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Best Chert Alternatives in 2026

96 alternatives to Chert for sending iMessage, SMS and more from code, compared on features, channels and pricing.

Photon leads this list with support for 75 of the 77 features we compare. Each entry shows what it adds over Chert, its starting price and a full side-by-side comparison.

The product you are replacing

Chert

iMessage and FaceTime numbers for AI agents
Starting price
$25/month (Shared)
Free plan
24-hour trial: 10 messages and 10 FaceTime minutes on a shared line
Visit ChertRead more

  1. Photon

    Open-source agent framework with managed iMessage
    Starting price
    $25/month (Pro)
    Free plan
    Free: shared iMessage lines, up to 10 users (2.0 beta: 25 shared iMessage assignments and $100 credit)
    #1What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit PhotonRead more

  2. Linq

    iMessage, RCS and SMS API with flat monthly pricing
    Starting price
    $260/month (Pro)
    Free plan
    Hobby: $0, up to 20 contacts, used through the CLI
    #2What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit LinqRead more

  3. Blooio

    One API for iMessage, WhatsApp and Apple Messages
    Starting price
    $39/month (Starter, shared number)
    Free plan
    Free trial: 20 messages total on a shared number, no credit card
    #3What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit BlooioRead more

  4. Sendblue

    iMessage API and CRM texting for sales and agents
    Starting price
    $100/month per line
    Free plan
    Free sandbox: shared number, up to 10 verified contacts, no webhooks
    #4What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit SendblueRead more

  5. Zernio

    One API for iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp, social DMs and calls
    Starting price
    $200/month per iMessage sender
    Free plan
    First 2 connected accounts free; free iMessage sandbox on a shared line
    #5What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit ZernioRead more

  6. LoopMessage

    iMessage, SMS, RCS and WhatsApp on one number
    Starting price
    $59.99/month per sender (Light)
    Free plan
    Sandbox: $0, 5 contacts, testing only; free shared plan for schools and non-profits
    #6What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit LoopMessageRead more

  7. Blue Reacher

    Managed iMessage lines for B2B sales, with API and MCP
    Starting price
    $199/month per line at 4+ lines; $249/month for 1 to 3 lines
    Free plan
    Free public sandbox key; simulator only, no real sends
    #7What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit Blue ReacherRead more

  8. Miss Blue

    Dedicated iMessage line with API, team inbox and calling
    Starting price
    $99/month per number (launch price)
    Free plan
    Free sandbox; 30-minute live demo line
    #8What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit Miss BlueRead more

  9. Bland

    Voice AI platform with SMS, RCS and branded iMessage agents
    Starting price
    Custom (iMessage is Enterprise only); SMS from $29.99/month on the Agent Phone Plan
    Free plan
    Start plan: free, with credits and an inbound number, for voice
    #9What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit BlandRead more

  10. BlueBubbles

    Free, open-source iMessage bridge you host on a Mac
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (Apache-2.0)
    #10What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit BlueBubblesRead more

  11. Inkbox

    Email, phone, iMessage and A2A identity for AI agents
    Starting price
    $25/month (Developer); $167/month for a dedicated iMessage number (Startup)
    Free plan
    Free: 3 identities, shared iMessage up to 2,000 messages a month and 3 recipients at a time
    #11What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit InkboxRead more

  12. AgentPhone

    Phone numbers with voice, SMS and iMessage for AI agents
    Starting price
    $3/month per number plus usage; iMessage from $150/month per line
    Free plan
    $5 starting credit, no card required
    #12What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit AgentPhoneRead more

  13. Dial

    Phone numbers with calls, SMS and iMessage for AI agents
    Starting price
    $3/month per standard number; $250/month per iMessage number
    Free plan
    $5 free credit, no credit card required
    #13What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit DialRead more

  14. Comms by Osis

    iMessage, RCS, SMS and WhatsApp API with hosted agents
    Starting price
    $50/month (shared line); $200/month per dedicated number
    Free plan
    Free: shared platform line, 100 messages a day, no card
    #14What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit Comms by OsisRead more

  15. iBlueText

    Hosted or self-hosted iMessage lines with iPhone lookup
    Starting price
    $29/month (self-hosted, 1 line); $99/month per hosted line
    Free plan
    No-card trial: 100 lookups, 10 verifications and 10 iMessages; self-hosted 3-day trial
    #15What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit iBlueTextRead more

  16. Project Blue

    iMessage, SMS and FaceTime Audio lines inside your CRM
    Starting price
    $166/month per line, billed annually
    Free plan
    Free trial on a shared line, verified numbers only
    #16What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit Project BlueRead more

