Are you still relying solely on SMS and email for your business communications? If so, you might be missing out on one of the most powerful messaging channels available today.
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is revolutionising how businesses connect with customers, offering enhanced features that traditional messaging simply can’t match. Think of it as SMS on steroids with rich media support, read receipts, typing indicators, and interactive elements all built right in.
As we navigate through 2025, RCS has moved beyond being just an emerging technology to become an essential part of any forward-thinking marketing strategy. The statistics speak for themselves, showing impressive engagement rates, ROI, and consumer preference for this dynamic channel.
Ready to discover why RCS deserves a prime spot in your communication toolkit? Let’s dive into some eye-opening RCS statistics that might just transform your marketing approach!
What is RCS messaging?
Before we explore the impressive statistics behind this technology, let’s establish a clear understanding of what RCS actually is and why it matters.
Rich Communication Services (RCS) represents the natural evolution of SMS messaging. It combines the universal reach of text messaging with the rich features typically found in messaging apps like Facebook Messenger. With RCS, businesses can send interactive messages with high-resolution images, videos, carousels, suggested replies, and even integrated payment options directly to customers’ default messaging apps.
Unlike SMS, RCS offers a dramatically enhanced messaging experience. It enables brands to create more engaging, visually appealing, and interactive conversations with their audience. Think of it as bringing app-like experiences directly to your customer’s messaging inbox without requiring them to download anything new.
RCS works natively on Android devices through the Google Messages app and other compatible messaging clients. As adoption continues to grow globally, it’s becoming increasingly important for businesses to understand and leverage this powerful communication channel.
15 essential RCS statistics for 2025
The numbers don’t lie, and when it comes to RCS, they tell a compelling story of rapid adoption, impressive performance, and significant potential for businesses ready to embrace this technology. Let’s examine the most important statistics that paint a picture of RCS in 2025.
User base and adoption
The foundation of any communication channel’s value is its reach, and RCS boasts impressive and rapidly growing numbers in this regard.
1. Over one billion monthly active users
In 2023, Google reported over one billion monthly active users with RCS enabled. The massive user base continues to grow as more carriers and device manufacturers implement RCS support. Such widespread adoption represents a significant opportunity for businesses looking to reach consumers through the RCS channel.
2. Big potential user base
With Android holding more than 70% of mobile operating system market share worldwide, RCS has a big potential user base. The dominant position of Android in the global market highlights the enormous reach that RCS messaging provides to businesses looking to connect with the majority of smartphone users globally.
3. Global carrier support
RCS is supported by numerous operators worldwide, including major players like AT&T Mobility, Axiata, Bell Mobility, Bharti Airtel, China Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Jio, KDDI, MTS, NTT Docomo, Sprint Corporation, T-Mobile, Turkcell, Verizon Communications, Vodafone, and more. The extensive adoption among global carriers ensures RCS messages can reach customers across numerous networks and regions, providing businesses with reliable cross-network delivery.
4. Outpacing other messaging channels
In June 2023, RCS business messaging adoption surged by over 40% compared to the previous 12 months, outpacing growth of other messaging channels. The rapid acceleration of adoption rates indicates businesses are recognising the substantial value RCS brings to their customer communication strategies. Companies across sectors are shifting budgets toward RCS as they witness its effectiveness firsthand.
5. Explosive adoption growth in France
In 2023, Orange experienced a stunning 400% increase in RCS usage in France compared to the previous year. The impressive quadrupling of usage within a single year demonstrates how rapidly people are embracing RCS as their preferred messaging platform for both personal and business communications.
Market growth and revenue
The financial implications of RCS adoption show a clear trajectory of substantial growth and return on investment that business leaders should take note of.
6. Booming business messaging market
The RCS business messaging market is experiencing tremendous growth, with total revenue of £1.8 billion in 2024 projected to reach £8.7 billion by 2029. The financial projections reveal an astonishing 370% market growth within just five years. Such explosive expansion makes RCS one of the fastest-growing business communication channels available in the current market landscape.
7. Exceptional ROI potential
A campaign delivered using RCS can see a 1633% increase in returns compared to traditional messaging methods. The extraordinary return on investment demonstrates the substantial financial impact that effective RCS implementation can have on marketing efforts. The potential for sixteen-fold improvements in campaign performance provides a compelling business case for investment in RCS technology.
Consumer preferences and expectations
Understanding what modern consumers want and expect from business communications provides crucial context for why RCS is experiencing such rapid growth.
8. Customers expect advanced technologies
Research shows that 75% of customers expect businesses to use new technologies to create better experiences. Furthermore, 64% indicate that new communication methods would change their expectations of companies. The survey results clearly illustrate that implementing RCS isn’t just about staying current with technology trends. Rather, adopting advanced messaging capabilities has become essential for meeting evolving customer expectations in an increasingly digital marketplace.
