this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2024
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F-Droid

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F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.

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Looking for a FOSS SMS app that is fully compatible with Android 14. I've had issues with finding one, I used to use (I think) QKSMS, but it started to crash when I upgraded to LOS 21. Now I just use the LineageOS SMS app, I think it is AOSP messages.

What SMS apps do you use? No required features. Scheduled texts are nice, though.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The Lineage OS app is based on AOSP but unlike AOSP it is actually maintained. What is wrong with it? The other option is Fossify

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Maybe superficial, but I think it is mega ugly.

I understand that is poor reasoning.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago

It matches your system colors

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Silence is nice.

It also allows e2e encryption with other Silence users by exchanging keys via SMS.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago

Oh, wow, nice.

This is an old idea, glad to see someone continuing it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago

I was using Silence but had issues with the encryption settings

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago
  • Deku SMS: has AES encryption support but is kinda shady, has trackers?
  • Fossify Messages: simple, based on AOSP messages
  • LineageOS Messages: modern and simple, based on AOSP messages, but no APKs available and not installable on other Androids with the APPID they use
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I use Partisan-SMS (PSMS) it's a fork of QKSMS with optional encryption

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

That compared to Quik?

Quik is huge, 60MB for an SMS app... in my eyes it tries to do too much, like integration of random other protocols.

I used DekuSMS because of that but it doesnt allow texting phone numbers and Exodus shows it has a tracker

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

So is QUIK FOSS? Because I just installed it, I used to use Textra. I like the features of it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm kinda new to this, so I was just wondering.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes it is FOSS just like the other recommendations in my other comment.

At 60MB it is pretty bloated for an SMS app though, so I would prefer something simpler like Fossify Contacts, or something with encryption like Deku SMS

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Thanks. I understand the bloated part, but personally for me, coming from Textra, it's comparable to what I had, minus the trackers

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Haha, okay then... what features do you find so useful?

For example timed messages... I dont use SMS at all XD

If I do, I would prefer DekuSMS as it has AES encryption so at least you are not spied on (if both use DekuSMS)

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

2 main features - the ability to make the texts bigger by percentage. So I was able to make the texts about 125 percent bigger. The other main feature was to have a media picker integrated into the app when sending a picture ect.

Also a bonus was having Giphy integrated as well, but I know that definitely has trackers involved.

But overall I do like Quik.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

People send images via SMS? XD doesnt that cost money or something?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes. I have friends who solely rely on SMS. Best is when they try to send a video.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Crazy... I would really encourage to use DekuSMS then. It also has picture support and encrypted SMS if both use the app and opt in to encryption.

Otherwise SMS is insecure as hell.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago

I 100 percent agree about the insecurity. Deku is on F Droid?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago

Oh wow I hadn't heard of Quik! What other protocols does it integrate? Not much info on their repo.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I don't use one but if I did want an open source one I think I'd give the fossify tools a look.

Basically they forked all the Simple mobile apps when some dodgy company bought them so I'm pretty sure all the fossify forks are safe.

I use their gallery app with no issue.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago

@owatnext have a look at the Fossify app suite. The name says it all!

:github: https://github.com/FossifyOrg
:github: https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Messages