RCS vs. iMessage: Everything you need to know in 2026

RCS vs. iMessage: Everything you need to know in 2026

For years, the messaging world has been split in two. iPhone users live in the blue bubble world of iMessage: rich media, read receipts, and seamless group chats. Everyone else gets green bubbles and the degraded experience of SMS. Woof.

That controversial divide is finally starting to close.

Apple added RCS support to iOS 18 in late 2024, and suddenly Android-to-iPhone messaging doesn't have to mean pixelated photos and broken group threads. RCS and iMessage aren't the same thing, though, and the differences matter—whether you're a consumer trying to make sense of your messaging options or a business deciding which channels to invest in.

Here's how RCS and iMessage compare in 2026, where each one shines, and what it all means going forward.

What is iMessage?

iMessage is Apple's proprietary messaging platform, built into every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. When two Apple users text each other, their messages automatically route through iMessage instead of SMS, and that delivers a rich messaging experience with features.

iMessage allows:

• Rich media: High-resolution photos, videos, audio messages, and files.

• Read receipts and typing indicators: See when messages are delivered, read, and when someone's responding.

• Reactions and effects: Tapbacks, animations, screen effects, and message formatting.

• End-to-end encryption: Messages are encrypted so only the sender and recipient can read them.

• Seamless sync: Conversations sync across all Apple devices signed into the same Apple ID.

• App integrations: Stickers, games, Apple Pay, and third-party iMessage apps.

Unfortunately, iMessage only works between Apple devices. The moment you text someone on Android, your iPhone falls back to SMS (or now, RCS), and you're back to green bubbles.

Boo.

For Apple, that's a feature, not a bug. iMessage is part of the ecosystem lock-in that keeps users buying iPhones. But for everyone trying to communicate across platforms, it's been a headache (perhaps an unnecessary one) for over a decade.

What is RCS?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the industry-standard protocol designed to replace SMS. Think of it as what SMS would look like if it were invented today—rich media, read receipts, typing indicators, and more, all built into the default messaging app.

Here's what RCS provides:

• Rich media support: High-resolution images, videos, audio, and file sharing.

• Read receipts and typing indicators: Know when messages are delivered and read.

• No character limits: Messages aren't constrained to 160 characters like SMS.

• Branded business messaging: Companies can send messages with logos, colors, and verified sender profiles.

• Interactive elements: Buttons, carousels, and suggested actions within messages.

• Group chat improvements: Better functionality for group messaging, including naming groups and adding/removing participants.

Unlike iMessage, RCS is an open standard (not owned by any single company). Google has been the primary force pushing RCS adoption on Android, but it's supported by carriers and device manufacturers worldwide.

With Apple adopting RCS in iOS 18, iPhones can now send and receive RCS messages when texting Android users. This brings rich messaging to cross-platform conversations for the first time.

RCS vs iMessage: what’s the difference?

Both RCS and iMessage deliver rich messaging experiences that traditional SMS can’t. That doesn’t make RCS always better than SMS, though—see our complete head-to-head post for more details: RCS vs. SMS: What's the difference (and why it matters).

Ultimately, RCS and iMessage are built differently to serve different purposes.

Platform and compatibility

iMessage is exclusive to Apple's ecosystem. If you're on an iPhone texting another iPhone user, you get iMessage. If you're texting anyone else (or if you're on Android), iMessage isn't an option.

RCS is platform-agnostic. It works on Android devices natively (through Google Messages or carrier apps) and now works on iPhones as of iOS 18. 

That cross-platform support is RCS's biggest advantage: it's the first rich messaging standard that works regardless of what phone you're using.

That said, Apple's RCS implementation has limitations. When an iPhone user texts an Android user via RCS, they still see green bubbles—Apple isn't making RCS conversations look like iMessage. 

It's better than SMS, but Apple clearly wants users to know they're not in the blue bubble club.

Encryption and privacy

iMessage has offered end-to-end encryption since its launch in 2011. Every iMessage conversation is encrypted by default—Apple can't read your messages, and neither can anyone who intercepts them in transit. For privacy-conscious users, this has been a major selling point.

RCS encryption is more complicated. Google Messages supports end-to-end encryption for RCS conversations, but only when both participants are using Google Messages. If you're messaging someone on a different RCS client (like a carrier's native app), encryption may not be available.

Apple's RCS implementation does not include end-to-end encryption. Cross-platform RCS messages between iPhones and Android devices aren't encrypted the way iMessage-to-iMessage or Google Messages-to-Google Messages conversations are. 

For consumers who prioritize privacy, iMessage still has the edge, but that’s only for Apple-to-Apple conversations. For cross-platform messaging, RCS is safer than SMS but not as secure as dedicated encrypted messengers.

Features and user experience

On pure features, iMessage and RCS are pretty similar. Both support rich media, read receipts, typing indicators, reactions, and group chats. The day-to-day experience of using either one is comparable.

Where they differ is in the details:

• iMessage effects: Screen effects, message animations, and handwritten notes are iMessage-exclusive.

• iMessage apps: Stickers, games, and Apple Pay integration don't exist in RCS.

• RCS business features: Branded messaging, interactive buttons, and verified senders are RCS strengths.

