Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages

Over 6 billion SMS messages are sent daily just in the US. Having a fast and easy-to-use messaging app can help in many ways.

The article explores two popular apps: Google Messages and Samsung Messages. Which is for you? This is the Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages battle.

Interface

Both apps look the same except for a few differences. Google Messages only shows one line of the latest text under each conversation, whereas Samsung displays extended length.

When you open both, you see conversations on the top, but scrolling down moves conversations.

Samsung Messages has two tabs and an option to add Categories. The second tab shows your contacts.

Regarding the unknown numbers, you see Google Messages simplifying the numbers by adding spaces. Samsung Messages lacks this feature as numbers are without any spaces or formatting.

Swiping on a conversation in Google Messages moves it to the archive folder, but you can customize it to delete the message completely. Samsung Messages doesn’t have an archive folder.

While typing the message, Google Messages displays whether you are sending an SMS or MMS. By default, it’s an SMS, but the label converts to MMS if you add a file or an image.

Winner: Tie

Dark theme

Both offer a dark theme, but Samsung has an edge because of its One UI. The dark theme in the app is super dark. With Google Messages, you will notice that the screen is dark gray even on Samsung devices.

However, Google Messages has a separate option to enable or disable this mode, whereas Samsung Messages relies on your device’s display mode.

Winner: Tie

Unread messages

The unread conversation is displayed in bold text in both, and you see a tiny dot to the right.

Samsung Messages also shows the total unread messages when you scroll down in the main interface.

Also, you get to see the total unread messages in each conversation on the right side of the conversation.

Winner: Samsung Messages

Related: SwiftKey vs. Samsung Keyboard

Supported messages options

This is one of the prominent rounds of Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages, as the more features you get, the better.

Both support many options for sending in a message. The below image table shows all the possible options.

Out of 15 features, Google Messages supports 12, and Samsung Messages offers 13, but two with the help of other Samsung apps.

Winner: Tie

Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages: Notifications

Overall, Google Messages gets this round because it offers more AI options. The first option is automatically copying the OTP message code.

You get a copy button that marks the message as read and copies the code to the clipboard.

Second, in some regions (not in Australia), there is an option to delete OTPs after 24 hours. The option is not available in my area, so I’m unsure if the option is still valid in other regions.

Samsung Messages notification shows:

• Message details
• Mark as read
• View message options

Furthermore, Google Messages supports text bubbles, which work like the chat heads in Messenger. Although the feature is buggy, it creates a unique texting style.

Samsung Messages does not support bubbles, but you can always open a small popup to respond to a message.

Both apps support popup notifications on Samsung devices and are supported on Samsung Galaxy watches.

Winner: Google Messages

Searching

This round goes to Google Messages because the moment you tap on that search bar, you see two rows: People and Categories.

Under the People row, you see the recent users you had conversations with. You can tap on any to search through that conversation.

The Categories row shows:

• Starred
• Images
• Videos
• Places
• Links

Touching on one shows messages containing that particular category. For example, tapping on links displays all the messages that contain links.

When you tap on that search bar, Samsung Messages also shows a couple of rows.

The first is “Picture and videos,” which shows all the pictures. The second row is “others,” which contains other data such as audio messages.

Winner: Google Messages

Chat features

Both support sending messages on the internet, but the technology still needs some time. Google Messages can use the internet to:

• Send and receive messages
• Let others know that you have read the message
• Let others know when you start typing
• React to messages

Here is what you can expect from this, depending on the device:

• Google Messages to Google Messages: Full support
• Google Messages to Samsung Messages: Partial support
• Google Messages to iMessage: Minor support

Samsung Messages uses this feature, but it’s not as advanced. You must register to use this feature. Google Messages asks you to verify your number, whereas Samsung Messages automatically confirms you.

Winner: Google Messages

Extra features

Google Message’s smart reply

The smart reply feature is not everywhere, but it is one of the great features.

The app uses AI to detect the last received message and suggests a few quick one-tap messages based on that message.

For example, if you receive “Where are you?” it will suggest options like “At home” and “I’m at home,” etc. It also suggests GIFs and emojis.

Winner: Google Messages

Spam detection

We see spam detection in both, but Google Messages is ahead in this game.

Messages I receive are sent to the spam folder in the former, whereas the latter sometimes misses and lets them sit in conversations.

Regarding technology, Google Messages uses its own service, whereas Samsung Messages takes the data from Hiya. A user can also report spam messages in the app.

Winner: Google Messages

Video calling

Google Messages shows a video call option that uses Google Meet to call the person.

The buttons are visible if you have Google Meet installed, and the receiver can receive calls if they have it installed.

Winner: Samsung Messages

Link previews

Link previewing is a standard feature, and both apps support previewing. Google Messages comes with options such as filtering out the links and downloading over Wi-fi, while Samsung Messages only offers to enable and disable this option.

Winner: Tie

Messages for web

A fantastic tool of Google Messages is Messages for web. Like WhatsApp Web, it allows you to send and receive messages on your computer.

The user must scan the app’s barcode to use this service, but the computer can be saved for future use.

The website has tools like the dark theme, chat features settings, data warnings, notifications, etc. Most of the options are automatically synced with the app.

Samsung Messages does not offer a built-in web messaging service, but with the help of Samsung SideSync, you can send messages from the PC.

Winner: Google Messages

Categories

Samsung Messages’s main UI has the option to add categories. You can separate your work and personal life by creating categories and adding contacts to those categories.

Winner: Samsung Messages

Related: Google Messages vs. Message+

Settings

So, what settings do both offer in this Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages battle?

Other than mentioned above, Google Messages offers to enable/disable the ongoing sound, change the user’s country, manage group messaging (MMS), auto-download MMS, auto-download while roaming, and deliver reports.

Samsung Messages can manage notifications, quick responses, delivery reports, input mode, and message center.

Google Messages or Samsung Messages

With what has been happening, Samsung even prefers Google Messages, so why not go and see if it fits?

It has robust AI code detection, spam protection, smart replays, web searches, and other features, making it a great addition to our digital life.

Conclusion

The comparison of Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages covered the essential topics. I hope it helped you figure out which one to use.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.