Handcent Next SMS messenger

Contains adsIn-app purchases
4.4
75.1K reviews
5M+
Downloads
Content rating
Everyone
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About this app

Upgrade your messaging experience. Enjoy unlimited customization, AI features, cloud backup, MMS Plus , upmost privacy, and smooth texting on PC and tablet. It is the perfect alternative to stock SMS text messenger and Verizon Messages+

Secure and private messenger
Best SMS app with personalization
AI capabilities - powered by OpenAI to make texting easier
Encrypted chat - Reliable guard to keep texts safe
Texting from any system/device with 'Anywhere'
Cloud backup - never worry about long texts again
Lots of Stickers, emojis, and gifs to choose from
Wear OS device support(Dependent on phone app)
Group or mass texts to multiple recipients
Support for foldables, like Samsung fold
Support for most android versions (4.4 to 13) and Lineage OS 19
Dual SIM support

Security


For every update, it'll be scanned with *VirualTotal* 60+ mainstream anti-virus engines to make sure it's safe. Protecting data privacy is our top priority.
Conversations now can be encrypted as per your need

AI features


-Detects sensitive information and suggests masking options.
-Extract, copy, search, and share text from images
-Generate descriptive text for photos
-Summary of recent conversations
-Grammar & Spell Check: Ensure your messages are clear and error-free
-AI Emoji Suggestions
-AI Auto-Reply

Messenger Customization


The theme store offers over 200 themes with new ones updated weekly.
You can personalize fonts, stickers, colors, ringtones, LED colors, vibration patterns, etc.

Handcent Anywhere - best private texting on computer and tablet.


Cross-platform texting on all systems and device. Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, android, computers, tablets, and smartwatches all have separate apps. You can text anywhere without the phone.
Go to aw.handcent.com and start messaging. Group text is also supported

Wear OS


Receive and reply messages on all android-based smartwatches, with the features like voice to text, etc.
Support Wear OS , Galaxy Watch series with Tizen and both square and round watches(Phone app needed, doesn't work as a standalone app)

MMS


MMS is fast and stable, can receive all kinds of MMS messages and share full-size multimedia with MMS plus.
MMS plus can act as a multimedia files downloader, and save them on the private cloud.

Pop up text


Quick reply text messages within a pop up window.

Private Box


An encrypted text message box that can only be opened by unique passcode. Texts within can only be viewed by yourself.

SMS Backup


Never worry about losing texts or messages with our backup service. Restore all private messages (SMS/MMS) and settings when you switch to a new phone or reset the phone.


Search


You can search text messages by time, message type and etc.
All SMS messages with text are searchable

SMS Blocker/Blacklisting


Block all unwanted or spam SMS & MMS messages in our private android text messaging app.

Spam filter


Automatically filter and block potential spam messages

Scheduled Task


Schedule texts to be sent at a given time.

Emoji


You will love animated emojis that complies with the newest emoji standard.

Stickers


Integrated with Giphy. Send messages with stickers by using quick search.

Drive mode


Read texts or mute during drive to ensure driving safety with Android Auto support

Text to Speech


Read texts out loud with support for repeated reminder

Sticky on top


Pin your private contacts on top for quicker access

Other improvements.
Built-in ChatGPT to let you talk to AI as a conversation thread
Group Messaging Chat: Create a group with friends, all contacts will receive the message. Send mass texts with stickers to all members.

Other features: Bulk Mass SMS & MMS, group text, text snippets and etc.

If you encounter any problems or need help, please reach us at help@handcent.com. We will provide help in a timely manner.
Updated on
Apr 2, 2026

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
This app may share these data types with third parties
Device or other IDs
This app may collect these data types
Messages and Contacts
Data is encrypted in transit
You can request that data be deleted

Ratings and reviews

4.4
74.2K reviews
Paul Szydlowski
November 10, 2024
All that's keeping me from giving five stars is the lack of a quick way to mute a conversation (eg, have the option "Mute Conversation" when you hit the three dots) so I can do that easily during business meetings or elsewhere when I don't want to be disturbed by an active conversation. It can be done, but it must be searched for, which isn't desirable under the circumstances when I want to mute them.
59 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?
Handcent
November 11, 2024
Please long press a conversation/thread and then click "Mute notification". Any other issues or suggestions please contact us at help@handcent.com so that we can help you better.
L L
April 11, 2026
Another Samsung Messages user in search of something comparable before July. I downloaded this app yesterday and have been playing around with it. So far, I'm liking it! I went ahead and purchased the $10 silver plan for a year to get ad-free and back up options. I hate Google messages! I tried one other third party app, but this one more comparable to Samsung Messages. I rarely send large files but if I need to, I always use WhatsApp anyway - so no problem. Would love some leopard themes!
1 person found this review helpful
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Handcent
April 13, 2026
Thank you for your kind review and support. If there are any issues or suggestions please contact us at help@handcent.com. Love from Handcent - the best free messenger app with group text message, stickers & private texting
SonShine Homesteader
April 10, 2026
The app seems pretty cool, lots of options for customization which I love. however I just installed it yesterday and I can't figure out why notifications aren't ringing. I have everything turned on and still nothing. The only notifications I get are from two contacts that I have special ringtones for. Not sure why the general notifications aren't making any noise. It's really irritating and absolutely useless if notifications don't actually work. Please help!
Did you find this helpful?
Handcent
April 15, 2026
Please go to the next sms app settings in the main Inbox page, click All>>Notification settings did you enable Notification? And please click preview will it work? Please contact us at help@handcent.com with detail info of the issue so that we can help you fix it better.

What’s new

Improve the sync speed when phone and watch connect remotely

Update UI to meet the new requirement