• Cross-device sync: iMessage syncs across Apple devices seamlessly, while RCS is tied to your phone.

For consumers, iMessage offers more playful, polished features. For businesses, RCS offers capabilities that iMessage simply doesn't provide.

Business messaging

This is where RCS pulls ahead.

iMessage has limited business messaging capabilities. Apple Business Chat exists, but it's restricted, requires Apple's approval, and doesn't offer the same flexibility as RCS for marketing and transactional messaging.

RCS was designed with business messaging in mind. Companies can send branded messages with their logo and colors, include interactive elements like product carousels and quick-reply buttons, and benefit from verified sender profiles that help customers trust the message is legitimate.

For businesses investing in messaging as a customer engagement channel, RCS opens up possibilities that iMessage doesn't (especially now that RCS reaches both Android and iOS users).

What Apple's RCS adoption means (really)

Apple adding RCS support to iOS 18 was a big deal, but it's worth understanding what actually changed and what didn't.

What changed:

• iPhone-to-Android texts now use RCS instead of SMS (when both devices support it)

• Cross-platform messages include high-resolution media, read receipts, and typing indicators

• Group chats between iPhone and Android users work better

What didn't change:

• iMessage is still the default for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations

• RCS messages still show as green bubbles, not blue

• Apple's RCS implementation doesn't include end-to-end encryption

• iMessage-exclusive features (effects, apps, etc.) don't carry over to RCS

Apple adopted RCS because regulatory pressure made it increasingly untenable to keep forcing cross-platform conversations onto SMS. But they've implemented it in a way that preserves iMessage's status as the premium experience for Apple users.

The practical impact for consumers: texting your Android friends from your iPhone is now significantly better. Photos aren't compressed into oblivion. Group chats actually work. 

But…you're still going to know you're not in an all-Apple conversation.

RCS vs iMessage: which should you use?

For consumers, this isn't really a choice you make. It's simply determined by your devices and who you're messaging.

• iPhone to iPhone: You're using iMessage. It's automatic.

• Android to Android: You're likely using RCS (through Google Messages or a carrier app).

• iPhone to Android: You're now using RCS (as of iOS 18), which is a massive improvement over SMS.

• Older devices: If someone's phone doesn't support RCS, messages fall back to SMS.

The messaging app you use handles the protocol selection behind the scenes. You don't choose between RCS and iMessage. Your phone does.

For businesses, the calculus is different. 

If you're building messaging into your customer engagement strategy, RCS offers reach (Android and now iOS), rich features (branding, interactivity), and business-specific capabilities that iMessage doesn't match. 

iMessage via Apple Business Chat is an option for some use cases, but it's more limited and harder to access.

The future of messaging

The RCS vs iMessage divide isn't going away, but it's becoming less painful for everyone involved (thank goodness).

Apple users get to keep their iMessage experience for conversations with other Apple users. Android users get a rich messaging experience that's finally competitive. And cross-platform messaging no longer means a degraded experience for everyone.

For businesses, RCS's expansion to iOS is transformational. The addressable audience for rich business messaging just doubled. Features like branded messages, interactive buttons, and verified sender profiles can now reach customers regardless of what phone they carry.

The bigger picture: we're moving toward a world where rich messaging is the baseline instead of the exception. SMS isn't dead. It's still the fallback when RCS isn't available, and it's still essential for reach, but it's no longer the standard for how people communicate.

Whether you're on iMessage, RCS, or bouncing between both, the experience is better than it's ever been. And that's a win for everyone.

Twilio's platform supports SMS, MMS, and RCS to help you reach customers with rich, interactive messages regardless of what device they're using. Explore Twilio Messaging to get started.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between RCS and iMessage?

iMessage is Apple's proprietary messaging platform that only works between Apple devices. RCS is an open standard that works across Android and iOS (as of iOS 18). Both offer rich messaging features like high-res media, read receipts, and typing indicators, but iMessage includes end-to-end encryption by default, while RCS encryption varies depending on the apps being used.

Does iMessage use RCS?

Not exactly. iMessage and RCS are separate protocols. When two iPhone users text, they use iMessage. When an iPhone user texts an Android user, the iPhone now uses RCS (instead of SMS) as of iOS 18. But iMessage itself hasn't changed. It's still Apple's proprietary system for Apple-to-Apple messaging.

Is RCS as secure as iMessage?

It depends. iMessage is end-to-end encrypted by default for all Apple-to-Apple conversations. RCS supports end-to-end encryption in Google Messages when both users are on Google Messages, but Apple's RCS implementation doesn't include encryption. For cross-platform messaging, RCS is more secure than SMS but not as secure as iMessage or dedicated encrypted apps.

Why are RCS messages still green bubbles on iPhone?

Apple uses blue bubbles to indicate iMessage conversations and green bubbles for everything else (including RCS). This is a deliberate design choice. While RCS offers a better experience than SMS, Apple still distinguishes it from iMessage visually.

Can businesses use iMessage for messaging customers?

Yes, through Apple Business Chat, but it's limited compared to RCS. Apple Business Chat requires approval, has restricted use cases, and doesn't offer the same branding and interactivity features that RCS provides. For most business messaging use cases, RCS is more flexible and accessible.