Try Simple Mobile Tools. I've had mixed experiences with them. Some were great and others were a little too simple for my use cases. But I've mostly heard good things.

ETA: They're available on F-droid and can be updated with Obtainium.

I quite like Simple SMS messenger. It does what it says on the tin.

Simple SMS Messenger, Simple Contacts Pro, Simple Dialer

all on fdroid

A word of warning about replacing the default SMS app, some manufacturers tie the emergency alerts functionality to it, and if you select another app as the default (as Android insists you do for some reason) it's possible you won't get emergency alerts anymore.

I'll forever be in mourning that Signal shot themselves in the foot and stopped functioning as an SMS app replacement

QKsms premium features are free if downloaded from f-droid.

I use "simple dialer" and "simple contacts". "Simple" applications usually work well, and their pro versions are available for free on f-droid.

I use Silence.

Signal is dropping SMS support so it wouldn't do you any good regardless.

I use qksms from fdroid. I did not even realize they have premium features. Its a great app

Frame challenge: to avoid mass surveillance, a good FLOSS E2EE app ✌️😎