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ZDNET cardinal takeaways
- Samsung is sidesplitting its messaging app successful July.
- Users successful the US with Android v12 oregon newer request to switch.
- There are plentifulness of superior options to take from.
Multiple reports person been issued that Samsung is shutting down its messaging app and service.
According to this Samsung assemblage post, the work EOL volition beryllium this July, which means you person a fewer abbreviated months to find a caller app and turn accustomed to it. If that sounds similar what you're facing, you're astir apt wondering which app oregon work you should use. The bully quality is that determination are plenty, truthful you don't person to worry.
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Before we get into this, cognize that the extremity of beingness for the Samsung messaging app is lone slated for the US (for now). Another asterisk is that those who usage Android 11 oregon older volition not beryllium affected by the change. So, if you're successful the US and you usage an Android telephone that runs mentation 12 oregon newer, you're going to person to marque the switch.
But what should you power to?
1. Google Messages
Google Messages is the astir evident choice. In fact, this is the app oregon work that Samsung is recommending to its users. And wherefore not? Google Messages is simply a fantastic app, and it is seamlessly integrated into Android for a much implicit experience.
And with Google Messages present defaulting to RCS (Rich Communication Services), you're getting a much modern messaging work that features things similar Wi-Fi texting, high-resolution media sharing, typing indicators, work receipts, and end-to-end encryption. That abbreviated database covers beauteous overmuch everything you request successful an precocious messaging service. On apical of that, the app is well-designed and precise casual to use.
Also: How to usage Google Messages' caller Trash diagnostic to retrieve texts you accidentally deleted
Google Messages is escaped to usage and ships with Android. If you find your Samsung instrumentality does not see Google Messages, you tin instal it from the Google Play Store.
2. WhatsApp
I person a person who present lives successful Egypt, and his go-to messaging app is WhatsApp. He besides uses this aforesaid app for telephone calls, truthful that should archer you thing astir the app oregon service.
WhatsApp is global, and according to Business of Apps, it has implicit 2.9 cardinal users worldwide. On apical of that, WhatsApp is 1 of the fewer apps that has been downloaded implicit 5 cardinal times (across some Android and iOS app stores).
With truthful galore users, it's beauteous harmless to accidental that WhatsApp is simply a harmless bet. WhatsApp includes features similar dependable connection transcription, HD media sharing, connection management, favorites, mentions, channels, chat lock, 2-step verification, disappearing messages, customizable status, and more.
Also: The champion backstage messaging apps of 2026: Expert tested
WhatsApp is escaped to instal (from the Google Play Store) and escaped to usage (although determination is simply a Premium enactment that adds things similar themability).
3. Facebook Messenger
Although I hesitate to see this app, I cannot disregard it due to the fact that it happens to beryllium the 1 I usage the most. And though Facebook has go a cesspool itself, the Messenger app is inactive beauteous solid.
According to Bank My Call, Facebook Messenger has implicit 1.04 cardinal worldwide users, which is not excessively shabby.
What I similar astir Facebook Messenger is that I bash not person to person someone's telephone fig to chat with them. As agelong arsenic they are friends of excavation connected Facebook, I tin nonstop them messages each time and night.
Also: How to delete Facebook, Messenger, oregon Instagram - if you privation Meta retired of your life
The Facebook Messenger diagnostic database includes some substance messaging and dependable calls, radical chats and rooms, media oregon record sharing, end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, blocking, QR codes, and more.
You tin instal and usage Facebook Messenger for free, but you bash person to person a Facebook relationship to usage it (which is besides free).
4. Telegram
Telegram has much features than immoderate different messaging app connected the market. That is particularly large for powerfulness users.
One unsocial diagnostic of Telegram is unreality sync. With this feature, you tin commencement a connection connected 1 instrumentality and past decorativeness it connected another.
You besides get features similar ample groups and chats (with up to 200,000 members for groups), record sharing (up to 2 GB record size), connection editing oregon deleting, chat folders, scheduled and soundless messages, concealed chats, usernames, 2-factor authentication, animated stickers and emoji, and more.
The 1 caveat with utilizing Telegram is that you bash not get end-to-end encryption, which means that idiosyncratic could intercept and work your messages (if they cognize how). If you're superior astir security, that mightiness origin you to hard walk connected Telegram.
Telegram tin beryllium installed for escaped from the Google Play Store.
5. Signal
If you're superior astir security, past Signal is the app you should beryllium using. Like Telegram, Signal has a ton of features, but what makes Signal truly basal retired is the precocious open-source Signal Protocol that provides mandatory end-to-end encryption for each messages and calls.
Signal besides collects the bare minimum metadata, offers disappearing messages, and features information numbers to forestall connection interception (so adjacent Signal cannot entree your communications). You besides get a Signal PIN for recovering profiles, settings, and contacts (all of which Signal cannot access).
Also: What is Signal? 7 features that marque it a go-to app for private, unafraid messaging
In different words, if you privation superior information for your messages, Signal is the app to use.
You tin instal and usage Signal for escaped from the Google Play Store.
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