMS, unlike some third-party messaging apps, allows you to receive and respond to messages from any Android wearable device, including smartwatches.

Hands-free features such as voice-to-text are also supported. When you don't have access to your phone, you can use Handcent on your desktop or enable Driving Mode to automatically reply to messages while driving. The app also includes themes that can be customized, password-protected conversations, message reactions, and other useful features. That's why it deserves a position on our list of the 10 best messaging apps for Android.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• In-app purchases: $5.99 – $39.99 per item
• Support available: Email, Help Center/FAQs

Pros

• Wear OS support
• Driving mode for safer commutes
• Password-protected conversations

Cons

• Includes costly in-app purchases
• Contains ads

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handcent.app.nextsms&hl=en_US

Website: https://handcent.com/

The only app on our list that is directly integrated with Facebook and makes it simple to communicate with your Facebook friends via text chats, group chats, video chats, and voice calls is Facebook Messenger. You can also communicate with your Instagram friends using Facebook Messenger, allowing you to grow your contact list.

Users can host video calls with up to 50 people, send disappearing messages with Vanish Mode, pick from a variety of entertaining chat themes, and send personalized reactions and emojis. In contrast to other messaging services, Facebook Messenger also enables users to organize watch parties so they can watch content with friends.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• In-app purchases: $0.99 – $399.99 per item
• Support available: Email, Help Center

Pros

• Free text, voice, and video calls
• Video chats support up to 50 users
• Users can create watch parties

Cons

• No scheduled messages
• Costly in-app purchases

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.orca&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://www.messenger.com/

Mood SMS is also one of the best messaging apps for Android. Because of its customizability and powerful messaging features, Mood SMS is a popular alternative to the native Android messaging app. Users can change the shapes and colors of text bubbles, select from over 100 themes, set custom backgrounds, change fonts and text sizes, and set custom notifications.

Unlike some third-party messaging apps, Mood SMS supports group messages and includes real-time caller ID to help protect against spam. You can share your location with other users, create password-protected conversations, and send delayed messages with ease. However, Mood SMS isn't ideal for privacy-conscious users because end-to-end encryption is only available with a Premium subscription.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• Subscription plans: Premium: $1.99/month or $10.99/year
• Support available: Email

Pros

• Highly customizable
• Password-protected conversations
• Real-time caller ID

Cons

• Chat encryption only available with Premium
• Contains ads

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calea.echo&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://moodsms.com/

The best option on our list for sending messages and making international calls is WhatsApp, an entirely free messaging app for iOS and Android. You don't need to enter any names or other personal information to use the app, which offers secure end-to-end encryption for calls and messages.

Voice and video calls can have up to eight participants, and unlike the other messaging services on our list, WhatsApp allows free international calls. Other distinctive features include the capacity to voice-message record, share moments via Status (a feature akin to Snapchat and Instagram Stories), and share your location.

Notable features:

• Free version available
• Subscription plans: None
• Support available: Email, Help Center

Pros

• Free international calls
• Encrypted text and voice calls
• Includes social features like Status

Cons

• Doesn’t allow scheduled messages

Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp&hl=en&gl=US

Website: https://www.whatsapp.com/