Best overall
Textra SMS
Delicious
Fast and good-looking, with colours, bubbles and fonts you can set per chat, plus scheduled and delayed texts.
Checked 17 Oct 2026—
Messages
Replace your Messages. Start with these.
As of 17 Oct 2026, 71 apps can replace the Messages on Android. These 8 are where we'd start.
The top 3
Best for no-fuss texting
Fossify Messages
Fossify
Texts and MMS with blocking, scheduling and backups, no ads and no account, in a calm, tidy layout.
FreeUpdated 15 Oct 2026Android 8.0+
Best minimal design
QUIK SMS
octoshrimpy
A quiet, uncluttered inbox with colour themes, scheduling and backup, for people who just want their texts.
FreeUpdated 23 Sept 2026Android 6.0+
Also great. Five more.
Picked by hand, 17 Oct 2026
A Material 3 SMS app with pin, archive and scheduling
F-Droid
Texts from your phone, tablet, browser and computer
Google Play
SMS with optional encryption between Deku users
F-Droid
Sorts personal, OTP and bank texts into a tidy inbox
F-Droid
An SMS app with encrypted conversations
F-DroidSee all 71 appsShow the top 8 only
71 apps · sorted by name
| App ▲ | What it does | Price | Updated ▼ | Min Android ▼ | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AirMessageCole Feuer |
Use iMessage on your Android phone! (Mac computer required) | Free | 1 Nov 2022 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
Baby PhonePeter Serwylo |
A pretend phone app for little ones who want to practice | Free | 30 Jul 2024 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
baresip+Juha Heinanen |
VoIP and mobile calling and messaging app based on baresip library | Free | 16 Oct 2026 | Android 9+ | F-Droid |
BluePassManuel Huber |
BluePass extracts 2FA tokens from SMS and forwards them via Bluetooth | Free | 2 Dec 2021 | Android 10+ | F-Droid |
Call CounterWebierta |
Control of the Plan of outgoing calls and sent sms | Free | 18 Oct 2021 | Android 5.1+ | F-Droid |
Call LimiterThirumalai K G |
Limit call duration per contact and automatically hang up when time is up | Free | 17 Sept 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
CallScopeClint Moyer |
Local-first call log analytics | Free | 24 Jun 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
CHRONOS |
Schedule your SMS in advance, without replacing your default messaging app | Free | 10 Aug 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
Clear SMSTop 8Clear SMS |
Sorts personal, OTP and bank texts into a tidy inbox | Free | 14 Oct 2026 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
CodeCatcher |
Filter Sms Messages and Automate Your Device | Free | 30 Jan 2025 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
Coma PhoneYardena Cohen |
Auto-answers calls on speakerphone. Always hear your friends talk, even while in | Free | 19 Mar 2021 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
ContactPublic Emergency Codes |
Calling and messaging with built-in emergency tools | Free | 16 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
Deku SMSTop 8Afkanerd |
SMS with optional encryption between Deku users | Free | 14 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
Epistolairehydrargyrum |
SMS and MMS backup | Free | 2 May 2020 | Android 4.4+ | F-Droid |
Ethic One CallIDEH Labs |
Lend your phone for one call while keeping the rest private | Free | 6 Oct 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
FinderSevastyanov Nikita |
Remote mobile phone searching via SMS requests | Free | 18 Sept 2020 | Android 4.2+ | F-Droid |
Flash Alert (Calls & SMS)JNDA |
Blink the terminal when receiving a call, SMS or an application notification | Free | 14 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
Föhnix |
The Foehnix weather widget aims at helping pilots with weather conditions | Free | 9 Oct 2024 | Android 4.0+ | F-Droid |
Fossify MessagesTop 8Fossify |
and Ad-free SMS/MMS messaging app | Free | 15 Oct 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
HomeTileskicker |
A big-button home screen that can be your phone and SMS app | Free | 16 Oct 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
IM2SMSGoldmaster |
A simple app to import IM chat histories into Android’s SMS storage | Free | 14 Aug 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
JemRecYevhen Yemchynskyi |
Call recorder for unrooted Android: both sides, no root, no companion app | Free | 16 Oct 2026 | Android 12+ | F-Droid |
JMP SIM Manager |
Companion app for the JMP eSIM Adapter | Free | 15 Sept 2026 | Android 9+ | F-Droid |
Keep Alive |
Notify others if you haven't used your device in a given period of time | Free | 1 Jul 2026 | Android 5.1+ | F-Droid |
Keep Alive Lite |
Notify others if you haven't used your device in a given period of time | Free | 1 Jul 2026 | Android 5.1+ | F-Droid |
Keep SIM AliveDymitr Kotowski |
Scheduled keep-alive SMS so prepaid, roaming or backup SIMs stay active | Free | 16 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
Launch ChatVinay Gopinath |
Start a WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram chat without saving a number as a contact | Free | 10 Feb 2026 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
LoggerSanmeet Singh |
Track, Analyze, and Manage Your Calls | Free | 15 Feb 2026 | Android 5.0+ | F-Droid |
Message487Andrey Prokopyuk |
Read phone SMS on your computer via n8n; forward selected notifications | Free | 12 Oct 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
MessagesTop 8Anindra |
A Material 3 SMS app with pin, archive and scheduling | Free | 14 Oct 2026 | Android 10+ | F-Droid |