9. Personalisation is in high demand
In a 2024 global survey from Boston Consulting Group, 80% of consumers said they’re comfortable with personalised experiences, and most now expect companies to deliver them to provide value, enjoyment, and convenience. The RCS messaging protocol provides an ideal platform for delivering highly personalised experiences at scale. Companies can leverage the rich capabilities of RCS to create tailored messaging journeys that resonate with individual customer preferences and behaviours.
10. Customers want conversational engagement
A significant 68% of consumers are more likely to buy from businesses that offer convenient communication channels, which includes offering the ability to chat. The RCS protocol enables rich conversational experiences natively in the messaging app, eliminating the need for customers to download additional applications. Companies implementing RCS can meet customer expectations for seamless chat functionality while maintaining the convenience of standard messaging.
Performance metrics
The true test of any communication channel is its performance, and RCS delivers impressive results across key metrics that matter to businesses.
11. Near-perfect open rates
RCS messages have an open rate of up to 98%, the same as SMS. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, as RCS is built upon the same foundational platform. While sharing SMS’s exceptional visibility, RCS distinguishes itself through the ability to send rich content that drives engagement beyond the initial open. The combination of near-universal readership with enhanced content capabilities creates a uniquely powerful channel for business communications.
12. Superior readability compared to email
People are 35 times more likely to read an RCS message than email. The staggering difference in engagement rates between RCS and email makes the emerging protocol an essential channel for businesses. Organizations prioritizing genuine audience connections should strongly consider RCS as a primary communication method to ensure their messages actually reach and resonate with recipients.
13. Impressive Conversion Performance
Business campaigns using RCS messaging have shown a conversion rate of up to 50%, showing its effectiveness in driving engagement and sales. The remarkably high conversion figures significantly outperform most other digital marketing channels. Marketing professionals can use RCS as an invaluable tool for direct response initiatives where measurable action is the main goal.
Technical capabilities
The technical advantages of RCS over traditional messaging create numerous opportunities for businesses to craft more effective and engaging communication strategies.
14. Extended character limits
Did you know that RCS supports sending up to 250,000 characters in one message? The extended character limit represents a massive expansion from traditional SMS constraints. Marketing teams can deliver comprehensive and detailed content all at once, making it much easier to communicate complex information and engage audiences effectively. The generous character allowance enables richly detailed communications that would otherwise require multiple fragmented messages.
15. Enhanced media sharing
RCS allows for large file sharing, with a capacity of up to 10 MB in size. The substantial file size capability enables businesses to send high-quality images, videos, and other rich media directly through messaging. Companies can create visually striking, media-rich customer experiences without forcing users to navigate away from the messaging environment. Brands can showcase products, demonstrate features, or share educational content all within a seamless messaging experience.
Implementing RCS in your marketing strategy
Moving from statistics to action requires strategic planning and thoughtful implementation. Here’s how to effectively incorporate RCS into your existing marketing approach to maximise its potential.
Start with clear objectives
Before launching RCS campaigns, define what you hope to achieve. Whether it’s increasing engagement, driving conversions, or improving customer service, having clear objectives will help guide your implementation and measure success.
Use rich media
One of RCS’s biggest advantages is its support for rich media. Use high-quality images, videos, and interactive elements to create engaging experiences that capture attention and drive action. The 10MB file size limit gives you plenty of room to create compelling visual content.
Personalise the experience
With RCS’s support for personalisation, segment your audience and tailor messages based on customer preferences, behaviours, and demographics. The 250,000 character limit allows for detailed, personalised content that can be customised for different customer segments.
Implement interactive elements
Take advantage of RCS’s interactive capabilities by including buttons, suggested replies, and carousels that make it easy for customers to take action. These interactive elements can significantly increase engagement and conversion rates.
Integrate with your existing systems
For maximum efficiency, integrate RCS with your existing CRM, marketing automation, and customer service systems. This integration enables seamless data flow and allows you to create cohesive customer journeys across channels.
Monitor and optimise
Use the analytics provided by your RCS platform to monitor performance and continuously optimise your messaging strategy. Pay attention to open rates, interaction rates, and conversion metrics to identify what’s working and what needs improvement.
The future of business messaging is here!
As we look ahead to the coming years, the trajectory for RCS is unmistakably upward, offering businesses a powerful communication tool that will likely become as essential as email and SMS are today.
RCS messaging represents a significant leap forward in how businesses communicate with their customers. The statistics presented in this article clearly demonstrate that RCS is not just a trending technology but a powerful communication channel that delivers real results.
The most significant conclusions from this analysis include the following key points.
- RCS has now established itself as a mainstream communication channel with massive reach, particularly through Android’s dominant market share and widespread carrier adoption.
- The impressive growth trajectory of RCS business messaging indicates that early adopters stand to gain significant competitive advantages in customer engagement and conversion rates.
- Modern consumers clearly expect businesses to embrace new communication technologies that provide richer, more interactive experiences tailored to their preferences.
As more carriers adopt RCS and the user base continues to expand, the opportunity for businesses to leverage this channel will only grow. Those who embrace RCS now will position themselves at the forefront of business communication, building stronger customer relationships and driving better marketing results.
