Top 3 Android SMS Apps

Whilst it is being improved all the time, the standard message app that comes with Android isn't terrible, but it isn't amazing either. If you just need a fairly simple SMS tool, it will certainly do the job. If, however, you want a bit more functionality and access to the more advanced features available when sending texts, you might want to install an alternative SMS Client on your Android phone.

GO SMS Pro

If you are someone who likes to make their phone extremely personal, constantly changing the wallpaper, the widgets, the icon pack, then you will almost certainly be someone who will love GO SMS Pro. Featuring over 200 themes and 800 emoticons, this is the SMS app for people who like to keep things looking fresh.

But besides the customization options, there are plenty of other great features to make this SMS replacement app our number one choice.

The first of these is the private message feature. This allows you to add contacts to the private box, whose messages are then safely tucked away from the main message conversation list and only accessible by entering a password of your choosing. You can then choose a different notification for when these private messages arrive (or stop notifications altogether). Another great feature is the built in backup option, allowing you to save your SMS conversations to SD card, the GO Cloud or Dropbox if you use it. You can backup as and when you want, or you can set up an automatic backup schedule.

The final feature which makes GO SMS Pro such as great messaging app is the ability to schedule text messages easily. Other SMS replacement apps do include this feature, and you can also find stand-alone SMS scheduling apps, but none that I have found make it as easy as it is on GO. Simply open the Scheduled tab from the settings, add a contact, date and time, and type your message as normal.

Tap send, and the message will be held until the date and time you selected.

ChompSMS

Frustrated with the built-in messaging application? Want more features? Then chompSMS may be the app for you! This very popular and well supported SMS app features loads of extra features like chat-style bubbles, contact pictures, quick reply, signatures, templates, blacklisting, heaps of customizations, themes, as well as free texting using the TextFreek Service.

You can simply use chompSMS as a blinged up replacement to the built-in Android Messaging application, just with a heap more features and customizations. But, if your mobile carrier charges a lot for SMS messages (internationally for example), you can buy chompSMS credits to send much cheaper SMS messages. Chomp also includes a service called TextFreek, which allows you to send free text messages to anyone with a iPhone, iPod, Blackberry or Android device (as long as they also use TextFreek for Chomp).

ChompSMS is very feature-rich and allows a huge range of customisation. Getting everything set up for the best performance takes a bit of working out, but even “straight out of the box” this is a very good SMS client. It would be a hard choice between this, GO SMS and Handcent as the best SMS alternative, but as they are all free, it is worth trying each out and seeing which one suits you best.

Handcent SMS

The standard message app that comes with Android isn't terrible, but it isn't amazing either. If you just need a simple SMS tool, it will certainly do the job. If, however, you want a bit more functionality and the more advanced features available for texting now, you might want to install an alternative SMS client on your Android phone. Handcent SMS offers many more features than the stock app, it also looks nicer and is very customisable.

Handcent features full SMS and MMS support along with all the usual things like group sending, batch messages and attachments. The app supports over 20 languages and has a full range of text editing features such as spell check and font options. It also gives you the option for quick message popups (even with the screen locked) and allows you to set several different levels of security, including a pattern lock into the main app interface.

You can almost completely customize the look and feel of this app, from background colours and fonts, to the style of bubble in the conversation view. You can also download hundreds of new themes for the app to completely change the way it looks without even entering the style settings. Another useful feature is the ability to blacklist names and numbers, either blocking them altogether or simply hiding them behind a password lock. As SMS apps go, free or otherwise, Handcent stands out as one of the best available.