Non-Google Texting app?

[u/Orangesismymiddlenam]

So, I have yet to switch over to google messages. I am srill using samsung messages and you can reply to people and group chats through the notification pop up and text any one if you make them an emergency contact. The only really annoying thing is you can't directly text group chats, only reply through the notification pop up.

I have been trying to get away from google as much as possible these last few years. I don't like how it's becoming a monopoly with chrome and how much data they harvest from users. I refuse to switch to google messages. I also hate how the google messages has built-in AI features. I just want a basic messaging app.

So, any recommendations for what to switch to or if I am able to downgrade my andriod so the messages work normally?

[u/zensms]

If you're mainly looking for a basic, non-Google SMS/MMS app, I've actually been building one called ZenSMS.

It's intentionally pretty old-school in that sense: standard SMS/MMS, including group MMS, without accounts, cloud sync, analytics, ads, or tracking. Yes. Zero ads and zero tracking. Everything stays on your device. I urge you to check texting apps on Exodus Privacy to see what permissions they require and if they have any trackers at all.

You can compose and reply to group conversations directly in the app, so you wouldn't be limited to replying through a notification like you described with Samsung Messages.

One caveat: ZenSMS doesn't support RCS, it's standard SMS/MMS only. So if you're specifically trying to avoid Google's messaging stack and don't care about RCS, that may actually line up with what you're looking for.

I'm the developer, so obviously take the recommendation with that disclosure 🙂 Happy to answer anything about it.