Samsung Messages Gets a Spiritual Successor With RCS Support for Galaxy Users
Samsung Messages may no longer be the default path for many Galaxy users, especially in the United States, but its familiar design is not disappearing without a fight. A new third-party Android app is bringing back much of the classic Samsung Messages experience while keeping modern RCS messaging features alive through Google’s messaging platform.
The app is called Messages and is developed by OzarksMade. It is designed for Galaxy phone owners who prefer the clean, familiar look of Samsung’s former messaging app but do not want to lose access to Rich Communication Services, better known as RCS.
For many Samsung users, the shift toward Google Messages has been practical but not always welcome. Google Messages supports modern chat features, but some longtime Galaxy owners still prefer Samsung’s One UI-inspired interface, conversation layout, and overall feel. This new app aims to offer a middle ground: the Samsung-style messaging experience with the RCS features people expect in 2026.
The app offers two different modes depending on what users need.
Standalone Mode is built for basic SMS and MMS messaging. This option works for users who simply want a traditional texting app with a Samsung-like design.
Companion Mode is the more advanced option. It enables RCS features by using the already-installed Google Messages app in the background. Because independent developers cannot directly access RCS networks in the same way major platform providers can, this approach allows the app to deliver RCS functionality while presenting it inside a more familiar Samsung-style interface.
According to the developer, Samsung’s own chat features had already relied on Google’s Jibe infrastructure for years. In other words, the message routing remains largely the same, but users get a different interface on top of it.
The app includes several design elements inspired by Samsung’s One UI experience. Users can expect rounded message cards, collapsible headers, filter chips, conversation categories, and a dedicated trash bin for recovering deleted texts. These details are likely to appeal to Galaxy users who miss the layout and organization of Samsung Messages.
With RCS enabled through Companion Mode, users can access features such as typing indicators, read receipts, group chats, blue chat bubbles, and high-quality media sharing. The developer also plans to add custom chat themes in a future update, which could make the app even more appealing to users who enjoy personalizing their messaging experience.
The app is currently available in open beta. It is free to test during the beta period through Google Play’s testing system. Once the app launches publicly, it is expected to cost a one-time fee of $0.99.
For Galaxy users who are not ready to fully embrace Google Messages but still want modern messaging features, this new Messages app could be a useful alternative. It is not an official Samsung replacement, but it may be one of the closest options available for anyone who wants the look and feel of Samsung Messages with RCS support still intact.
OzarksMade appears to be a small US-based software developer, and this may be its first major Android app release. If the beta performs well, the project could attract plenty of attention from Samsung fans who still prefer the old messaging experience.
