Google’s core communication apps, Messages and Phone, have reached significant milestones in downloads, reflecting the company’s continued push to establish its services as defaults on Android devices. Google Messages, the company’s default SMS and RCS client, has surpassed 10 billion downloads on the Google Play Store, according to data available today. The Phone app, offering calling features and integration with Google Assistant, has exceeded 5 billion downloads.
The ascent of Google Messages to 10 billion downloads marks a substantial increase from its 5 billion downloads reported in September 2023 and a dramatic jump from the 1 billion milestone reached in May 2020. This growth is largely attributed to strategic partnerships and shifts within the Android ecosystem. Notably, Samsung, the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, began pre-installing Google Messages on its Galaxy devices in July 2024, replacing its own messaging app in many regions. This move significantly expanded the reach of Google’s platform.
The transition wasn’t limited to Samsung. Verizon, a major US mobile carrier, also moved users away from its proprietary messaging service, Message+, and towards Google Messages in December 2024. This shift was driven, in part, by the growing benefits of Rich Communication Services (RCS), a modern messaging protocol that offers features like read receipts, typing indicators, and high-resolution media sharing – features long available on iMessage. The widespread adoption of RCS has been a key focus for Google, aiming to improve the messaging experience for Android users.
A major catalyst for RCS adoption came in September 2024 with Apple’s decision to support the protocol on iPhones. While initially limited in functionality, Apple has since committed to end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, a feature expected to roll out fully in early 2026, according to reporting from 9to5Google. This interoperability between Android and iOS devices via RCS is expected to further accelerate its adoption and improve the overall messaging experience for all smartphone users.
Google highlighted the growing popularity of RCS at its I/O 2025 developer conference, announcing that over 1 billion RCS messages are now sent daily in the United States. This figure underscores the increasing reliance on the platform for everyday communication.
The success of Google Messages and Phone is part of a broader trend of Google’s first-party apps achieving massive download numbers. Other apps exceeding 10 billion downloads include the Google app (Search), YouTube, Google Photos, Google Chrome, Gmail, Gboard, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Meet, Google TV, Android Auto, Speech Recognition & Synthesis, Android Accessibility Suite, and Android Switch. This demonstrates the central role these apps play in the lives of billions of Android users worldwide.
The Phone by Google app, while primarily benefiting Pixel device users with features like Call Screen and Hold for Me, also provides enhancements for all Android phones, including Calling Cards and a redesigned interface based on Material 3. These features aim to streamline the calling experience and provide users with more control over their communications.
As Google continues to refine its communication tools and expand RCS support, the company is likely to focus on enhancing features and improving interoperability across platforms. The next major development to watch will be the full rollout of end-to-end encryption for RCS on both Android and iOS, further solidifying its position as a secure and reliable messaging platform.
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