C
Christian de Looper
Guest
One of the great things about Android is that you can replace the default apps if you want to. This can help you personalize your phone so that it’s really custom to you. We’ve put together a list of the best SMS replacement apps on the market. Check them out for yourself and find the one that best suits you!
1. Google Hangouts by Google
While Google Hangouts is already the default SMS app for Nexus devices and other Play Store edition devices, it certainly isn’t for most Android phones on the market. Google Hangouts for Android combines texting with the Google Hangouts Internet messaging service and video chatting. Furthermore, Google Hangouts syncs with your Google Account so you can change from your desktop to your mobile device without any problems, provided your device has data. However, Hangouts can be a little cumbersome sifting through both SMS messages and Hangouts messages.
2. Handcent SMS by handcent_market
Handcent SMS is one of the most popular texting apps on the Android market, and with good reason. As one of the most powerful texting apps, Handcent SMS allows for much more than simple messaging. Features include a built-in spell check with support for over 20 languages, the ability to backup your messages, and even mimic themes of other messages apps, including the iPhone. You can even use the app to send eCards, which are also found within the app. Handcent has a much longer list of features than we can describe in one paragraph, so be sure to head to the Play Store and check it out for yourself!
3. Chomp SMS by Delicious Inc.
Chomp SMS is another popular messaging app that claims to be easier to use, more intuitive and faster than most stock texting apps. If you like using emoji’s in your texting, then Chomp SMS might just be the app for you, with over 800 emoji’s. Apart from the hundreds of emoji’s, Chomp SMS includes features like scheduled texting, SMS signatures, blocking messages from others, and the ability to stop a text from sending while it’s sending. Chomp SMS is quite a powerful app, and is also quite customizable, allowing for custom backgrounds, and so on.
4. Textra SMS by Delicious Inc.
Testra SMS is made by the same company as Chomp SMS but that doesn’t mean that they’re the same app. In fact, the two apps are rather different. While Textra SMS does include the same emoji’s as Chomp SMS, Textra SMS is much more focused in looks, giving a number of extremely classy themes to choose from. Textra SMS also includes the ability to customize individual contacts’ colors, signatures, and even notifications (vibrate pattern, LED color, etc.). Or you can simply use the great default settings!
5. hello sms by hello sms
Hello sms is also quite a powerful app, but apart from its power, it’s probably the best looking app on the list. It allows users to be able to switch message threads in one touch, and is very intuitive. It is also excellent when it comes to sending and receiving photos, giving the user a simple camera button within the app that allows the user to simply take a photo and send it. The minimalist design certainly makes the app different than the others, and also makes it extremely easy to use. Last but not least, the app automatically switches to a “dark mode” at night, which is much easier on your eyes!
6. Evolve SMS by Klinker Apps
Evolve SMS is another rather powerful SMS app to replace your default SMS app. It offers quite a classy looking Google+ style user interface, as well as a number of great features. The app has full support for all multimedia types (images, video, music), as well as support for widgets and lock screens. The app also has over 850 emoji’s, and you can set it to be password protected if you want. Like Google Hangouts, you can swipe to archive a conversation. You can also customize the notifications that you get when an SMS or MMS is received.
As you can see, each app is a little different from the others. Some offer power, while some go for the look. For me, Google Hangouts certainly gets the job done, and I like the fact that it has both an Internet messaging app and a texting app. Did I miss your favorite SMS replacement app? Let me know in the comments.
Come comment on this article: Best Android SMS text messaging replacement apps [March 2014]
Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!
News via TalkAndroid