New to the channel? Start with what is RCS messaging. If you’re asking which app to use — or why your RCS isn’t working — here’s the current, accurate picture.
“Best RCS app” is a slightly misleading search, because RCS isn’t like WhatsApp or Signal where you pick an app and install it. RCS is built into the native messaging client your phone already uses, and it only works when both sender and recipient are on RCS-capable apps with carrier support. So the real question isn’t “which app has the best features” — it’s “which native client should I use, and how do I make sure RCS is on?”
How RCS Apps Actually Work
RCS replaces SMS/MMS at the carrier level and runs through your phone’s default messaging app — you don’t download a separate “RCS app.” Three things must line up for RCS to work in a conversation: an RCS-capable app on both ends, RCS enabled, and carrier support. When any of those is missing, the message falls back to SMS or MMS. That’s why the same person might see rich RCS features in one chat and plain texts in another — it depends on the other side’s device, app, and carrier.
Google Messages (Android)
On Android, Google Messages is the RCS app — it’s the default client Google built RCS around, and it’s where Android’s RCS features live, including end-to-end encryption for one-to-one and group chats (Android-to-Android since 2020, and cross-platform with iPhone in 2026 where supported). If you’re on Android and want RCS, Google Messages is the answer; most other Android clients either route through it or don’t support RCS at all.
Apple Messages (iPhone)
For years iPhone had no RCS — texts to Android fell back to SMS/MMS (the “green bubble” experience). That changed with iOS 18 in 2024, when Apple added RCS to the Messages app, bringing better media quality, typing indicators, and read receipts to iPhone–Android chats. In 2026, Apple and Google went further, rolling out cross-platform end-to-end encryption for person-to-person RCS (via iOS 26.5 and the latest Google Messages, built on the GSMA Universal Profile and MLS). So on iPhone, Apple Messages is your RCS app — no separate download needed. See Apple RCS messaging for the detail.
What About Samsung Messages?
Samsung Messages historically supported RCS, but it’s being retired: Samsung has confirmed it will shut the app down (beginning July 2026), directing users to Google Messages as the default for SMS and RCS across Galaxy devices — and Google Messages is the Android client that supports encrypted RCS. The practical effect is consolidation: in most markets, carrier messaging now centres on two native clients, Apple Messages on iPhone and Google Messages on Android. If you’re on a Galaxy device, the future-proof choice is Google Messages.
The Apps at a Glance
App | Platform | Status (2026) |
|---|---|---|
Google Messages | Android | The RCS client — E2EE 1:1 & groups; default for Galaxy too |
Apple Messages | iPhone | RCS since iOS 18; cross-platform E2EE rolling out (iOS 26.5) |
Samsung Messages | Galaxy (legacy) | Shutting down from July 2026 — use Google Messages |
Third-party apps (Signal, WhatsApp) | Both | Not RCS — separate networks; see our Signal explainer |
(Wondering about Signal specifically? It doesn’t support RCS at all — here’s why.)
How to Enable RCS
On Android, open Google Messages, go to its settings, and look for RCS chats (or “chat features”) to turn them on — it may verify your number. On iPhone (iOS 18 or later), RCS appears in Messages settings where supported by your carrier. In both cases, RCS depends on carrier support on both ends, so if a particular chat shows plain SMS, the other person’s device, app, or carrier may not support RCS yet. Encryption (where available) is on by default and shown with a lock icon.
Best RCS App for Business
If your goal is reaching customers — not chatting with friends the “best RCS app” question changes entirely. Businesses don’t send through Google Messages or Apple Messages; they use RCS Business Messaging (RBM) through an approved partner to send verified, branded, interactive messages (carousels, buttons, rich media) at scale, with analytics. That’s a different stack from the consumer apps and it’s where a Google RCS Anchor Partner like helo.ai comes in.
Conclusion
There isn’t a marketplace of RCS apps to compare RCS lives in your phone’s native messaging client. On Android that’s Google Messages (now the default even on Galaxy as Samsung Messages retires from July 2026); on iPhone it’s Apple Messages (RCS since iOS 18, cross-platform encryption arriving in 2026). Make sure RCS is enabled and your carrier supports it, and you’re set. And if your real goal is reaching customers, that’s business RCS through a partner a different stack from the consumer apps. Start with what is RCS messaging.
FAQs
What is the best RCS app?
Google Messages on Android and Apple Messages on iPhone — the native clients RCS runs through. You don’t install a separate RCS app; you enable RCS in the messaging app your phone already uses.
Is there a separate RCS app to download?
No. RCS is built into the native messaging client (Google Messages on Android, Apple Messages on iPhone). Third-party apps like Signal and WhatsApp are separate networks and don’t send RCS.
What happened to Samsung Messages?
Samsung is shutting down Samsung Messages from July 2026 and directing users to Google Messages as the default for SMS and RCS on Galaxy devices — the Android client that supports encrypted RCS.
Does the iPhone have an RCS app?
Yes — Apple Messages supports RCS since iOS 18 (2024), with cross-platform end-to-end encryption rolling out in 2026 where the OS version and carrier support it. No separate app is needed.
Why isn’t my RCS working?
RCS needs an RCS-capable app, RCS enabled, and carrier support on both ends. If any is missing, messages fall back to SMS/MMS — which is why some chats show rich features and others don’t.
