Introduction
Time flies, and in the rapidly evolving world of technology, app milestones come and go. In a remarkable journey since early May 2020, the Google Messages app has not only adapted but has also reached an astonishing new peak. Now, as we step into 2026, Google Messages proudly boasts over 10 billion installs, marking a significant achievement in the realm of mobile messaging. This article dives deeper into the app's journey, the impressive statistics behind its growth, and the escalating popularity of Rich Communication Services (RCS).
Back in May 2020, Google Messages surpassed the 1 billion installs mark, and since then, it has been on an incredible upward trajectory. The app now averages around 4.18 million installs per day, translating to an astounding one new installation every 0.02 seconds. This surge highlights the app's relevance and usability as it enjoys the spotlight as the default Text, RCS, and Messaging app for most modern Android devices.
Daily Usage of RCS Messages
Google Messages has transformed the way users communicate through its utilization of Rich Communication Services (RCS). This modern approach to messaging has led to the daily exchange of over 14 billion RCS messages worldwide. In the United States alone, more than 1.1 billion RCS messages are transmitted through the Google Messages app each day, showcasing not just popularity but the impact on user communication.
The advent of RCS has shifted the landscape of mobile messaging, especially with Apple introducing RCS support to the iPhone in 2024, enhancing cross-platform messaging features such as read receipts and typing indicators while ensuring security through end-to-end encryption.
In the U.S., Google Messages boasts around 110 million Daily Active Users (DAU), while globally, this number rises to above 750 million. Monthly Active Users (MAU) figures are similarly impressive, with approximately 185 million users in the U.S. and over 1.2 billion users worldwide.
10 Billion Installs Club
The Google Messages app now proudly stands among an elite group of applications in the Google Play Store that have been installed on activated Android devices over 10 billion times. This accomplishment is shared with prominent Google applications such as Google Search, YouTube, Google Photos, and more.
Google has recently introduced several new features to its Messages app, including real-time location sharing, further enhancing the user experience. For those who have yet to install the app, it can easily be downloaded through the Google Play Store.
Other apps within the 10 billion installs club include:
- Google (Search)
- YouTube
- Google Photos
- Google Chrome
- Gmail
- Gboard
- Google Drive
- Google Maps
- Google Meet
- Google TV
- Android Auto
- Speech Recognition & Synthesis
- Android Accessibility Suite
- Android Switch.
5 Billion Installs Club
Meanwhile, the Phone by Google app has recently achieved the impressive milestone of 5 billion installs. Other applications in this category include:
- Files by Google
- Google Calendar
- YouTube Music
- Contacts
- Google Play Games
- Google Assistant
- Digital Wellbeing
- Carrier Services
It’s important to recognize that pre-installed apps on Android devices count as installs each time a user activates a Google account on that device. Therefore, a new Android phone sitting in its original packaging does not contribute to installation counts.
YouTube is widely acknowledged as the first Google-developed app to reach the 10 billion mark, achieving this impressive milestone in July 2021. Since then, several other Google apps have followed suit, leading up to the introduction of Google Messages into the prestigious 10 billion installs club.
