Almost everyone had sent an SMS message at least once their entire life. ‘Coz if you did not, you probably are too old, too young, or from another planet. Kidding aside, sending text messages or SMS is quite essential in this fast-paced world. Sometimes there is not enough time to call someone just to ask “what’s up?”Sometime you might even be too busy. But, here’s the thing. While the stock Android SMS app does a good job, and manufacturers like Samsung and Sony have stepped up their game, there is still a place for solid and fun SMS apps. I’m pretty sure that the current stock apps will send messages just fine. It will do its job and sole purpose of receiving and sending text messages from people around. But, what if you want something more from the apps aside these? What if you want to change something in the app or what if some features in the app bother you? If that’s the case then, the best SMS app for Android awaits you. As some of you may not know… The beauty of Android lies in its customization. If you don’t like something or something is off, there are usually at least 5 alternatives to offer you a better experience. This list of the 7 best SMS apps for Android tries to capture the best of the best and present them in a digestible manner. Soup up your thumbs people, because with the best SMS app for Android on your smartphone, you will have a hard time not texting everyone. Note: The 10 Best SMS apps for Android were tested on a Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone running on a Custom 4.4 Kit Kat based ROM. The apps worked fine and the SMSs were sent in a proper manner. We used all the apps over the course of the week and gauged them on their style, utility, and responsiveness.
1. Textra – Free
Textra is simply the best SMS app for Android because it combines beauty, simplicity, and utility in a neat package. The app can completely take over your SMS and MMS needs. The best part is that the app is very light on resources, so you will get an instant response and lightning-fast functionality from the app. The app also includes more than eight hundred emoji if you are into sending sweet looking emotions. There is even a reply popup for you to instantly reply to texts regardless of what you are doing at that time. Features:
Looks beautiful and has multiple themes.Fast and reliable.Contact customization is available.
Notable Feature: Textra is a highly customizable Android SMS app. You can change the way the app looks from background colors to the text bubbles. For those who like customization, this is one of the best apps available.
2. Go SMS Pro – Free
Go SMS Pro is one of the finest SMS apps available for Android. The app comes with a complete set of features. This SMS app was also featured on the 10 best emoji apps for Android list because of its robust offering of funny emoji. The app comes with a clean interface that allows you to read texts with relative ease. There are over 200 highly personalized themes available on the app. The SMS blocker can help you filter the texts you get; this means no more drunken texts from the ex. Features:
Hundreds of themes which are constantly increasing.The app has over 800 emoji for you to use.SMS blocker is a fine feature.Automatic scheduling of SMS is available.
Notable Feature: There is a private box feature on this best Android SMS app. This box will keep secret texts hidden from prying eyes and spy natured friends. Keep your personal texts personal with this handy feature.
3. SMS Text Messaging – Free
SMS Text Messaging may not be strictly just an SMS app but it has one unique feature that trumps all. The app allows you to connect your smartphone to your PC and send and receive SMS on your PC. This is an amazing feature if you get tired of typing with your thumbs and want to reply as fast as you can. Sure you can attach a keyboard with your smartphone but that is way too messy to pull off. This app comes in handy when there is a no-phone allowed policy in an office. Simply put the phone under a book and enjoy lengthy and fast conversations via texts. Features:
Connects to PC in no time.Typing on a real keyboard is always fast.Your phone number will be used to send texts.
Notable Feature: The stealthy nature of the app makes it the best SMS app for Android when it comes to sending hidden texts. It’s the best app to use in an educational institute or office.
4. Handcent SMS – Free
Handcent SMS is probably the most well-rounded SMS app on the Google Play Store. The app offers every feature you would need from any SMS app and does it in a very manageable style. From sending group SMS to saving private messages in the Privacy Box, this app does it all. Themes are available to customize the app, as well as skins that completely overhaul the visuals. You will also get the option of downloading additional fonts for the app. Features:
Group SMS saves a lot of time.Privacy Box keeps important stuff safe.Changeable fonts are a nice touch.
Notable Feature: The app has a backup option that allows you to save and backup all the sent and received text messages. The backup then can be stored anywhere you want.
5. Chomp SMS – Free
Chomp SMS allows you to chomp through all the holidays, birthdays and anniversaries with incredible ease. If you are constantly mixing up birthdays and not remembering engagement dates, you need this app on your smartphone. The app can set reminders for those important dates and inform you accordingly. There are other very articulate options like stopping a text while sending and signatures available on the app too. Features:
LED notification colors can be changed on supporting hardware.Font types and sizes can be customized.Message lock and passcode locks are there for security.
Notable Feature: The ability to change the background image makes this app one of the best looking ones available on the Google Play Store. There is nothing more personal than the photo of your beloved on the background (we like pets).
6. Messages + – Free
Looking for a sleek and stylish SMS app for Android? Messages + may be the right app for you. The app allows you to send and receive messages to other messages + users via the internet. Or you can use this greatly designed app for regular SMS and MMS messages. This combination of online messenger and standard text messaging app makes Messages + one of the unique apps available for Android. The app has group SMS, drafts and integrated contacts too. Features:
Group SMS is available.Message backup and restore are there.Integrated contacts as well as a stylish dialer.
Notable Feature: Messages + allows you to integrate WhatsApp. So any messages you send or receive will arrive on this one simple to use app.
7. Hangouts – Free
This is as official as it gets, Hangouts is made by Google, and it clearly shows how much they want you to use Google Plus. Sure Gmail is amazing and GTalk was a great software/app for Android, but Hangouts doesn’t know what it wants to be. On one hand, the app likes to be a good messaging app while on the other it becomes an intrusive online messenger. We really liked the emoji and group call features but there is no option to appear offline unless you turn all connectivity off. Features:
Made by the guys behind the OS.It is a solid messaging app.Emoji are fun to send.
Notable Feature: The ability to share map locations and people contacts with friends and family saves a lot going around and of course time.
Conclusion:
The best SMS app for Android is the one that you are comfortable using day in and day out. We recommend that you install the first three apps to feel them out and then move to the rest of the apps which target one specific area. You might even be interested in looking at the top messaging apps for more features such as voicemail and international calling. Emoji apps are also great when paired with SMS apps. Let us know what apps you like to use and what other apps we might have missed on the list. We always love to hear from well-informed readers.
Related Read: Group Text