MessagesSaalim Quadri |
A fast messaging app designed to make conversations simple and effortless | Free | 27 Jan 2026 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
MisgaMirarr |
Smart SMS app with regex filters to eliminate spam in Iran | Free | 16 Oct 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
MsgGoYztz |
lightweight, and modern bulk SMS tool for Android | Free | 26 Sept 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
Nextcloud SMS |
Synchronize your SMS messages with ownCloud | Free | 23 Dec 2018 | Android 4.1+ | F-Droid |
NightblastDubsterDev |
Send urgent alerts to your contacts using encrypted SMS messages | Free | 12 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
Open In WhatsAppShubham |
Open Chat in WhatsApp | Free | 23 Jul 2024 | Android 5.0+ | F-Droid |
Parcelshareven |
Extract the address and pickup code from SMS automatically | Free | 14 Oct 2026 | Android 10+ | F-Droid |
Peace of Mind+Mudar Noufal |
A flight-mode timer | Free | 9 Oct 2019 | Android 4.4+ | F-Droid |
Priority AlertsSai Mukkundan |
Informs you when receiving SMS matches with configured keywords | Free | 5 Jan 2021 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
Privacy CellSoren Stoutner |
Verify that a phone is using the most secure cell protocols | Free | 4 Apr 2026 | Android 11+ | F-Droid |
ProximitySensorFixMarco Lettieri |
simple fix for during call proximity sensor issues | Free | 29 Aug 2021 | Android 4.1+ | F-Droid |
Pulse SMSTop 8Klinker Apps |
Texts from your phone, tablet, browser and computer | — | Hand-checked 17 Oct 2026 | — | Google Play |
QUIK SMSTop 8octoshrimpy |
A calm inbox with themes, scheduling and backup | Free | 23 Sept 2026 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
Raise To AnswerSylvia van Os |
Simply hold your phone to your ear to answer an incoming call | Free | 22 May 2024 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
Schlikk CallsSchlikk |
Change volume on call so that you don't miss them | Free | 29 May 2021 | Android 4.0+ | F-Droid |
ShellMS |
Send SMS via Android SDK | Free | 28 May 2018 | API 8+ | F-Droid |
Signetdigital-grease |
Verify calls from family, colleagues, sources against deepfake impersonation | Free | 14 Jun 2026 | Android 9+ | F-Droid |
Silence |
Encrypted SMS/MMS conversations made easy! | Free | 29 Aug 2019 | Android 4.0+ | F-Droid |
Simple sms remoteAndreas Kaltenleitner |
Control your device by sending text messages | Free | 24 Jan 2022 | Android 4.1+ | F-Droid |
SmartFindErinyLTD |
Find your phone with an SMS from a trusted contact | Free | 27 May 2026 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
SMS ForwardPierre Duchemin |
SMS Forward is a simple app that allows you to redirect SMS | Free | 9 Feb 2023 | Android 5.0+ | F-Droid |
SMS Import / Exporttmo1 |
Imports and exports SMS and MMS messages and other data | Free | 15 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
SMS SchedulerSergey Yeriomin |
Lets you schedule an sms to be sent at a specific time | Free | 9 Aug 2017 | API 5+ | F-Droid |
SMS to URL ForwarderKonstantin Bogomolov |
Simple incoming SMS to URL forwarder | Free | 11 Jun 2026 | Android 4.0+ | F-Droid |
sms2calln4n5 |
Make a call when receiving a defined SMS | Free | 13 Feb 2025 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
SMS2Email34j |
Forwards SMS messages to SMTP (Email) server | Free | 3 Sept 2026 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
SMSecureTop 8Jimvixx |
An SMS app with encrypted conversations | Free | 15 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
SmsMatrix |
Matrix SMS bridge | Free | 5 Dec 2019 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
SmsReplyZoltán KADA |
Automatic SMS replies with customizable templates | Free | 23 Aug 2026 | Android 10+ | F-Droid |
SOS RingLorenzo Marci |
Make VIP calls and messages audible even in Silent/DND | Free | 16 Oct 2026 | Android 10+ | F-Droid |
Streak Alarm for Snapchat (Streak Reminder)Fei Kuan |
Snapchat Streaks Reminder | Free | 15 Jul 2021 | Android 5.0+ | F-Droid |
Text TorchMiles Krell |
Shine a light on your texting behavior | Free | 4 Aug 2022 | Android 5.0+ | F-Droid |
Textra SMSTop 8Delicious |
A fast SMS app with colours, scheduling and delayed send | — | Hand-checked 17 Oct 2026 | — | Google Play |
ThreatScoopOnionChatR00tedBrain |
A Forked Version focused on privacy from SESSION | Free | 12 Mar 2025 | Android 8.0+ | F-Droid |
Vibelucky |
Vibrate on a call answer or end | Free | 26 Nov 2025 | Android 6.0+ | F-Droid |
ViewCarousel |
Circular carousel of user configurable views | Free | 11 Jan 2026 | Android 12+ | F-Droid |
VoIP.ms SMSMichael Kourlas |
Popular Android messaging app for VoIP.ms, a Canadian VoIP provider | Free | 3 Feb 2025 | Android 5.0+ | F-Droid |
WatomaticDeekshith Allamaneni |
Auto reply bot for WhatsApp, FB Messenger and more soon | Free | 29 Sept 2024 | Android 5.0+ | F-Droid |
WhatsOpenHarshal Bhatia |
Open WhatsApp chats with any number, no contact needed | Free | 30 May 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
WiVeWa |
Client for the WiVeWa system | Free | 31 May 2026 | Android 10+ | F-Droid |
Wristotle CompanionLazy Devs |
Voice control for Pebble watches — on-device by default, no account | Free | 8 Oct 2026 | Android 7.0+ | F-Droid |
'Top 8' marks the apps above. Data from F-Droid and hand-checked entries, as of 17 Oct 2026.
Setups using these apps
None yet.
How we pick the top 8: a person tries the apps and checks each maker's page, then writes the labels down with a date. How we choose