RCS vs SMS Messages – What’s the Difference?

Key Takeaways

You’ve likely sent thousands of SMS messages without giving it much thought. SMS is the original text messaging protocol and it has connected people for decades by allowing them to send short messages over a mobile data network. While simple and reliable, SMS technology has remained mostly unchanged since its inception, and that means it comes with some limitations.

With the rise of smartphones and internet connectivity, an alternative protocol called RCS – short for rich communication services – has emerged. RCS messages provide richer messaging capabilities, including multimedia support and real-time features. In fact, Apple has recently integrated RCS messages as part of its iOS 18 update, marking an important shift in the company’s user experience.

In this article, we’ll compare SMS vs RCS messaging to understand how these two protocols differ.

RCS vs SMS Messaging – What’s the Difference?

At their core, both SMS and RCS messaging serve the same purpose: sending text messages between users. However, they operate in different ways. SMS stands for Short Message Service and relies on a mobile network to send and receive messages. In contrast, texts sent via the Rich Communication Services protocol are broadcast using internet data.

This has a number of key consequences for end users – so let’s start there. Below is a shorthand comparison of the key differences between SMS vs RCS messages, which we’ll unpack in further detail below.

Network

SMS messages, or text messages, use traditional mobile networks to send and receive texts. They don’t require an internet connection, which makes them incredibly reliable in areas with weak coverage.

On the other hand, RCS messaging works by transmitting messages over the internet. In other words, you need a reliable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to send RCS messages. RCS supports more advanced messaging features, but it also relies on internet connectivity.

Character Limit

We all know the frustrations of text messaging. One of the most significant limitations of SMS messaging is the 160-character cap as this restriction can be frustrating for users who want to send longer messages. Furthermore, carriers often charge users for each message segment sent.

RCS messaging has no character limit and as a result, it’s much easier to send longer texts without worrying about additional charges.

Multimedia Support

An SMS message offers very basic multimedia support, limited to images and short links through MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). MMS enables users to send pictures, audio, or video, but it comes with file size restrictions and can incur additional charges.

In contrast, with RCS users can send high-resolution images, audio files, videos, and more without needing to switch to another messaging app.

Delivery/Read Confirmations

SMS texts typically provide delivery receipts, but only if the user requests them, and read receipts are normally not available. By contrast, an RCS message comes with automatic delivery and read confirmations, giving users real-time feedback on their message status.

Integration

SMS messaging works universally across nearly all mobile phones, regardless of manufacturer or operating system. As long as the device has a SIM card and network coverage, it can send and receive SMS messages.

However, RCS is only supported on devices that are compatible with the protocol. This is why the recent integration by iPhone has been met with such fanfare! Google has widely integrated RCS into Android phones but Apple only recently jumped on the bandwagon with iOS 18.

Encryption

SMS does not offer any form of encryption. As a result, your messages on mobile devices can potentially be intercepted by a malicious third party.

RCS, on the other hand, can support end-to-end encryption, depending on the carrier and device. This adds an additional layer of security because only the sender and the recipient can read the messages.

Security Level

Due to the incompatibility of SMS with encryption, a text message is more vulnerable to security risks such as eavesdropping, SIM-swapping or main-in-the-middle attacks. Meanwhile, RCS offers a more secure environment since it is compatible with message encryption options such as TLS. When contrasting RCS vs SMS messaging in terms of security, a lot depends on the platform, device, and carrier, but RCS is more likely to be compatible with today’s security architecture.

How To Use RCS and What Devices Support It

RCS is available on most Android devices and users can activate it through the default messaging app, Google Messages. To use RCS, both the sender and recipient must have compatible devices, an active online connection and must manually enable RCS messaging.

Apple recently rolled out RCS support with iOS 18, marking a significant shift in how iPhone users communicate with Android phones and other devices.

Apple iOS 18 RCS Integration

Apple’s integration of RCS with iOS 18 is a step towards bridging the gap between iPhone and Android users. Until this update, Apple primarily relied on the iMessage messaging app, and iPhone messages would default to SMS when texting Android users.

Above all, with RCS now part of iOS 18, iPhone enthusiasts can access a more comprehensive messaging experience with Android phone users, including multimedia messages support and read receipts.

Closing Thoughts

SMS has been the global short messaging standard for decades but as technoligy advances, it’s falling short of what users expect. With better UX, higher security and less constraints, RCS offers an alternative messaging protocol that delivers what mobile phone users want. However, it comes with its own limitations, requiring an internet connection and compatible devices. So despite its drawbacks, SMS remains a reliable option for quick communication available on all mobile phones.

Ultimately, pitting RCS vs SMS may be the mindset for two techologies that can likely compliment one another. Each offers advantages, depending on user needs and whether they prioritize simplicity and or advanced features, and of course, what hardware you’re using.