keep toggling back and forth between google messages and GOS messaging.

Main reason is that messages allows for a web UI version so I can text from my laptop. Its a feature I really enjoy.

Unfortunately - do use it - I have to use messages :(

I'm assuming that there are no similar features with Messaging - but I felt the need to ask.

I love the WebUI feature of Messages but really hate using anything Google...
(note: for both Google Messages/Phone - I do notice the spam controls are much better - but likely that is due to Google sniffing out all I do - so its a pick your poison...)

    Consider Pulse SMS (requires a subscription, which I've gladly paid for desktop texting), which has a desktop app and allows texting from the desktop. Not only that, they backup your SMS messages for you so you'll never lose a message as long as you're using Pulse.

    If you want to use the built-in Messages but also want to text from the desktop, consider Push Bullet, which provides an interface to ALL the notifications, contacts, SMS, and more on your phone, but allows you to text from your desktop through your phone.

      dcd-graphenediscuss Pulse sounds great - but when signing up - it seems to force me to pay for it via Google Play - YUK! Any work-arounds for that?

        I use Google Messages purely to support RCS, although the desktop texting is a nice touch

        dcd-graphenediscuss so - I've been trying to setup Pulse - and I just can't find a way NOT to use Google Play for subscribing. Worse - it forces me to use my Google Play credentials... ARRGGHH.

        AM I missing something? But if I have to use my google credentials to use Pulse - then the whole idea of security/privacy on GOS is gone... :(

        Looks like a great tool - was very excited... but this is a deal killer unless there is a work around

        Perhaps I need to just use KDE connect???

          So, what I did was start Google Play Store, signed up for Pulse, started Pulse SMS, and logged in. After that, I disabled Google Play Services by deleting my name from the account.

          Settings > Passwords & accounts > [selected my Play Store account] > Remove Account

            dcd-graphenediscuss it seems to only allow payment via play store? Hiw did you paym also, assume you created a dummy account just for play store and pulse? Then deleted the play account?...(makes sense, but again...how about payment?)

                lcalamar been reading reviews regarding pulse . they are brutal, i will probably look for other solutions

                  lcalamar I've implemented KDE Connect and KDE Connect SMS on my linux laptops and android phone. Other than my VPN causing the connection to fail - it seems pretty solid. SMS is not the best ui - but it works.

                  Going to look into PushBullet now...

                      lcalamar KDE Connect is working pretty well - so going to stay on that for a while. Its pretty feature rich!