Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

QKSMS VS Apple Messages

Compare QKSMS VS Apple Messages and see what are their differences

QKSMS logo QKSMS

QKSMS is a beautiful communication app that offers magical texting experience.

Apple Messages logo Apple Messages

Learn more about sending and receiving text messages, photos, personal effects and more with the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.
  • QKSMS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23
  • Apple Messages Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-29

QKSMS features and specs

  • Open Source
    QKSMS is open source, which means its code is publicly available for inspection, modification, and contribution. This enhances transparency and security as users and developers can verify the code for themselves.
  • No Ads
    Unlike many other messaging apps, QKSMS does not include any advertisements, providing a clean and uninterrupted user experience.
  • Customization
    QKSMS offers a variety of customization options, including theming, different color schemes, and notification settings, allowing users to tailor the app to their preferences.
  • Privacy Focused
    The app emphasizes privacy, offering features such as conversation encryption and the ability to protect conversations with passwords.
  • Regular Updates
    The app is regularly updated with new features and bug fixes, ensuring that users have access to the latest improvements and security updates.
  • Material Design
    QKSMS follows Google's Material Design guidelines, offering a visually appealing and intuitive user interface.

Possible disadvantages of QKSMS

  • Limited Features Compared to Competitors
    While QKSMS is a solid messaging app, it may lack some advanced features found in other messaging apps like built-in media searching, advanced file sharing options, or integration with other apps.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Some users have reported occasional crashes or bugs, which can affect the app's reliability in everyday use.
  • SMS Only
    QKSMS is primarily an SMS/MMS app, which means it does not support modern messaging protocols like RCS (Rich Communication Services) or instant messaging over the internet.
  • Dependency on Default SMS Service
    The app relies on the device's default SMS service, which can limit functionality compared to fully integrated messaging platforms.
  • Limited Support Resources
    Being an open-source project, there may be limited official support or resources for troubleshooting compared to commercial messaging apps.

Apple Messages features and specs

  • Integration with Apple Ecosystem
    Apple Messages seamlessly integrates with other Apple devices and services, allowing users to send and receive messages across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches with ease.
  • End-to-End Encryption
    Apple Messages offers strong security features, including end-to-end encryption, ensuring that messages are only accessible by the sender and the receiver.
  • Rich Media Support
    Users can send photos, videos, voice notes, and various multimedia content easily, enhancing communication and providing a versatile messaging experience.
  • iCloud Sync
    Messages are synced across devices using iCloud, which means conversations can be accessed and continued on any Apple device seamlessly.
  • Group Messaging
    Apple Messages supports group chats, allowing users to communicate with multiple people at once and share media and updates efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Apple Messages

  • Limited to Apple Devices
    Apple Messages is only available on Apple devices, which limits its use for people who want to communicate with users on different platforms like Android or Windows.
  • Data Usage with MMS
    When sending multimedia messages via MMS, Apple Messages may incur data charges, unless using iMessage over Wi-Fi or data, which could be costly with a limited data plan.
  • Incomplete Cross-Platform Support
    While messages sent to non-Apple devices default to SMS/MMS, users might experience inconsistent features and the lack of full functionalities like read receipts or typing indicators.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    To use iMessage, an Internet connection is required, either Wi-Fi or cellular data, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Customization
    Compared to some other messaging platforms, Apple Messages offers limited customization options in terms of themes and chat appearance.

Analysis of QKSMS

Overall verdict

  • Yes, QKSMS is considered a good SMS app, particularly for those who value privacy and customization. Its open-source nature and absence of ads make it a reliable choice for users seeking a straightforward messaging application.

Why this product is good

  • QKSMS is an open-source SMS and MMS app that emphasizes privacy and user experience. It offers features like ad-free usage, customizable themes, and a clean, simple interface. Its development as an open-source project allows for community contributions, ensuring it stays up-to-date with user needs and preferences.

Recommended for

    Individuals who prioritize privacy, prefer open-source applications, and seek an ad-free messaging experience. It's also suitable for users who enjoy customizing their app's appearance and functionality.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to QKSMS and Apple Messages)
Instant Messaging
59 59%
41% 41
Messaging
53 53%
47% 47
Communication
67 67%
33% 33
Social & Communications
47 47%
53% 53

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, QKSMS seems to be a lot more popular than Apple Messages. While we know about 17 links to QKSMS, we've tracked only 1 mention of Apple Messages. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

QKSMS mentions (17)

  • Apple announces that RCS support is coming to iPhone next year
    Third-party SMS and MMS messaging apps already exist on Android, such as QKSMS,[1] Simple SMS Messenger,[2] and a large number of proprietary apps. There isn't a shred of evidence that these non-default SMS/MMS apps increase spam to any measurable extent compared to SMS/MMS apps that are preinstalled on phones. [1] QKSMS: https://github.com/moezbhatti/qksms. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • All my Open Source App Alternatives
    Try QKSMS it is more visually pleasing. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Signal is dropping SMS support and both QKSMS and Silence are no longer maintained. Is there a good, open source alternative? Preferably that encrypts your texts locally and allows for backups?
    The current version has not been updated since 2021 (2+ years ago). Source: about 2 years ago
  • Cannot send sms without GMS
    I installed this custom kernel ROM¹, disabled google services through Settings > K Settings² > Disable Google Services, rebooted phone³ and then uninstalled every google package via UAD. I use QKSMS [Github | F-Droid] now and everything works fine. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Are there any end-to-end encrypted messaging apps that also support SMS?
    I'm thinking of switching to something like QKSMS as my default, because it looks less annoying than the stock one. However, if there are any apps that allow encrypted messages between registered users (like the old Signal) while also supporting SMS to non-registered users, then I think that would be the ideal option. Source: over 2 years ago
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Apple Messages mentions (1)

  • Secure Data and Safeguard Users an App With End-to-End Encryption
    Some messaging applications may also use other forms to indicate and notify users if the messages they send to people will be end-to-end encrypted. For instance, iMessage uses a blue bubble for message delivery to indicate that the communication is end-to-end encrypted. Apple also encrypts FaceTime conversations end-to-end. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing QKSMS and Apple Messages, you can also consider the following products

mySMS - Our website uses cookies to provide you with the best experience we can. By using this website, you agree to mysms' use of cookies. More about cookies ×. Menu. Home · Download · Apps · Support · Blog · Premium · Login.

Twinme - Twinme – Private Messenger is a free, secure, instant, and high-definition messaging app that protects your privacy along with giving you full control over each of your relationships and contents.

Textra - Textra is a seriously beautiful, feature rich SMS and MMS app.

ZERO SMS - ZERO SMS is a smallest, fastest and most private messaging app that is specially designed for the best SMS, MMS experience.

Signal - Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.

Material Messaging - Material Messaging is a beautiful communication app that lets you send and receive SMS and MMS messages using the intuitive interface while giving you complete control over every aspect of your messaging experience.