But here’s the thing: this app is also really damn good.
PulseSMS is the only app on the list that also requires you to use its app on your phone in order to use the service on the web, making it a true match to Messages for Web. Pulse SMS (Free, Subscription, One-Time Fee) Your call on whether that’s worth $10 a year.
Messages for Web, of course, is completely free, and most of the other options available from mySMS can also be replicated for free (save perhaps for scheduled messaging).
MySMS Premium is also significantly more affordable than the other pro apps on the list at just $10 a year. While the free version supports a “basic messaging feature set,” the Premium subscription will get you backup options, the ability to manage calls on your computer, message scheduling, export and archiving options, and the removal of the “via ” signature at the end of messages sent from your computer. Still, it offers more than what you’ll get with Messages for Web. This app/service is all about SMS-nothing more, nothing less.Īs such, its more of a direct competitor with Messages for Web than the above two options. It doesn’t offer the frills that you’ll find in Pushbullet and MightyText-notification mirroring, link sharing, and the like are all absent here. When it comes to texting from your computer, mySMS is one of the simplest options out there. If you need features that aren’t included in Messages for Web, we’d suggest Pushbullet before even considering MightyText. So at that point, you’re looking to pay a lot of money for not a lot of additional functionality.
But honestly, if you’re already using Google Photos (as you should be), then this is sort of a wash. It’s also worth mentioning MightyTexts’ photo and video syncing feature, which can back up everything you shoot with your phone’s camera-it even includes a simple editor. But here’s the kicker: MightyText Pro is $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year, making it double what Pushbullet charges, for a nearly identical service. The Pro version removes this limitation, allowing you to send as many messages as you want. The free version is limited to 150 messages per month, which isn’t much. Of course, to get the most use from MightyText, you’ll need that Pro version (started to see a trend here?). Things like battery alerts and texting via email are available as part of MightyText, and the Pro version also lets you schedule messages, create message templates, and even supports themes if that’s something you’re into. That said, it also offers features you won’t find elsewhere. In fact, it can do a lot of the same things you’ll find in Pushbullet, like notification mirroring. Unlike Pushbullet, MightyText started its life as nothing more than a way to send messages from your computer, but it has grown since then. A reasonable option, to be honest, because Pushbullet doesn’t have the best texting interface, especially compared to Messages for Web.
But it doesn’t offer the advanced functionality of Pushbullet, so there’s probably room for both apps in your life, should you choose to do things this way. Messages for Web, on the other hand, is completely free and unlimited. Here’s how it compares to the biggest comparable apps in Google Play: Pushbullet, MightyText, mySMS, and PulseSMS. But also like other Google products, that doesn’t automatically make it a bad choice. Like so many Google products, Messages for Web isn’t as robust or feature-rich as some of the other options out there.
RELATED: Android Messages for Web: What It Is and How to Use It The thing is, users have been able to use third-party applications-like Pushbullet and MightyText-to not only used text messages from their computers, but also use any SMS app they want on their phone. While limited in features compared to more robust options, Android Messages is still one of the most popular messaging apps in the Play Store, and Android Messages for Web is only going to add to its popularity. While available freely in the Play Store for any Android device, Android Messages is the stock messaging option on Pixel devices. But how does it compare to the tools we’ve had for so long?Īndroid Messages for Web, as Google calls it, is the company’s newest feature for its texting platform. Google has now finally added this functionality to its Android text messaging app. We’ve long had the ability to send text messages from a computer with third party apps like Pushbullet and MightyText.