RCS cross-platform optimization

RCS is rendered differently on Android and iOS. Android supports the full set of RCS styling options, while iOS renders a more limited subset — rich cards, carousels, and suggestions can look different, truncate, or not appear at all on iPhone.

When you design an RCS rich card, rich message, or carousel template, the template builder lets you choose an optimization mode that controls which styling options are available:

• Android (default): Enables all styling, fully optimized for Android devices.

• Cross-platform: Restricts styling to the subset that renders consistently across both Android and iOS.

If a meaningful share of your audience is on iPhone, use cross-platform mode to make sure every recipient sees the message as you designed it.

The optimization mode applies to the whole template and is saved with it. Basic text templates always render the same on both platforms, so they don't have an optimization mode.

Choosing an optimization mode

1. Open your RCS message template in the template builder.

2. Select the message block (rich card, rich message, or carousel).

3. In the side panel, under Optimization mode, select Cross-platform or Android.

When cross-platform mode is on, the preview adds an iOS / Android switcher so you can check how the message renders on each platform. It defaults to the iOS preview.

What changes in cross-platform mode

Cross-platform mode limits each message type to the options that render reliably on both platforms. When you switch modes, the builder automatically corrects media heights and card widths; other incompatible content has to be resolved by hand (see Switching an existing template below).

The media recommendations — aspect ratios, the 5% safe zone, and file formats — apply in both modes.

Rich card

• Media height is fixed to Tall.

• Each card supports up to 4 buttons: at most 1 action (such as Open URL or Phone number) and up to 3 quick replies. Add the action before adding replies.

• Suggestion chips below the message (message-level suggestions) are not available.

• Keep the combined length of the title and description under ~150 characters — longer text may truncate on iOS. The builder warns you when you exceed this.

Carousel

• Card width is fixed to Medium.

• Card media height is fixed to Medium.

• Each card supports up to 4 buttons: at most 1 action and up to 3 quick replies, with the action added first.

• Suggestion chips below the message are not available.

• The same ~150 character title-plus-description guidance applies to each card.

Rich message

• Only quick replies are available as suggestions — action buttons (Open URL, Phone number, and so on) are not.

• Up to 11 quick replies per message.

• Text can be up to 3,072 characters.

Switching an existing template

You can switch an existing template to cross-platform mode at any time. Media heights and card widths are corrected automatically, but if the template contains content that has no cross-platform equivalent — message-level suggestions, action buttons on a rich message, or more buttons on a card than the limits above — the Cross-platform option is disabled and a tooltip lists what to resolve first.

Switching back to Android mode re-enables all styling options.