Difference between hangouts and messages app for texts

[XCalibration17]

What is the difference between using these two apps for text messages? Do they work exactly the same? What are the benefits of using one over the other? Which do you use?

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[zkSharks]

The messages app is solely for SMS and MMS communication, whereas the Hangouts app is a hybrid client for both the Hangouts (formerly Google Talk/Messenger) service and traditional SMS/MMS messages. See these...

Hangouts 2.0 now rolling out with SMS support | Android Central
Why Google Hangouts is the best group messaging app available today | Android Central
Google Voice won't be integrated into latest Hangouts update, but it's coming | Android Central

I'm a fan of Hangouts, but I'm eagerly awaiting the Google Voice integration.