GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
Samsung Messages is going away — and this time for good, with the app officially set to be discontinued in July 2026. When I got my Galaxy S26 last month, Samsung Messages wasn’t even pre-installed. So, like most users, I trusted Samsung’s recommendation and started using Google Messages. It felt like the obvious next step, but sadly, it didn’t last very long.
The good thing is, I found something better: Fossify Messages. It’s a free, open-source app that focuses on simplicity without feeling barebones. Having used it for about a week, it feels like the next best thing to Samsung Messages.
What are you replacing Samsung Messages with? 74 votes Google Messages 74 % Fossify Messages 16 % Textra 7 % Other (let us know in the comments) 3 %
Why Google Messages didn’t make the cut for me
Joe Maring / Android Authority
I really tried to like Google Messages, and I truly gave it a fair shot. But the more I used Google’s texting app, the more it felt like it wasn’t built for me. Sure, those who love using Google apps and services may want it, but it didn’t click for me.
Let’s start with the design. Google Messages has a clean interface, but it’s also very … Google. And that instantly shows when I switch to it after using Samsung apps all day.
The bigger issue is the customization, or rather, the lack of it. The best you can do is change the chat bubble colors for individual conversations. You can’t change the background or the font — just the bubble. That’s it. The themes option lets you switch between light and dark modes, and while I personally love using a dark theme everywhere, I don’t like Google’s implementation. It’s that mix of gray and black that never quite feels right. Worse, there’s no way to tweak it.
The more I used Google's texting app, the more it felt like it wasn’t built for me.
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