We look at the top 3 iOS messaging app for Android. Android is the leading operating system in the mobile world. Android is the leading operating system in the mobile world. Nonetheless, the quality offered in an application for an iOS is much better than applications available for Android. It has native apps for iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows, iPad, Mac OS, and there is a Chrome extension if you want it. The basic app lets you send and receive text messages from your PC.

• Android Text Messages On Mac
• How To Use Android Messaging
• Is There A Messaging App For Android For Mac Computer

Text messaging is among the most popular ways to communicate in the whole world. It’s quick, easy to do, and it doesn’t require you pausing what you’re doing like phone calls do. We do understand that many people still prefer the human touch of talking on the phone and we respect that. However, let’s face facts, most people are texting these days. Let’s take a look at the best texting apps and SMS apps for Android to see if we can’t help you make your texting experience better. Do note that various texting apps will have issues depending on your device, Android version, carrier, and texting habits. That’s why we list ten of them!

Android Messages

Price: Free
Android Message is a free texting app by Google. In terms of features, Android Messages keeps it light. You’ll have some light theming options, some organization and backup features, and a decent search function. The design is entirely Material Design. That means it looks good and it’s easy to use. Google also has big plans for this app, including RCS support along with other neat features. This also has a web version for texting on your computer. However, it is a fairly sizable battery drain so it’s a hit-or-miss kind of feature.

Chomp SMS

Price: Free with in-app purchases
Chomp SMS has been around since the good old days of Android and was one of the very first, really good third party texting apps. It has since evolved into an app that embraces Material Design while still having plenty of features. Some of them include emojis, SMS blocking, quick reply in the notifications, MMS, and group messaging. You can even stop a text mid-send if needed. It also comes with Android Wear and Pushbullet support. There are plenty of other customization features should you want them.

Facebook Messenger

Price: Free
We’ll be honest with you. Facebook Messenger isn’t a great app. It uses a ton of battery, storage, and RAM. It also has ads. However, chances are that you have it on your device. Facebook has tons of users and it’s likely you keep this around because you have those loved ones that just won’t switch to something better. If you’re going to have it around, you might as well enable its SMS support. That way you can kind of kill two birds with one stone. It has satisfactory SMS integration if that helps. It’s not the best option when it comes to texting apps. It is among the most convenient, though, and it’ll subtract one app from your app drawer if you already use Facebook Messenger.

Handcent Next SMS

Price:
Handcent, along with Chomp SMS, were the first two really good, really popular third party texting apps available on Android. Much like Chomp SMS, Handcent is a powerful and heavy texting application with a ton of features. Some of them include themes, a privacy box to store private conversations, SMS backup, eCards, emojis, and plenty more. One of the more interesting features is Handcent Anywhere, which lets you text on your computer and tablet if you want. It’s had its ups and downs in terms of bugs, but it’s usually pretty solid.

Mood Messenger

Price: Free / $10.99 once / $1.99 per month / $10.99 per year
Mood Messenger is an above average SMS app. It does all of the usual stuff like texting, MMS, theming, emoji, and the other basics. You also get a dark mode, blacklisting for spam messages, and more. The premium version is a single $10.99 payment or a subscription model. It includes backup and restore, SMS encryption, more themes, and a privacy locker to keep people out. The premium version is bit expensive, but it’s a positive overall experience for most.

Pulse SMS

Price: Free / $10.99 / $0.99 per month
Pulse SMS is one of the most unique texting apps on the list. It’s like any standard SMS app for the most part. However, there is also a back end that will let you text from your PC, tablet, and other devices. Additionally, it also supports dual-sim devices, blacklisting phone numbers, message backup, and more. Here’s how it works. The texting app part of this is completely free. Those who want to also text from PCs, tablets, etc can either pay $0.99 per month or a lifetime fee of $10.99. It’s a good way to kill two birds with one stone.

QKSMS

Price: Free / Optional in-app purchases
QKSMS is among the simplest and best SMS apps. It’s open source and that’s always a nice touch. Additionally, the app comes with a bunch of features. Some of them include privacy features such as a blacklist, Android Wear support, and even some nifty accessibility features. Usage is as you would expect. It’s not going to blow your mind, but its simplicity is appreciated considering how heavy some texting apps can get. It’s free with no advertising. There are some optional in-app purchases as donations as well.

Signal Private Messenger

Price: Free
Signal Private Messenger is actually a messaging app much like Hangouts, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and others. The difference is that this one features end-to-end encryption and it’s been a favorite of many people who value security. It also works on a phone number system and if your contact doesn’t have the app then it simply sends a text message. We really liked how seamless that feature is. It’s simple to use, looks great with Material Design, and it is entirely free to use with no in-app purchases. It’s also open source, supports group chats, and it’ll even make phone calls.

