Samsung Messages is going away, so here are 5 the best messaging alternatives
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Samsung has confirmed it's shutting down its Samsung Messages app later this year, with the app no longer available for download from the Galaxy Store after July 2026. The company has stopped pre-installing it on newer Galaxy devices. Users can still send messages until then, except for emergency services or contacts. Alternatives include Google Messages, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, Telegram, and Signal. Google Messages is the official recommended alternative, supporting RCS.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The shutdown of Samsung Messages affects users relying on the app for messaging.
- · The world's largest Android OEM handing its messaging layer to Google is another step in Samsung's quiet retreat from building its own software ecosystem.