Best free text message apps for Android

Kris Carlon 1 month ago

30

If you own a Nexus 5 you no doubt quickly discovered that it came with Hangouts as the default
SMS/MMS/IM app. And no offense to Google, but not everyone is a fan of Hangouts. Having
said that, the previous stock Android SMS app and other manufacturer text messaging apps are
not always the best, either. So here are some of the best free texting apps for Android and a
special bonus at the end.

Believe it or not, some people still use smartphones for texting! / © AndroidPIT

1. chomp SMS: for those want everything

chomp SMS is an SMS app which has been around for a long time, and progressed alongside of
Android to become one of the most popular Android SMS apps of today. Some of its features
include a huge array of emojis, passcode app lock, message locks, more intense privacy options,
blacklists, quick reply popups, not to mention a ton of customization options, as well as
Pushbullet and Android Wear compatibility.
chomp SMS has it all: features, customization options and Android Wear support. / © Delicious
Inc.

chomp SMSINSTALL

2. Textra SMS: for Material Design lovers

Textra SMS is being added to this list partially because the developer was quick to bring the new
Andorid L Material Design to the app, which makes this already ‘’beautiful’’ texting app even
more appealing.

It’s also got a lot of features, a lot more than the stock SMS app on your device will offer, such
as floating notifications, quick reply popups, a heap load of signature and notification types, and
it’s also compatible with PushBullet as well as Android Wear in case you’ve bought yourself a
Moto 360, LG G Watch R or Samsung Gear Live.

We love the Android L design that Textra SMS has to offer. / © Delicious Inc.

Textra SMSINSTALL

3. 8sms: for the minimalist types

As opposed to some other frilly SMS apps, 8sms is an Android 4.4 / CyanogenMod 10.2
compatible messaging app which gets straight to the point with a bit more added functionality
than the average stock SMS/MMS app, like quick pop-up replies. Plus it’s free, so ditching the
old standard SMS app won’t seem so hard.
Need just a tiny bit more than what your stock SMS app has to offer? Try 8sms for no fuss
texting. © ThinkLeft

8sms (Stock Messaging, KitKat)INSTALL

4. HoverChat: for those who never want to miss a text

I love HoverChat. It brings the cool pop-up bubble functionality of Facebook's chat heads
or Link Bubble to your SMS app. So no matter which screen or app you're currently in, any new
SMS will pop up in front of what you're doing so you'll never miss a notification bar message
again (although HoverChat previews in the notification bar too). If you're not yet ready to deal
with the message, you can dismiss it or drag it out of the way, and you can reply directly from
the notification bubble. How's that for multitasking?
HoverChat lets you continue on with whatever you were doing. © AndroidPIT

Install HoverChat from the Google Play Store.

5. Handcent SMS: for those who love options and features

galore
Handcent SMS is a staple of alternative SMS apps, and has now received a more modern
look with a recent update in the Play Store. Taking this into consideration, as well as the features
and themes galore, Handcent truly is the Android lover's SMS app.

You can customize the way the app handles incoming and outgoing messages as much as you
could ever want, including scheduling messages to go out at specific times (only in the Pro
version though). You can also sign in with your Facebook credentials so you'll see your contacts'
Facebook profile pics.
Handcent SMS used to lack style, but a recent update has really spruced it up. / ©
handcent_market

Handcent SMSINSTALL

6. hello SMS: to keep text messaging simple and clean

On the other end of the style spectrum, hello SMS is one of the best looking SMS apps we've
ever seen. Slick, clean and minimal, hello SMS is the style guru's SMS app. The app has a super
simple tab setup, so you'll get your friends profile pics and names on the left and you simply
swipe out the conversation tab.

You can do all the same tings you can with most other SMS apps, of course, but the truly unique
thing about hello SMS is just how much it manages to do without looking heavy or bloated. If
only all apps looked this clean.
hello SMS ioffers a super clean, minimal layout with all the basic stuff you need. / ©
AndroidPIT/hello SMS

hello smsINSTALL

7. TextSecure: for those who want extra security

If security is on your mind when it comes to messaging then it is hard to go
past TextSecure (case in point: I had to take photos of the screens because screenshots are
blocked by the app). TextSecure encrypts your personal communications with end-to-end
encryption protocols as soon as you register your number.

Custom ROMs like CyanogenMod already use the TextSecure service for better security but you
can get it as a stand-alone app as well. As you may recall, the NSA has a habit of intercepting
SMS content as it passes through data centers. TextSecure only handles encrypted content so
your messages are safe in transit. All of your attachments are also encrypted.

We had to snap pics of TextSecure because screenshots aren't allowed. / © AndroidPIT/Open

Whisper Systems

TextSecure Private MessengerINSTALL

8. EvolveSMS: for the customizing types

EvolveSMS is the Google-inspired SMS app we wish Hangouts was. It has been designed to
look a lot like Google+ and has a nice clean design with the latest Android style guidelines in
mind. While the default orange interface looks great you can also grab more themes if you're
willing to drop a little coin for the customization pack. Swiping between conversations and a
navigation drawer make it a breeze to navigate and there's plenty of customization options
preloaded for free.

EvolveSMS follows the Android style guidelines and looks very Google+ish. / ©
AndroidPIT/Klinker Apps

EvolveSMSINSTALL

Must have add-on: MightyText

MightyText, while not an SMS app itself, is on this list because it is an awesome tool for sending
and receiving SMSes via your computer. MightyText does not have an app component on your
Android, but is an extension for your existing SMS app. So you can pick an app you like the look
of from this list and give it the MightyText touch so you can read and reply to incoming
messages directly from your computer screen without ever needing to dig your phone out of your
bag. Other nice features are built-in SMS backup and restore options.