AppTierList › Text Messaging › Messages › Alternatives
30+ Best Messages Alternatives for iPhone (2026)
Messages is A tier, #11 of 40 in text messaging. Here is everything that competes with it on iPhone, in tier order.
- 1
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 674,269 ratings · score 97Free calls and texts to US and Canada numbers, with optional custom second phone numbers, voicemail, and international. - 2
Free + IAP · ★ 4.6 · 271,938 ratings · score 95Texting and calling app with a free US phone number, free texting, free inbound calls, and low-cost outbound calls over - 3
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 3,573,086 ratings · score 93Free social chat app for gamers and friend groups, with voice, video and text chat, streaming, and shared activities. - 4
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 13,829,913 ratings · score 93Free messaging app for text, audio and video calls, with photo sharing, file sending, groups and communities. - 5
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 1,559,128 ratings · score 93Free group and direct chat app for messaging, sharing photos, GIFs and videos, and calling groups. - 6
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 9,171 ratings · score 92A Telegram-based messenger with a built-in AI assistant, hidden chats, file scanning, translation and to-do lists. - 7
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 1,102,182 ratings · score 91Free messaging app with end-to-end encrypted texts, media, voice and video calls, group chats and Stories. - 8
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 18,808,034 ratings · score 91Free messaging and calling app from Meta with end-to-end encrypted chats, group chats, voice and video calls, and… - 9
Free + IAP · ★ 4.6 · 831,143 ratings · score 91Messaging and calling app with end-to-end encryption, group chats, disappearing messages and free Viber-to-Viber calls. - 10
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 142,554 ratings · score 91Free app for calls and texts over WiFi or cellular data, with a free US/Canada phone number. - 12
Free + IAP · ★ 4.8 · 925,301 ratings · score 89Free calling and texting app that adds a phone number, with optional paid data plans and low-cost international calls. - 13
Free + IAP · ★ 4.6 · 65,818 ratings · score 89Gives you a second US phone number for private text messaging, group texts, and receiving verification codes. - 14
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 609,865 ratings · score 89Free app that gives you a second phone number for calls, texts, and multimedia messages over Wi-Fi or data. - 15
Free + IAP · ★ 4.3 · 485,456 ratings · score 88Free messaging app for one-on-one and group chats, sharing photos, videos, GIFs and games, using a username instead of. - 16
Free + IAP · ★ 4.3 · 5,843 ratings · score 88Sends one text message to a group of contacts at once, with saved groups, templates and contact search. - 17
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 70,561 ratings · score 86Free calling and texting app that provides a U.S. Phone number, with calls to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. - 18
Free + IAP · ★ 3.9 · 81,461 ratings · score 85Messaging, calls, social posts, news accounts, mini programs and mobile payments in one free social networking app. - 19
Free + IAP · ★ 4.6 · 9,666 ratings · score 83Free app for app-to-app audio and video calls and messages with other Text App users over WiFi or cellular data. - 20
$1.99 + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 62,730 ratings · score 82Messaging and calling app that provides a personal phone number for unlimited texts, photos, video, and calls to US and - 21
Free download · ★ 4.7 · 4,149 ratings · score 81Sends SMS text messages to large and small groups of contacts, with bulk sending, batch messaging, contacts import and. - 22
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 4,979 ratings · score 80Free messaging, calling and group video chat app for kids and families, with a reset-able Friend Code and no ads or. - 23
Free download · ★ 4.4 · 16,298 ratings · score 80Lets you text from a separate phone number in the US or Canada so your personal phone number is not shown to contacts. - 24
Free + IAP · ★ 4.6 · 4,397 ratings · score 72Encrypted texting app with unsend, screenshot alerts, and chat history that erases automatically after 24 hours. - 25
Free download · ★ 4.5 · 11,776 ratings · score 72Makes calls and sends texts over WiFi or mobile data, and offers phone numbers and international calling. - 26
Free download · ★ 4.8 · 59,590 ratings · score 71Encrypted messaging app with file sharing, group management, and optional private or on-premise server hosting. - 27
Free · ★ 4.9 · 21,316 ratings · score 70Real-time messaging app for organizations with video chat, task management, announcements, and instant translation. - 28
Free download · ★ 4.7 · 9,070 ratings · score 69Social Networking app by Kinzoo Technologies Inc. on the App Store. - 29
Free + IAP · ★ 4.7 · 15,674 ratings · score 69Free iOS app that creates separate digital identities (Sudos), each with an email, handle, private browser and optional. - 30
Free download · ★ 4.8 · 6,553 ratings · score 69Team chat app with channels, slash commands, bots, voice and video calls, and file sharing for workplace collaboration. - 31
Free · ★ 4.6 · 13,669 ratings · score 68Messaging app that pairs with compatible Garmin inReach satellite devices for direct messaging, group chat, and. - 32
- 33
Free download · ★ 4.7 · 3,489 ratings · score 67Business app by Made Simple Ventures LLC on the App Store. - 34
Free · ★ 4.3 · 116,341 ratings · score 67A messaging and video chat app for kids, with parent controls over contacts, messages and usage limits. - 35
Free download · ★ 4.7 · 2,297 ratings · score 67End-to-end encrypted app for secure messaging, voice and video calls, file and screen sharing, and bot-based workflows. - 36
Free + IAP · ★ 4.8 · 1,964 ratings · score 67Free chat app for couples to send private messages and photos that only the synced partner can see. - 37
Free + IAP · ★ 4.4 · 47,890 ratings · score 67Free messenger for one-on-one and group chats, voice and face calls, and topic-based Open Chat communities. - 38
Free + IAP · ★ 4.6 · 2,050 ratings · score 66Provides a second US or Canada phone number for calls and texts without a SIM card, for dating, shopping and business. - 39
Free + IAP · ★ 4.6 · 1,985 ratings · score 66All-in-one social app combining feeds, video, live streams, chat, Marketplace, jobs, events, recipes and games. - 40
Free download · ★ 4.5 · 30,645 ratings · score 66Free calls and texts over WiFi or cellular data, plus optional second phone numbers in several countries.
Questions people ask
- What is the best alternative to Messages on iPhone?
- Text Me - Phone Call + Texting, S tier, #1 in text messaging.
- Is there a free alternative to Messages?
- Yes: Text Me - Phone Call + Texting (S tier, #1) is free to download, with in-app purchases.
- Does anything rank above Messages?
- Yes. 10 apps rank above it in text messaging: Text Me - Phone Call + Texting (#1), textPlus: Text Message + Call (#2), Discord - Talk, Play, Hang Out (#3) and more.