arrow_back How does Pulse SMS compare to Android messages?
Pulse SMS vs Android Messages

What is the goal?

Pulse SMS and Android Messages both allow you to send messages through your computer's web browser. At the core, this is what puts them above other SMS apps, in terms of functionality. Both apps accomplish this goal, but we do it very differently. Obviously I am biased on my opinion here, but below I discuss the positives and negatives of these approaches.

How does each app do it?

Pulse SMS is a traditional web app. Everything that you do on the phone gets mirrored to a database that's stored in the cloud. The web/desktop/tablet apps (and Pulse SMS' other platforms), then pull messages out of that cloud database, make changes, etc, without a direct connection to your phone. The server then forwards any of those changes to your phone. That means that your other devices have no direct dependency on the phone, which is a good thing for both battery life and data usage. It is also what allows me to create apps for your tablet, smartwatch, Android TV, iPad, and any other devices that do not access your messages directly through the browser. This is a major architectural advantage for Pulse SMS. To learn more, search "architecture" on my help page.

Android Messages, on the other hand, opens up a persistent streaming connection from your phone to the web to move data between the two devices. As long as you have the website open, this connection is active. This means that Google does not have to store your messages in any type of cloud database. Google probably went this route for privacy reasons, so they didn't have to store your messages. I can't think of any other advantage to doing it this way, at least. Privacy isn't something that you have to worry about with Pulse SMS though. Everything in the app is end-to-end encrypted. No one can see your messages unless they have your email and password combination. To learn more about Pulse SMS' encryption, see this page.

If you have the Android Messages web app open for long periods of time, it will affect your battery life and use your data. Android isn't always great with persistent streaming connections like this. The affects may be minimal, depending on your device, so you can decide if this is something you need to worry about or not.

Why use Pulse SMS?

Obviously Android Messages is free and from Google. It allows you to send messages while sitting at a computer and works well enough. So, what does the Pulse SMS desktop integration have that Android Messages does not? Being a traditional web app, instead of creating a streaming connection between your phone and the site, offers a number of sizable advantages:

  • Pulse SMS has native, installable, desktop apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS. You don't have to use Pulse SMS just in your browser. You can install it and have awesome system-level integrations that Android Messages does not provide.
  • Notifications for new messages, on your computer, without the need to keep a tab open in your browser.
  • Automatic backup and restore of your messages. Since everything is stored (end-to-end encrypted) in the cloud, all your messages automatically get backed up and restored to any new device, when you log in. No fuss.
  • It has Chrome and Firefox extensions if you want to access the app from within your browser, but outside of the website.
  • You can text from your tablet.
  • Pulse SMS doesn't need to open a streaming connection to your phone, that drains battery and uses data.
  • Snooze notifications when you are presenting or don't want others to see them.
  • View private conversations and folders.
  • Manage scheduled messages and your blacklist.
  • Search conversations.
  • Customize conversation and global settings, without opening the phone app.
  • Everything is end-to-end encrypted. No one will be able to access your messages without your email and password.

On top of all these web-specific features, here is a small taste of the features in the Android app, that Android Messages will likely never have:

  • More powerful theme support and customization
  • Pinned conversations
  • Private conversations that are password protected
  • Folder support for improved organization
  • Rename group conversations
  • Scheduled messages
  • Delayed sending
  • Message templates
  • Signature support
  • Auto-reply support
  • Snooze notifications
  • Swipe action customization to delete and archive conversations