I’ve Stopped Using iMessage as My Primary Messaging App. Here’s Why

iMessage has long been my favorite messaging app, but its limitations are starting to outweigh its advantages. From a broken cross-platform texting experience to file sharing frustrations, I finally switched. Here’s why I passed, and why you might consider it too.

1

The Cross-Platform Texting Experience is still broken

By the time Apple has adopted RCS (Rich Communication Services) it felt like a step in the right direction. Many hoped it would bridge the long-standing divide between iPhone and Android users. Features such as high quality media sharing, typing indicators and read receipts are now available on the platforms. On paper, this looks like a game changer for cross-platform messaging.

But the reality is far from perfect. While RCS introduces improvements, it still doesn’t provide the seamless experience that many expect. A major drawback is the lack of end-to-end encryption for messages exchanged between iPhones and Android devices. This means that sensitive conversations cannot be as secure as those sent with iMessage or WhatsApp, leaving room for privacy concerns.

Group chats also remain a pain point. In mixed platform groups, issues like inconsistent read receipts and broken online responses can quickly disrupt the flow of conversations. Even with RCS in the mix, the messaging experience between iOS and Android users feels clunky and outdated compared to modern alternatives.

2

File sharing in iMessage still has key limitations

While iMessage has improved its file sharing capabilities over the years, significant flaws remain that make it less practical compared to others. instant messaging app.

A major limitation is how closely iMessage’s advanced features are tied to the Apple ecosystem. For example, while the iCloud integration allows you to share files up to 100GB, this functionality is only seamless when sending to other Apple devices. Sharing large files with Android users or those outside the ecosystem often requires additional steps, such as exporting to third-party services such as Google Drive or Dropbox.

Another persistent problem is video sharing. By default, iMessage compresses videos, reducing their quality to save bandwidth. While newer versions of iOS include a Copy and Send Original option to send media without compression, the function is not well advertised. In fact, it is buried in the interface, making it inconvenient to access.

The cross-platform limitations are perhaps the most glaring flaw. Unlike apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, which maintain consistent file sharing capabilities regardless of the recipient’s device, iMessage’s functionality drops significantly when interacting with Android users. This creates unnecessary barriers and makes it harder to share files efficiently.

3

Switching to Android will mean losing my messages

One of the biggest downsides of iMessage is how deeply it ties you into the Apple ecosystem. If you ever decide to switch to Android, you will face a massive obstacle: your messages will not come with you. Apple does not offer an easy way to transfer the history of iMessage to Android, which means years of conversations can be effectively closed.

For someone like me, who values ​​continuity, this is an important issue. My iMessage history includes meaningful chats with family, work discussions, and countless moments I’d rather not miss. Sure, there are third-party tools that claim to transfer your iMessages to Android, but they are often clunky, unreliable, or come with a high price.

On the other hand, applications like WhatsApp and Telegram are much more flexible. Both allow you to back up your chat history in the cloud – WhatsApp with Google Drive or iCloud, and Telegram by default. This means you can switch devices or platforms without worrying about losing years of conversations.

The inability to take my iMessage history with me if I ever leave the Apple ecosystem feels restrictive, almost like a form of lock. That’s a dealbreaker for anyone who appreciates platform flexibility — another reason I’ve moved away from iMessage as my primary messaging app.

Moving away from iMessage as my primary messaging app was not a decision I took lightly. It’s a neat service with great integration for Apple users, but its limitations became too glaring to ignore as my communication needs evolved.

If you feel similarly limited by iMessage, it might be time to explore other options. You may find, as I did, that there is a better messaging app waiting to simplify your life.