Sending text messages is one of the most used functions of smartphones, so it’s something you likely do dozens of times a day — if not more. However, if you’re somebody that works at a desk for long periods of time, it’s jarring to constantly switch between your computer and your phone.
If you use a dedicated messenger like WhatsApp, you could run it on your desktop using an Android emulator, but this is a complicated setup and would likely be choppy. If you’re not up for this, there are some awesome solutions that allow you to send actual text messages from your phone on your PC without the hassle of emulation. We’ve covered many of these services individually in the past, but this time we’re going to test the apps and decide which is your best option for texting from your computer.
Note that these apps use your existing phone number to send messages; if you’re looking to send SMS messages for free online check out our list of ways to do so.
MightyText
First up is MightyText, a service that we’ve reviewed before and that you’ve likely heard of. Setting it up couldn’t be simpler; just grab the app from Google Play, and when you open it, you’ll need to choose the Google account that’s tied to your phone. Grant the app the permissions it needs on the next screen, and the phone portion is done.
Now, you have a choice. You can use the MightyText web app in any browser you like right away — all you have to do is sign in with the same Google account. This is the barebones option, however. You won’t receive notifications for new texts outside of a bubble on the page.
If you don’t want to install any extensions, or you work in an area where you can have your phone ringer turned up and be notified that way, this will work for you. You’ll see new text messages and even incoming calls.