In a move that surprised many Galaxy device owners, Samsung officially discontinued its long-standing Messages app in the United States earlier this month. For years, Samsung Messages had been the default texting application on millions of Galaxy smartphones, offering a clean, One UI-optimized experience that many users preferred over Google's Messages app. The sudden removal forced longtime fans to migrate to Google's offering, bringing unfamiliar interfaces and feature differences. However, a third-party developer named OzarksMade has stepped in with an app that aims to recreate the Samsung Messages experience as faithfully as possible.
What Is Messages by OzarksMade?
The new app, simply called Messages by OzarksMade, is designed from the ground up to evoke the same visual style and functional layout that Samsung Messages users were accustomed to. Screenshots shared by the developer reveal an interface that is strikingly similar: the same color scheme, icon set, chat bubble styles, and overall navigation flow. Even the app's icon is a near-copy of the original Samsung Messages icon, which could raise intellectual property concerns. According to the developer's description, the app is explicitly targeted at One UI and Galaxy users who miss Samsung's messaging experience and do not want to switch to Google Messages' different design language.
Unlike many generic SMS apps on the Play Store, Messages by OzarksMade promises full support for SMS, MMS, group messaging, scheduled messages, local backups, and — crucially — RCS (Rich Communication Services). However, the RCS implementation comes with a notable caveat: because third-party developers do not have direct access to Google's proprietary RCS infrastructure, the app uses a “Companion Mode” that runs Google Messages in the background to handle RCS functionality. This means users who want RCS will still need to install Google Messages and allow it to run as the silent backend. A standalone mode is available for SMS and MMS-only usage, bypassing RCS entirely.
A Familiar Comfort in a Changing Messaging Landscape
The discontinuation of Samsung Messages was part of a broader industry trend toward standardizing messaging platforms. Google has been aggressively promoting its Messages app as the default RCS hub, and phone makers like Samsung have gradually reduced their own messaging applications in favor of this unified ecosystem. For Samsung, dropping Messages was likely a strategic decision to simplify software maintenance and align with Google's direction. Yet for millions of users who had grown comfortable with the Samsung app, the transition has been jarring. Features such as the dedicated “Pin to top” conversations, easy access to archive, and the specially designed bottom bar for one-handed use were not easily replicated in Google Messages.
This is precisely the gap that Messages by OzarksMade aims to fill. By mimicking the original layout and gestures, it offers a familiar environment where muscle memory from years of using Samsung Messages still works. The app also supports scheduled messages — a feature that Google Messages only recently added natively, but with a different implementation. Local backup options give users control over their conversation history without relying on cloud services, which may appeal to privacy-conscious individuals.
The RCS Workaround and Its Implications
RCS support is the standout feature, but the workaround nature of the implementation requires careful consideration. In Companion Mode, the app essentially acts as a front-end skin over Google Messages. This means all RCS messages are processed by Google's servers, and the third-party app simply displays them in its own interface. While this provides the visual continuity users want, it also means any RCS-related features (such as read receipts, typing indicators, or high-quality media sharing) depend entirely on the performance and policies of Google Messages. If Google updated its app in a way that breaks the companion compatibility, users could lose RCS functionality until the developer releases a patch. Moreover, because the app uses Google's messaging backend, users are still subject to Google's privacy policies for RCS data, even though the interface is Samsung-styled.
For those who do not need RCS, the standalone SMS/MMS mode is simpler and does not require any extra software. The developer notes that all standard text messaging features work independently, and local backups can be created and restored without internet connectivity. This mode may be sufficient for users who only communicate with contacts not on RCS or who are willing to forgo modern messaging enhancements for the sake of interface familiarity.
Legal and Security Concerns
The app's close resemblance to Samsung Messages raises potential legal issues. Samsung holds trademarks and design patents for its software interfaces, and a third-party application that intentionally copies the look and feel of an official Samsung product could be challenged. While Samsung has not publicly commented on the app, the company has historically been protective of its intellectual property. In the past, Samsung has sent cease-and-desist letters to developers who replicated its TouchWiz and One UI elements. Should Samsung choose to act, it could force the app to be removed from the Play Store or require a substantial redesign that would ruin the very familiarity that makes the app appealing.
From a security standpoint, users are advised to exercise caution. The app is brand new and lacks the extensive security auditing that comes with widely used messaging platforms. It requests permissions typical of SMS apps — access to contacts, SMS, notifications, and possibly storage for backups. However, because it is not open source and has not undergone independent security reviews, there is an inherent risk that it could mishandle user data. Android Authority has not tested the app, and we can neither confirm nor deny its safety. Users should consider using a secondary device or a dedicated phone number when first experimenting with the app.
Additionally, the app's RCS companion mode introduces an extra point of failure. If the companion connection is not properly encrypted or if the developer's server (if any) relays data incorrectly, message contents could theoretically be intercepted. The developer's website states that no user data leaves the device except through Google Messages for RCS, but this claim has not been verified.
Availability and Pricing
Messages by OzarksMade is currently in open beta on the Google Play Store. Interested users can sign up for the beta program through the developer's website. The developer notes that the final release will cost $0.99 — a modest price that may appeal to those desperate for the Samsung Messages experience. Given the small fee, the revenue model likely helps cover development costs and Play Store fees, but it also means the app must rely on sales rather than ad revenue, which could reduce privacy concerns about data collection for ad targeting.
The beta phase is expected to last several weeks, during which the developer will gather feedback on bugs, feature requests, and overall performance. After the beta closes, the app will move to a stable release channel and require payment. Because it is still in beta, functionality may be incomplete or unstable. Users who decide to test it should be prepared for potential crashes or message delivery failures.
The Broader Impact on Messaging Customization
The emergence of Messages by OzarksMade highlights a growing desire among smartphone users for customized messaging experiences that differ from the one-size-fits-all approach of default apps. Google Messages, while feature-rich, has a distinct design that may not align with every manufacturer's or user's preference. The success of this third-party app could encourage other developers to create similar clones for other discontinued apps, such as touchWiz launchers or Samsung's dialer. It also raises questions about the future of app personalization: if phone makers continue to strip away their native apps in favor of Google's versions, users may turn to third parties to recover the experiences they lost.
For now, Messages by OzarksMade remains an intriguing experiment. It offers a lifeline to those who feel disoriented by the sudden change, but its long-term viability depends on Samsung's legal tolerance, Google's RCS policies, and the developer's ability to maintain and update the app. While it may never fully replace the long-gone official Samsung Messages, it serves as a testament to the power of community-driven software in preserving user experience choices.
Source: Android Authority News