Next SMS · Download APK

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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 [email protected]. We will provide help in a timely manner.

What's New

Improve the sync speed when phone and watch connect remotely

Update UI to meet the new requirement

App Information

Version Name

10.9.4.5

Version Code

41009406

File Size

36.4 MB

Minimum OS

Android 6.0+

Target SDK

Android 33

Developer

Handcent

Contact

[email protected]

Website

http://www.handcent.com

Content Rating

Everyone

Package Name

com.handcent.app.nextsms

Permissions Required

This app may request the following permissions:

retrieve running apps
read your contacts
modify your contacts
approximate location (network-based)
precise location (GPS and network-based)
read your text messages (SMS or MMS)
receive text messages (MMS)
receive text messages (SMS)
send SMS messages
edit your text messages (SMS or MMS)
directly call phone numbers
read phone status and identity
read the contents of your USB storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
take pictures and videos
record audio
view Wi-Fi connections
view network connections
pair with Bluetooth devices
access Bluetooth settings
send sticky broadcast
change network connectivity
allow Wi-Fi Multicast reception
connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi
disable your screen lock
full network access
close other apps
run at startup
set wallpaper
draw over other apps
control vibration
prevent device from sleeping
install shortcuts
uninstall shortcuts
read Home settings and shortcuts
write Home settings and shortcuts
receive data from Internet

Recent Reviews

Paul Szydlowski

4.0★

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.

JM

5.0★

I really like the app as a replacement for Verizon Messages+ which was recently shut down. I used Handcent about 15 years ago when it first came out and was happy to see it's still around and has a lot of the same functionality. The options are vast and can be a little confusing so I suggest you take time looking at all of the settings to really take advantage of all the options like group messages, scheduled messages, themes, AI chat, message templates, etc.

Corby Cain

5.0★

9/21/25 I am having trouble sending pictures and when I get one to send the receiver receives this message. "File can be open Natively on next sms instead of browser . . . etc." please advise. thank you. I love this app! There isn't anything you can't do in a text messaging app. The only criticism I have is that the spelling feature does not work at times. Other than that, it is fantastic!

Lisa Saris

4.0★

I really like this text app, but I have had a few issues with using the search feature to find someone's name so I can text them, especially if their name is way down in the order of my recent texts. It'll put me onto a completely different page. Also, choosing a background theme for the page is hard to accomplish without doing all kinds of workarounds to get an image on the screen. Otherwise, the app performs the basic tasks I require it to do... send and receive texts.

Dawn Propst

2.0★

I'm having some major issues. The first issue is when someone tries to send me a photo or image text they come to me showing "download" but they never fully download so that I can see the image. This has been going on for days. I just did the app update thinking that would help, but it didn't. I also called my provider and they walked me through some tech support things such as system updates and tried to do everything they could, but nothing fixed the issue. This happens when I send photos too

Romulus