1B+
Users
per Google Play listing
Report
Should I Use Google Messages?
Messages is a simple, helpful messaging app that keeps you connected with the people who matter most.
Depends
DependsUse it if you're an Android user who wants a free, simple default texter with browser access.
Free, simple default texting for Android; wrong tool for business SMS or privacy-first users.
Confidence: Medium
Free
Starting price
no paid tiers found
Yes
Free tier
full app is free
Value for money
5
Free, no paid tiers
Ease of use
4
Users call it simple; some lag complaints
Feature depth
3
RCS extras, but no message organization
Security posture
3
RCS encrypted, but scanning and past CVEs
Pros
Cons
Gotchas
- mediumGoogle scans message content; privacy-sensitive users should consider alternatives³
- mediumEncryption only applies when both parties use RCS; plain texts are unencrypted11
- mediumCritic called Google's SMS transit security description 'downright fraudulent' — don't assume encryption⁹
- lowWeb texting requires pairing with your powered-on Android phone⁴
Best for
- Android users wanting a free default texter
- People who text from a computer too
- RCS users wanting typing indicators and hi-res media
Not for
- Business or bulk SMS marketing — use a dedicated SMS platform instead
- Privacy-first users who object to Google scanning messages
- iPhone-first users living in iMessage
- Anyone needing scheduled campaigns or shared team inboxes
Pricing
Google Messages
Free
- SMS, MMS, RCS
- Web companion
- Spam protection
Security
RCS chats get end-to-end encryption via MLS (rolling out since 2023); SMS/MMS is unencrypted and Google scans messages.
What users say
Users find it simple and free, but a vocal group complains about lag and missing message organization.
“The lag it causes my phone is terrible. If I disable it, then my phone stops lagging.”
“It's not an old phone and I don't have time for lag. I also don't have the ability to Group messages by type”
“It's simple and very similar to other text apps .”
Alternatives
Compare Google Messages with each alternative.
Simple SMS Messenger
Lightweight SMS app frequently compared against Google Messages
SimpleTexting
Built for business SMS campaigns and bulk texting instead
Samsung Messages
Guess: lighter default option preinstalled on Samsung phones
Textra SMS
Guess: customizable third-party SMS app with theming
Google Messages vs Textra SMSFull analysis
Based on 14 public sources; many review snippets were truncated, and no companies were named as users.
Sources
- Google Messages - Apps on Google Playplay.google.comreview
- Google Messages Reviewssourceforge.netreview
- I uninstalled Google Messages. Here's why.discuss.grapheneos.orgreview
- Google Messages for webmessages.google.comofficial
- Try Google Messages. Keep what matters.android.comofficial
- Get started with the Google Messages appsupport.google.comofficial
- Wear OS Messages Flaw (CVE-2025-12080)securityonline.infosecurity
- DoS Vulnerability Crashes Android Messages Apptrendmicro.comsecurity
- Shame on Google for Their Description of...daringfireball.netnews
- Google Messages - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.orgnews
- Google message and the RCS - Questionsdiscuss.privacyguides.netreview
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