Is RCS More Secure than SMS?
Updated Dec 7th, 2025 - 7 min read
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RCS vs SMS Security: What Businesses Need to Know
Mobile messaging underpins critical business operations, from authentication codes to service notifications. While Rich Communication Services (RCS) enhances traditional SMS with richer media, verification tools, and encryption, concerns about its readiness and consistency persist. According to Scoop Market’s MFA statistics, SMS remained the second most widely used multi-factor authentication method in 2024, just behind push notifications.
So what is RCS and is it more secure than SMS, or does SMS still provide the reliability and compliance that organizations require? Let’s explore how the two technologies stack up against each other.
What is SMS?
Short Message Service (SMS) has been the foundation of mobile communication for over 30 years. It enables short text messages to be sent over carrier networks, no internet connection required and works on virtually every mobile device worldwide.
Why is SMS Essential for Businesses?
Even with the rise of messaging apps and RCS, SMS remains essential because it is:
Universal: Supported by every mobile network and device.
Reliable: Delivers instantly, even without data or Wi-Fi.
Trusted: The most used method for one-time passwords (SMS OTPs), SMS alerts, and transactional SMS.
SMS remains the top choice for businesses thanks to its simplicity, proven reliability, and universal accessibility, with Juniper Research projecting SMS traffic for OTP use cases to climb from about 1.3 trillion messages in 2023 to 1.5 trillion by 2028
What is RCS?
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is the next evolution of SMS and MMS. It allows users to exchange media-rich messages such as images, videos, and buttons over an internet connection. RCS also supports features like read receipts, typing indicators, and verified business profiles.
However, RCS requires data connectivity and compatible devices or carriers to function properly. Unlike SMS, which works universally, RCS adoption and encryption support are still developing, limiting its use for everyday business communication.
Is SMS Secure?
SMS continues to play a major role in secure authentication and verification especially when it comes to business communications. Google reports that SMS-based two-step verification can block 100% of automated attacks, 96% of bulk phishing attempts, and nearly 75% of targeted attacks, highlighting its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
Security improves significantly when SMS is delivered through a trusted SMS provider. Notifyre’s online SMS platform applies strict access controls and operates on ISO 27001 certified infrastructure, ensuring robust data protection for organizations.
Is RCS Secure?
RCS was designed to modernize messaging and offers theoretical improvements, but its security is far from universal. Encryption doesn’t always apply to group chats or messages between users on different carriers and different devices and regions don’t always support RCS the same way, causing uneven delivery and protection. For global businesses, this makes SMS the more predictable and compliant option, especially under regulations like HIPAA.
While SMS lacks native encryption, its stable infrastructure can be secured through ISO 27001 certified SMS providers such as Notifyre. By contrast, RCS encryption is limited to one-on-one chats on supported devices and networks, leaving enterprise or cross-carrier messages exposed (LeapXpert, 2024). Moreover, RCS introduces new attack surfaces through rich media and internet connectivity, increasing the risk of malware or phishing if not properly managed. These SMS statistics show that while RCS is evolving, SMS remains the more secure, consistent, and widely trusted option for business-critical communication.
RCS vs SMS Security
While RCS offers exciting advancements, SMS continues to dominate in enterprise reliability, security, compliance, and reach.
| Criteria | SMS | RCS |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | No native end-to-end encryption; relies on secure gateways (like Notifyre) | End-to-end encryption (limited to supported devices and networks) |
| Authentication | Uses dedicated phone number that does not change each time the SMS is sent | Uses verified business profiles approved by Google/carriers to confirm the business identity. |
| Reliabitliy | Works globally, even without internet access | Requires data connectivity and compatible apps |
| Compliance | Meets enterprise and government messaging standards | Still evolving; not yet standardized for enterprise compliance |
| Adoption | Universal support across all phones | Limited adoption outside Android ecosystem |
Secure Online SMS with Notifyre
At Notifyre, SMS security is more than an added feature, it’s the foundation the online SMS service. It’s part of Notifyre’s mission to empower businesses to communicate securely and with confidence with:
AES-256 Encryption
Your data is encrypted at rest and in transit using AES-256, one of the strongest encryption standards available.
Strong User Authentication
Notifyre protects your account with multi-factor authentication (MFA), login-attempt tracking, and secure API access tokens. These controls make sure only approved users and systems can send messages.
Compliance & Certifications
Notifyre is ISO 27001 certified and HIPAA compliant, helping businesses meet strict regulatory and privacy requirements.
Secure Payments with Stripe
Payments are processed through Stripe, a PCI-certified platform that is SOC 1 & SOC 2 compliant for added security.
BAAs and SLAs Available
For organizations with advanced security needs, Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and security questionnaires are available on request.
Encrypted Cloud Storage
All stored data is kept in secure, encrypted cloud environments, protecting your information from unauthorized access.
High Uptime & Reliability
Notifyre delivers consistent service backed by a 99.99% server uptime commitment.
Real-Time Tracking
Monitor your communications with real-time delivery reports, activity tracking to support compliance and internal reporting.
Whether you’re sending SMS marketing, SMS appointment reminders, or SMS banking alerts, Notifyre helps to keep your SMS communications reliable, and compliant.
Secure Business Messaging Starts with Notifyre
While RCS introduces promising security features for the future, it’s not yet ready to replace SMS for mission-critical business messaging. SMS, when delivered through a secure and compliant SMS platform like Notifyre, continues to offer unmatched reliability, global reach, and enterprise-grade security.
With a user-friendly online SMS platform, simple SMS API integration, and local customer support for account support and 10DLC registration, Notifyre ensures businesses communicate securely and efficiently without the complexities.
Start building secure, scalable communication workflows today with Notifyre.
Communicate with Confidence
Send critical messages securely with enterprise-grade infrastructure.
Big Impact, Low Cost with Online SMS
Get unbeatable value with Notifyre’s pay-as-you-go SMS. Send smarter, save more!
Online SMS Service 
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