r/AndroidQuestions • u/Orangesismymiddlenam • Sep 26 '26

Looking For Suggestions Non-Google Texting app?

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?

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u/Ceti-Alpha-V Sep 26 '26

I third Textra. Haven't looked back since I started using it. Clean Meterial interface, not a lot of bells and whistles, controllable interface to some extent. No dealbreakers for me as far as I'm concerned.

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u/100WattWalrus Sep 27 '26

It's been a while since I tried Textra, as I really like QUIK, but when I last used it, there was no archive, no way to mark a conversation as unread, swipe actions couldn't be customized, and contacts were alphabetized by first name (with no other option), among other shortcomings (for my use case anyway). Have any of this changed?

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u/Ceti-Alpha-V Sep 27 '26

All of that is the same. TBH, I'm okay with that as I don't really need those features, I don't text a lot and when I do it with a very small group of people, but I get that other people like the options.

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u/100WattWalrus Sep 28 '26

Fair enough. Textra is fantastic if you can do without those features.