Since RCS messaging started, group texts initiated by an iPhone user do not work well when there are multiple platform users (i.e., Apple and Samsung) in the group.

Since Android started using RCS messaging, there have been a lot of issues with group texting. Has anyone figured out a way to fix this issue? Multiple people have suggested using a different texting app other than the iPhone app, but I'd prefer to stay with the iMessage app if at all possible. If I change, what is the best app to use for messages (other than What'sApp because the people I text don't use that)? I'm using an iPhone 16Pro on Verizon with iOS 26.1.

The issues I've noticed with group texting with multiple platforms (Google, Android, iPhone):

1. If the group text is initiated by an iPhone user, this causes the most problems.
2. In a group text, sometimes "likes" come in as a separate message with "so-and-so liked a photo" - but you don't know which photo or message b/c it's a message in the thread (rather than an emoji attached to the message). Sometimes it says "...liked an attachment" even if it is just a text.
3. Sometimes people are dropped from the group text and only some of the recipients are receiving the message. It seems that often is the apple-to-apple/iMessage connection that is lost and the android folks still get the message.
4. Sometimes the messages are sent individually to some of the recipients, rather than in the group.
5. Messages (text or photos) won't send and I have to manually select "send as SMS" in a group multi-platform text. Sometimes, it never shows as delivered.
6. I've activated everything, tried deactivating some message types, nothing seems to help.

Advice or suggestions?