Why would you NOT use the stock messaging app?

[chanchan05]

1. In my line of work I have to make very long SMS, up to 23 parts long. The stock SMS app can receive something like that but it can't send it. It converts to MMS at the 4th part. MMS charges which will pile up, or unlimited texting which I am already paying for anyway? This means for me, stock is no go.

And I paid for textra ages ago when the Samsung Messaging app was still young and did not have proper emoji support yet that's accepted universally. So using Textra now isn't a big deal.

 

[bassoprofundo]

Simple for me... If you're on AT&T and don't use the stock app (on a supported AT&T Wi-fi Calling phone, that is), you lose the ability to send/receive texts over wifi. I used Textra for ages and have played around with just about every app there is out there, but given that I now spend 2-3 days a week stuck in a cellular black hole, I finally just gave up and went stock. I also had to ditch the Nexuses, Pixels, OPs of the world and start using AT&T branded devices. It sucks, but at the end of the day, I need my phone to work whenever and wherever I am, and switching carriers is not an option for me.

 

[cpaight]

Its weird I know, but it's not working with the stock app unless I turn WiFi off, and happen to be getting a data signal. I can't figure it out.

It's not your app, it's a known T-Mobile issue

 

[auntpie]

The S8+ & Note 8 are probably the first Samsung Devices where I use almost everything stock. And because of another thread I just started using the native email app a few days ago and I'm loving it over the Gmail app. The only reason why I wouldn't use the stock messaging app is because when you click on links they open in a "light" version of the Samsung browser with the option to open in the full Samsung Browser but no option to choose your default browser if you were to use Chrome or something else. In past versions it gave you the option to open in Chrome but I guess Samsung is trying to push their browser. I'm just glad they don't force it with their stock email app. I still use the stock messaging app as I don't receive many links via text.

Chrome is the only thing I don't use stock nowadays on Samsung devices because of all my bookmarks, saved passwords, autofill info, etc that sync between all my devices.

Hadn't really thought about using the stock email app. Why do you like it better? Just curious.

 

[DerHof]

I like the animated emoji in Mood
Textra and Verizon also have features I like. none of them are perfect but if I could pull features from each then I could have the perfect app 'for me'
I'll never do ads. I have paid versions of probably 3 different ones....

 

[strikeIII]

Hadn't really thought about using the stock email app. Why do you like it better? Just curious.

I honestly don't like the conversation view of gmail and I like how the stock email app follows the theme of my device. Also works better with my Gear S3 as it gives you more options to interact with the email from the watch.

 

[kirksucks]

I honestly don't like the conversation view of gmail and I like how the stock email app follows the theme of my device. Also works better with my Gear S3 as it gives you more options to interact with the email from the watch.

I've been using Inbox ever since it was released. I really like it.

 

[hasasimo]

Textra is a lot more customizable, from primary and secondary layout colors, to background, message bubble, and font shades; variety of emoji sets, a better job handling MMS, more notification options, etc.

The stock Samsung messaging app isn't bad anymore IMO. The gap has closed but Textra is still better. And as a mobile enthusiast that likes to try out different phones, it guarantees me a consistent, top-notch experience across every Android OEM.

 

[dmateo]

I use android messaging. pretty good.

 

[mayconvert]

I love the stock app. I don't like the no Gifs part. I use Android messages some too. no ads. (so far lol )
but. I am the odd ball that also Loves google Allo.
I've tried others, always end up on one of these 3. Most of the time on stock.

 

[Morty2264]

I love the stock app. I don't like the no Gifs part. I use Android messages some too. no ads. (so far lol )
but. I am the odd ball that also Loves google Allo.
I've tried others, always end up on one of these 3. Most of the time on stock.

How is Google Allo?

 

[Dan Hayes]

I've used Next SMS for several years on my Galaxy Note and even though it costs a bit extra, I like the flexability and added features.
A few personal favs include:
- Advance time scheduling for SMS & MMS msgs. (group or individual).
- Spell check built-in (for longer text).
- Expanded image sending and storage options.
Plus, the lay-out just works better since I control how everything looks and feels.

 

[Morty2264]

I've used Next SMS for several years on my Galaxy Note and even though it costs a bit extra, I like the flexability and added features.
A few personal favs include:
- Advance time scheduling for SMS & MMS msgs. (group or individual).
- Spell check built-in (for longer text).
- Expanded image sending and storage options.
Plus, the lay-out just works better since I control how everything looks and feels.

Next SMS does sound like a good app! Plus, scheduled sending of SMS/MMS is a great feature. Pretty sure Textra has that as well!

 

[TabGuy]

I have Google Voice for my phone number and AFAIK the stock app will not send/receive messages using Google Voice. In any event, GV is much more convenient as I can use it on any tablet or PC without any additional software. I have messages in GV back to 2009.

 

[kj11]

How is Google Allo?

Worthless. It doesn't do sms.

 

[cwbcpa]

Worthless. It doesn't do sms.

Definitely not worthless for everyone. I use it everyday with my family accross platforms. I'll agree that not having SMS is a major issue and drawback though. I can understand why you would feel it's worthless without it. It serves it's purpose for me and my iPhone using family though.

 

[Dooki]

Allo is a good app, better than WhatsApp imo. but getting people to change anything is tough, especially if they might have years of messages on their chat that the think they will eventually look at, but never will.
give it sms and put it on all phones just like Gmail. people will use it.

 

[cpaight]

It really blows my mind that Google still can't make a good, do-all messaging app.

 

[Grifter73]

I set it up and linked my other devices. Then switched to the standard Google messaging app but leave the Verizon one installed and keep it up-to-date. All my messages still sync fine and I can use whatever I want now.

Flicked via the BlackBerry keyboard on my Pixel 2

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I have done the same thing, but when I use another texting app on my phone, the texts I type out on my other devices (namely, my desktop, as I use it at work throughout the day) do not show up on that particular app on the phone. They DO show in Messages+. The texts I receive FROM people show up in all text apps. If I'm not using Messages+, though, it just looks like someone is sending me a string of messages, and I'm ignoring them.

 

[kirksucks]

this thread is making me want to go back to Android Messages.