Google Messages is quickly establishing itself as the Android alternative to iMessage and serves as the default messaging application on many smartphones. If you haven’t given it a shot in the past year or are still relying on Textra, Samsung Messages, Chomp, or another app, I strongly suggest revisiting it.
As someone who has used Textra for a long time and was hesitant to switch, I ultimately decided to try Google Messages last year for RCS support to enhance messaging with iPhone users. I fully understand the reluctance. Many other messaging apps for Android provide extensive customization options, more control, or a more appealing interface. Fortunately, Google Messages has undergone numerous updates in the last six months, improving features like spam blocking.
At this point, there’s no justification for not making the switch. If you’re still uncertain, here are all the reasons why now is the perfect time to transition to Google Messages.
RCS Enhances Compatibility with iPhone
The primary reason to switch to Google Messages is its support for RCS, which facilitates better interaction between Android and iPhone users. Essentially, it modernizes all your conversations and group chats, bringing them up to date. Those familiar with RCS and its benefits have likely already moved to Google Messages. However, if you’re asking, “what is RCS?” you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, revolutionizes the outdated text and MMS messaging that has been around for two decades and brings it into a modern chat framework, akin to iMessage. Once you switch to Google Messages and activate RCS, you’ll gain access to features such as the ability to send and receive high-quality videos, read receipts, typing indicators (the bouncing dots), improved emoji reactions, and various other enhancements.
You know what I mean—all those functionalities you appreciate on platforms like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, etc. Indeed, that level of experience is now available between Android and iPhone devices. Your Android phone won’t ruin group chats anymore, and videos sent your way won’t appear as tiny, fuzzy, worthless messages resembling those filmed on a low-quality camera.
RCS elevates everything. It’s the foremost reason to consider switching, but certainly not the only one.
Google Messages Is Better Than Ever Before
In case you weren’t aware, Google Messages is a robust and feature-rich messaging application for Android. There’s much to appreciate, and it continues to get better.
For instance, during the first four months of 2025, Google introduced simpler methods for eliminating spam texts, sensitive content warnings which blur unwanted and inappropriate picture messages, customizable group chat icons, the ability to unsend a text, and an unsubscribe feature for spam. Google is also working on integrating real-time location sharing, similar to what iMessage offers.
This is in addition to all the features that already made Google Messages an excellent choice. I’m referring to spam-blocking filters that reduce junk messages, complete end-to-end encryption (on RCS) for enhanced privacy, AI and Gemini integration, comprehensive search capabilities, messaging from the web or your PC, scheduled texts, and much more.
I particularly like that it automatically removes OTP (one-time password) messages, such as those two-factor authentication codes. Nowadays, those can quickly clutter your chat histories, but Google Messages takes care of them for you.
Sadly, the app still lacks the extensive customization options offered by Textra, but there are features to change bubble conversation colors, rename group chats, modify group icons, and switch between light/dark modes. Nonetheless, I willingly sacrificed all my Textra customization for RCS, and you should too.
Now Is the Ideal Time to Shift to Google Messages
Verizon’s Messages+ service was discontinued at the end of 2024, and the carrier suggested everyone migrate to Google’s solution. Samsung’s messaging app also faced a brief shutdown but returned shortly after. So why continue to worry? Just switch to Google Messages and be done with it. At this point, Google Messages is rapidly emerging as the future of texting on Android, if it isn’t already, and it is gradually aligning itself with iMessage’s features.
Currently, most carriers in the US pre-install it on every new device, Samsung is uncertain about its direction, and Google is the only one actively enhancing the RCS protocol. There has never been a better time than now, and considering everything you’ll gain from Google’s messaging app, it simply makes sense.
I completely understand that switching messaging apps can be daunting, especially if you have years of threads and images stored on your device. Fortunately, the transition is seamless, and it transfers automatically to the new app. There’s no need for extensive backups, though it’s always wise to have one just in case.
Visit the Play Store to download Google Messages, then launch the app. It will prompt you to set it as your default messaging app, allowing Google Messages to replace whatever you were previously using. From there, it will automatically import everything, including all your texts, images, conversations, etc. You can refer to our guide on transitioning from Samsung to Google Messages, as the process is quite similar regardless of which app you are using.
Just a heads-up that if you have a lot of conversations, pictures, videos, and more saved, it might take some time for them to show up in the Google Messages app. It won’t notify you about the transfer, so just be patient and allow some time, and everything will eventually appear. That’s all there is to it, and now you can enjoy a modern, upgraded texting experience with all your friends and family, whether they have a Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, or iPhone.
Google Messages Is the New Norm
For those who haven’t been following along, Google has gradually convinced nearly all major U.S. carriers and manufacturers to adopt its Messages as the default application for SMS/MMS/RCS messaging. New Samsung devices now come pre-installed with Google Messages and Chrome as the primary choices instead of Samsung’s own messaging and web browser apps.
This summer, we learned that Samsung Messages is being phased out and replaced by Google Messages. Furthermore, one of the last major U.S. carrier holdouts, Verizon, just announced it will discontinue its Messages+ app in November, encouraging all customers to transition to Google’s alternative.
Ultimately, much like iMessage serves as the main option on the iPhone (aside from WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc.), Google’s RCS protocol has become the agreed standard for Android devices. However you look at it, Google has taken full control of this crucial messaging technology.
RCS stands for Rich Communication Services, and it transforms standard text and MMS messaging into a contemporary chat system, akin to iMessage. With Google Messages and RCS activated, you can enjoy features like typing indicators (the bouncing dots), the ability to send and receive high-quality images and videos, read receipts (the checkmark that indicates someone has read your message), and emoji reactions.
If you own an Android and have ever received a text with a video from someone using an iPhone (or any Android device that isn’t utilizing RCS), you understand how significant this is. Instead of appearing as a low-resolution video from the 90s, RCS allows videos to be sent in HD.
Google Messages with RCS advances texting on Android into the present age. It lets you send and receive fully-featured messages to other RCS-enabled phones or any iPhone running the latest iOS 18 update, but resorts to SMS when necessary. And that’s just one of the many reasons it’s noteworthy.
Reasons to Appreciate Google Messages
While Google Messages may not be as customizable as Textra or Handcent SMS, it enhances the messaging experience on Android to something we are all accustomed to: Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, etc.
More importantly, Google has packed Messages with fantastic features. It provides complete end-to-end encryption (on RCS) for better privacy, a useful search function for easily locating an address, image, or link, allows messaging via the web or your PC, and has strong spam-blocking filters. At the moment, with it being election season in the U.S., the amount of spam filtered by Google Messages is outstanding, and I truly appreciate it.
Other features of Google Messages include a sleek interface, smart replies, and AI tools such as Gemini. Additionally, being a Google product means it receives frequent updates and enhancements.
Making the Switch to Google Messages
Given that almost every major U.S. carrier pre-installs it on devices, manufacturers like Samsung are discontinuing their text services, and Google has complete control over the RCS protocol, you might as well download Google Messages now and make the switch. This is the ideal time to get on board, especially with Apple joining in.
Switching from Samsung to Google Messages is simple. Just download and open the app, set it as your phone’s default messaging app, and you’re all done. These same steps should also work for switching from Verizon’s Messages+ and most other third-party texting apps on Android.
While we may eventually see more RCS-enabled apps emerge for Android, especially if Google opens up the protocol to other developers, for the time being, Google Messages is the best choice for a solid messaging experience, regardless of what phone the other person has.
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