What Textra does

Textra, operated by Australian proprietary limited company Delicious Global Pty Ltd and headquartered in Labu, Malaysia, is the developer of Textra SMS, a single-product consumer Android application that serves as a feature-rich replacement for the default SMS/MMS client. The application is built on standard carrier SMS and MMS protocols and offers differentiated functionality including over 180 Material Design theme and bubble colors, 3200+ Unicode emoji support across Android, iOS, JoyPixel and Twitter styles, delayed sending (1–10 seconds), message scheduling, voice memos in AAC format, partial text bubble copying, spam blocklisting with carrier reporting, dual-SIM handling, and integrations with Android Auto, Wear OS, Pebble, Pushbullet, Mighty Text, and Google Backup. Architecture relies on an optimized local SQLite database to maintain performance across large message histories, with all message data stored on-device and no server-side message storage. On-device Smart Reply provides contextual notification suggestions.

The business model is a freemium consumer app distributed exclusively through the Google Play Store. The free tier is supported by third-party advertising from Amazon, inMobi, Tappx, Gravite and Verve Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato), and includes a 14-day ad-free trial. The Pro upgrade is a one-time $9.99 perpetual license that removes all advertising, with status linked to the purchaser's Google Play account and transferable across devices. There are no subscriptions, no enterprise tier, and no B2B channel. An ancillary Textra SMS GIF Plugin companion app supports animated emoji/GIF functionality. The company has been bootstrapped since its founding in 2013, with no disclosed external funding, acquisitions, or institutional investment.

Name

Textra

Legal name

Delicious Global Pty Ltd

Website

https://textra.me

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Textra is an Australian-developed, Malaysia-headquartered Android SMS/MMS replacement app offering customization, scheduling, delayed sending, and cross-platform reactions. It serves individual Android consumers via a freemium model: ad-supported free tier plus a one-time $9.99 Pro upgrade, distributed exclusively through the Google Play Store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Messaging Software

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Messaging Apps (BPAMACAA)

Keywords

• SMS messaging app
• MMS messaging app
• Android text messaging
• Mobile messaging software
• Consumer messaging app

Headquarters

HQ city

Labu

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pro Version Upgrade: One-time fee of $9.99 for ad-free experience. The free version includes ads; Pro version removes all advertising permanently. Pro status transfers automatically across devices when signed into the same Google Play account.
2. Advertising (Free Tier): Third-party advertising displayed in the free version of the app. Advertising providers include Amazon, inMobi, Tappx, Gravite, and Smaato. Collects Android Advertising ID, browser info, IP address, phone model, language, mobile carrier, screen resolution, and connection type for targeted advertising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Textra develops and sells an Android SMS/MMS replacement application that delivers a customizable, high-performance texting experience with features such as Material Design theming, scheduled sending, delayed send, voice memos, cross-platform reactions, and blocklisting. The app is distributed exclusively through the Google Play Store under a freemium model: a free ad-supported version and a one-time $9.99 Pro upgrade that removes all advertising. The product is complemented by an optional GIF Plugin companion app for animated emoji functionality.

Product overview

Textra is a single-product company offering Textra SMS, a feature-rich SMS and MMS messaging app for Android devices. The core product provides extensive customization options including theme colors, bubble styles, and emoji styles, with a free ad-supported version and a Pro upgrade option that removes advertisements for a one-time fee. The product ecosystem includes an optional GIF Plugin companion app for animated emoji functionality. All messaging occurs via mobile carrier SMS/MMS protocols with no server-side message storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Textra SMS A feature-rich SMS and MMS replacement app for Android offering extensive customization (180+ Material Design colors, multiple bubble styles, emoji styles), scheduling, delayed send, voice memos, cross-platform reactions, blocklisting, partial text copy, and super-fast database performance. Distributed free with ads via Google Play Store to individual Android smartphone users.
• Textra Pro Upgrade One-time paid upgrade to Textra SMS that permanently removes all advertisements from the app. Available for $9.99 after a 14-day ad-free trial, with Pro status automatically transferring to new devices signed into the same Google Play account. Features are identical to the free version; the only difference is the absence of ads.
• Textra SMS GIF Plugin A companion app/plugin for Textra SMS that provides animated GIF functionality within the main messaging app. Required for accessing animated emoji and GIF features.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.4/5 Google Play Store rating demonstrating high user satisfaction

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Amazon AdsminorOthersAmazon provides advertising services for the ad-supported free tier of Textra. Amazon Ads collects standard advertising identifiers and behavioral data for targeted ad delivery.
• inMobiminorOthersinMobi provides mobile advertising services for the ad-supported free tier of Textra. inMobi's privacy policy governs their data collection practices for ad targeting.
• TappxminorOthersTappx provides mobile advertising services for the ad-supported free tier of Textra. Part of the third-party ad network ecosystem.
• GraviteminorOthersGravite provides data privacy and advertising services for the ad-supported free tier of Textra.
• Verve Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato)minorOthersVerve Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato) provides mobile advertising services for the ad-supported free tier of Textra. Part of the ad network ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Pulse SMS: A direct competitor offering a feature-rich SMS/MMS replacement for Android with customization, encryption options, and a freemium model — closely comparable in product category, target user, and GTM motion.
• Mood Messenger: Direct Android SMS/MMS alternative focused on customization (themes, bubble styles, fonts) and privacy. Shares Textra's niche of power-user Android users seeking a feature-rich replacement default SMS app.
• QKSMS: Open-source Android SMS app emphasizing Material Design customization and privacy. Competes head-to-head with Textra in the customized-SMS-app segment for Android power users.
• Chomp SMS: Long-standing Android SMS replacement with theming, dual-SIM support, and a Pro upgrade. Comparable in age, pricing model (one-time Pro), and core feature set to Textra.
• Handcent Next SMS: Veteran Android SMS app offering customization, SMS blocking, and a Pro tier. Targets the same Android power-user segment as Textra with overlapping feature categories.

Broad incumbents

• Google Messages: The default Android SMS/RCS app from Google. As the platform owner, it benefits from RCS API exclusivity and pre-installation on most Android devices, posing a structural incumbent threat to third-party SMS apps like Textra.
• Samsung Messages: Pre-installed messaging app on Samsung's large Android install base. Competes as a default SMS/RCS experience on one of the largest Android OEM ecosystems globally.
• WhatsApp: Dominant OTT messaging platform that has eroded SMS volume globally. Its ubiquity is the structural backdrop driving demand for niche SMS replacements like Textra that emphasize customization over messaging volume.

Emerging players

• Signal: Privacy-first messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted communication. While it operates on IP rather than SMS, it captures the same Android power-user segment seeking alternatives to default messaging.

Others

• Pushbullet: Cross-device notification and SMS relay service. Textra has a documented integration with Pushbullet, positioning it as an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor in adjacent productivity utilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/textrasms
• Facebookfacebook.com/TextraSMS

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Textra