Text messaging is still a very popular way to stay connected with friends and family. And while Android comes with a built-in SMS app, it’s usually Google’s app, which may not be to everyone’s liking.
Fortunately, there are many secure, open source apps that you can choose from instead. Here is a list of the top six free and open source text messaging apps for Android.
1. Signal Private Messenger.
Signal Private Messenger is one of the most popular open source mobile messenger apps for Android. Also, it’s completely free, so this is a great option if you want an app that doesn’t charge for texting.
The app supports one-on-one chat, group chats, photo attachments, voice calls and video calls. It includes all the other bells and whistles you’d expect from an app: themes, emojis, reading receipts, and more.
The signal is completely open source, peer-reviewed, and not affiliated with any major tech company. Best of all, it allows you to communicate securely on the Internet with a robust end-to-end encryption protocol. This means that no one can read your messages or view your conversations except the people you are talking to.
Where you go, what you do, who you talk to on the signal is your business, not yours. But how does the app help keep your communications secure? Here’s how the signal works.
Download: Signal Private Messenger (Free)
2. QKSMS
QKSMS is a user-friendly, instant messaging app for Android. The app supports SMS, MMS, group chats (with group media support), and end-to-end encrypted chats with data protection.
The free app is open source and has no ads or hidden features that may compromise your privacy.
QKSMS is unique in that it allows you to track all messages you send to ensure they are delivered correctly. You can also back up your messages if something happens to your phone, so nothing is lost.
In addition, the app lets you schedule messages so that they go out at a default time or on a specific day. This makes it a great choice for sending birthday messages.
Download: QKSMS (free, in-app purchase available)
3. ویکر می.
Vicker Me is a privacy-based app for secret text messaging, video calling, and file sharing. The free app is open source, so you have nothing to hide.
There are no ads or hidden features in the messaging platform that spy on you for money. It also does not rely on a central server to store your messages, and it never keeps them permanent.
The curve includes an end-to-end encrypted “secret chats” feature. It does not require a phone number or email address at the time of registration.
The SMS app includes a self-district timer for sent messages, meaning no one can read your messages, and you can use the app to send messages to a group of contacts at the same time.
Download: Wicker Me (free)
4. Plus SMS.
Plus SMS is another ad-free and open source texting app for Android. The app lets you send photos, record audio, and attach videos to your messages. You can also choose from an unlimited number of emoticons when texting using the app.
Plus SMS is one of the best free sms scheduler apps for android. This allows you to schedule your messages for later dates.
Messages are all stored in one place where you can easily arrange them in a conversation by contact or topic so that you always know where to go when you want to retrieve a particular message.
The app is fully integrated with Google Voice, which lets you send text messages from your email or phone number using Gmail. Even if that person is not available at the moment, you can choose a phone call instead of an SMS.
Download: Plus SMS (free, in-app purchase available)
5. Simple SMS Messenger.
Simple SMS Messenger is an open source, lightweight application that allows you to send and receive text messages on your Android device. It also includes a search function that helps you find messages faster.
The ad-free SMS app lets you add a variety of media to your text. You can attach photos, videos, or even voice messages to your text and send them to any of your contacts.
Simple SMS Messenger lets you group with other users and send messages from the group. You can also blacklist some phone numbers and prevent them from sending messages.
The app is also capable of sending multimedia messages. It supports both static and animated GIF images, and images taken from the device’s camera or downloaded from the Internet.
Download: Simple SMS Messenger (Free)
6. Element
Element (formerly Riot.im) is a free and open source messaging app that is both confidential and secure. The app protects you from unwanted ads and data mining while protecting all your messages with end-to-end encryption.
In addition, it is based on the Matrix Open Source Framework and supports self-hosting to give you maximum ownership of your data. The app uses Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) and supports two-step verification.
The messaging and collaboration app allows you to manage projects more efficiently. You can use them to securely share files while talking about them in real time via voice calls or screen share. So, if you are looking for a free WhatsApp alternative, Element can be a great choice.
The element also lets you pick up where you left off, giving it the ability to fully sync message history across multiple devices.
Download: Element (free)
Keep texting with these free and open source SMS apps.
So, here you have it: Six Best Free and Open Source SMS Apps for Android. You can choose between Signal Private Messenger, Simple SMS Messenger, or any of the other four listed in this article, depending on your preferences.
We hope you find this list of SMS apps for Android useful. If not here’s a new product just for you!
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