You might not think you need a fancy app for something as simple as texting. That’s what I thought for the past few years and I’m now learning the error of my ways. Sure, it’s not like sending and receiving SMS messages requires anything as complicated as, say, a full-blown Android email apps. However, there are apps out there that transform texting from an everyday chore into an absolute breeze. Pansi SMS [No Longer Available] is one of those apps.
Those of you who follow my app reviews will know that I’m a big fan of high-performance, minimal-clutter design. I absolutely hate bloat. So when looking to replace the default Android messaging app – which is fine if you like it – I’m looking for an app that will make my life easier without bogging me down in useless features that I’ll never use. Matt once recommended three great SMS apps for Android but I’m going to recommend Pansi SMS as a great fourth.
The first thing that happens when you start up Pansi SMS is an introductory setup wizard that takes you through three different steps: theme selection, message mode selection, and notification mode selection. I’ve noticed this trend occurring a lot in apps these days and I support it all the way. Setup wizards are the best way to get me started with an app without making me feel overwhelmed or lost.
Half an hour of toying around with the app and managing my text messages leaves me with a feeling of satisfaction. It’s not the most beautiful app right out of the box, but that can be remedied later with themes. On the other hand, it’s very fast and sleek and the interface is designed well. Nothing revolutionary, of course, but there’s a good bit of polish to it and that’s what I like to see.
Let’s look at the basic features that you’ll find in Pansi SMS. These are the foundational features that ought to be included in every SMS app from here on out, and Pansi SMS not only includes them but does so in a way that’s intuitive and easy to use.
So for those of you looking for a clean, robust app that will simply replace your default messaging app, look no further. Pansi SMS delivers on core features and performance, which is as much as I could expect from a messaging app. However, there are a few more perks waiting to be discovered.
On top of the expected basic features, Pansi SMS can also do the following:
The only downside to Pansi SMS is that it’s apparently supported by ads. Personally, I haven’t seen any ads while operating this app so it’s possible that the ads are very unintrusive. Or maybe I’m just lucky. Nonetheless, if you want to get rid of the ads or simply support the developer, you can upgrade to the premium version for just $2.99 USD.
Pansi SMS might not be on our Best Android Apps list, but it’s a definite contender if you’re looking for advanced simplicity. It has all of the basic features and then some extra. Setting up the app is easy and using it is even easier. I always thought messaging apps were more trouble than they’re worth, but Pansi SMS has finally convinced me otherwise. Perhaps it’ll convince you otherwise, too.
Do you use a non-default messaging app on your Android device? Which one do you use and why? Will you consider Pansi SMS? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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