Textra

Price: Free / $2.99
Textra SMS is among the most solid texting apps on the list. This popular and highly stylish SMS app is also one of the highest rated on the list. It comes with a theme picker (you choose the colors yourself), a dark mode, floating notifications, delayed sending, slide to delete, and plenty of other features. It also comes with direct support for Android Wear, Pushbullet, MightyText, and others. You can use most of the features for free. There is a single in-app purchase for $2.99 to unlock the pro version.

Yaata SMS

Price: Free with in-app purchases
YAATA SMS is one of a few up and coming texting apps that are really good. It has a bunch of features, including group chat support, schedule message sending, and complete MMS support. If you buy the premium version, you’ll also get SMS blacklisting, an auto-responder, auto-forwarding, and the ability to backup and restore your settings in case you buy a new device. It uses Material Design and it looks quite good. It also comes with widgets, and it even has chat heads similar to Facebook Messenger. There are some bugs, but most of them aren’t serious.

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If we missed any of the best texting apps and SMS apps tell us about them in the comments!

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I was jealous when Apple announced the new quick-reply feature for Mavericks. The Messages app for OS X features popup notifications with a little box for speedy replies right there next to the message text. It’s a cool feature, and another way that iMessage integrates into the Apple ecosystem.

Android Text Messages On Mac

The part that made me jealous was not having an iPhone. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer Android and have no intention of switching. But that kind of native integration with OS X just isn’t possible with alternative solutions like MightyText.

Thankfully, this is Android, and there is a solution. It does require paying for a service… but, if you’re serious about getting real integration between an Android phone and the Messages app on a Mac, this is how to do it.

Step One: Install DeskSMS

A while back, famous developer Koushik Dutta released DeskSMS. It boasted a backend service that, for $5 per year, would let you text from your tablet and PC.

It’s not the most popular of services, from what I can tell. Aside from a 14-day trial, the paywall pushes a lot of people toward the free MightyText.

However, DeskSMS does perform one essential function. It takes every text you receive and reroutes it through a custom Google Talk address and sends the text to you as an IM.

Since it’s an IM, this means that we can use a messaging client to send and receive texts. A client like, say, Messages on OS X.

So here’s what you do. Install DeskSMS on your Android phone. I bit the bullet and signed up for a year of service. May as well, since I text a lot from my laptop.

Be sure that the option to deliver messages through Google Talk is checked. This way we can receive the messages.

Step Two: Set up Messages on OS X

Now, open Messages. Hit Cmd-, (that’s a comma) to open the app’s Preferences. Go to Accounts and hit the “+” at the bottom.

Now it’s as simple as following the wizard to add your Google account. Once that’s set up, you should be ready!

Step Three: Sync contacts

Technically, you don’t need to sync your contacts to use DeskSMS, which puts the contact name in front of every message you receive.

However, I dislike chatting with 12231233123@desksms.appspotchat.com, so I found a way to get my contact names (and pictures!) in there.

Open the Contacts app for OS X, go to Preferences, Accounts, and hit the “+” at the bottom. Now follow the wizard to add your Google contacts, which should be the same as the ones on your phone.

The first time you get a message from a contact you’ve never texted with through DeskSMS, right-click on their name in the left column of the Messages app and select “Add to existing contact.”

Use the name function to find the person’s name and add their DeskSMS number to their contact. This way, you can see their name while you chat!

Advantages and Disadvantages

This particular setup has some nice advantages. You can use any Google Talk enabled chat program (e.g. all of them), and not just messages. This offers a lot more flexibility and functionality than a web app like MightyText.

You also get to use those awesome quick-reply popups in OS X. Why should iPhone users be the only ones who get those?

You could even use this setup on Windows. Google Talk clients aren’t limited to OS X. This is platform-agnostic.

One quirk of the DeskSMS setup is that your Messages account does not receive texts while you’re logged off or not online.

How To Use Android Messaging

Personally, I prefer this, because chances are I’ve already seen the text and responded. The only time I want text notifications on my computer is when I’m using my computer.

The disadvantage of this is that Messages won’t show your full text history the same way that MightyText does – it only shows the messages received while you were online.

You should also consider whether you want to pay $5 every year for DeskSMS when MightyText works perfectly well and is free, albeit through a web app.

Finally, Google Talk isn’t the best solution for messaging. Right now, Mountain View is keeping it alive. How long that will last before being consumed by Hangouts is anyone’s guess.

Final Thoughts

Even if it’s not DeskSMS, I would highly recommend some kind of text chat program for your computer. Texting from a real keyboard is excellent and allows you to respond much quicker than you could on your phone.

Is There A Messaging App For Android For Mac Computer

It’s excellent, or should I say desk-cellent. As in DeskSMS. You’re welcome.

KYLE! It’s Andrea from FPH – HEY!! I just saw your name as the author here- such a small WWW 😀