  17. Tuco AI

    iMessage follow-up for opted-in leads from your CRM
    Starting price
    $149/month (Starter, 1 line) plus $335 setup
    Free plan
    None; docs say no free trials or refunds
    #17What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit Tuco AIRead more

  18. rustpush

    Rust library for the iMessage, FaceTime and APNs protocols
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free source (SSPL v1)
    #18What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit rustpushRead more

  19. imbridge

    Python library, CLI and MCP server for iMessage on a Mac
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (Apache-2.0)
    #19What it adds over Chert
    Visit imbridgeRead more

  20. MessageBlue

    iMessage API for agents, with bring-your-own-number
    Starting price
    $100/month per line
    Free plan
    $0 with your own number and Mac, all features, limited seats
    #20What it adds over Chert
    Compare with Chert
    Visit MessageBlueRead more

  21. OpenClaw imsg

    MIT-licensed macOS CLI for reading and sending iMessage
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #21What it adds over Chert
    Visit OpenClaw imsgRead more

  22. autoMessage

    iMessage API, MCP server and webhooks on your own Mac
    Starting price
    $59/month (Solo)
    Free plan
    14-day free trial, no credit card to start
    #22What it adds over Chert
    Visit autoMessageRead more

  23. Contiguity

    SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp and email in one developer API
    Starting price
    $79.99/month for a leased iMessage number ($9.99 number plus $70 iMessage); SMS adds $40
    Free plan
    Free: 500 SMS, 100 MMS and 1,000 emails a month on shared numbers
    #23What it adds over Chert
    Visit ContiguityRead more

  24. iSnap

    iMessage API on real iPhones, rented or your own
    Starting price
    $15/month per BYOP line; rented lines from $77/month
    Free plan
    Starter: $0, one contact, shared test line
    #24What it adds over Chert
    Visit iSnapRead more

  25. Twilio

    Global CPaaS for SMS, RCS, WhatsApp and voice
    Starting price
    $0.0083 per US SMS segment
    Free plan
    30-day free trial, no card, with 100 SMS and 75 voice minutes
    #25What it adds over Chert
    Visit TwilioRead more

  26. Beam

    iMessage, RCS and SMS for GoHighLevel agencies, with an API
    Starting price
    Not published
    Free plan
    Free preview workspace with demo data; no live sending
    #26What it adds over Chert
    Visit BeamRead more

  27. Bird

    Email, SMS, WhatsApp and Apple Messages APIs
    Starting price
    $0.0035 per US outbound SMS segment plus carrier fees
    Free plan
    Free email tier of 1,000 emails a month; free shared Inbox
    #27What it adds over Chert
    Visit BirdRead more

  28. Blue Replies

    iMessage and FaceTime API with a free phone-bound sandbox
    Starting price
    Custom quote
    Free plan
    Sandbox: free, no expiry, your own phone plus up to 5 verified contacts
    #28What it adds over Chert
    Visit Blue RepliesRead more

  29. imessage-rs

    Rust iMessage server with a BlueBubbles-compatible API
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #29What it adds over Chert
    Visit imessage-rsRead more

  30. Orbit by Devotel

    Pay-as-you-go CPaaS with AI agents on every channel
    Starting price
    $0.0075 per US SMS segment
    Free plan
    Free signup with simulated sandbox sends
    #30What it adds over Chert
    Visit Orbit by DevotelRead more

  31. senderZ

    iMessage for customer-started chats, SMS for the rest
    Starting price
    $39/month billed annually ($49 billed monthly)
    Free plan
    14-day trial, no card
    #31What it adds over Chert
    Visit senderZRead more

  32. Telnyx

    Low per-part SMS pricing with carrier fees at cost
    Starting price
    $0.004 per US SMS part plus carrier fee
    Free plan
    Trial account with $5 testing credit
    #32What it adds over Chert
    Visit TelnyxRead more

  33. Vonage

    Messages API for SMS, RCS, WhatsApp, Viber and email
    Starting price
    $0.00860 per US SMS on a long virtual number, plus carrier fees
    Free plan
    Free credit at signup with no card, and a free Messages API Sandbox capped at 100 messages a month
    #33What it adds over Chert
    Visit VonageRead more

  34. Infobip

    Global CPaaS and Apple Messages for Business provider
    Starting price
    $0.0075 to $0.0083 per US SMS (indicative)
    Free plan
    60-day free trial, no card, up to 100 messages per channel to your verified number
    #34What it adds over Chert
    Visit InfobipRead more

  35. Caspian

    Open-source SDK that puts one agent on every chat channel
    Starting price
    Free (self-host or sandbox key); hosted paid channels per message
    Free plan
    Free self-hosting; free sandbox key from the MCP get_started tool
    #35What it adds over Chert
    Visit CaspianRead more

  36. Sinch

    CPaaS with 13 messaging channels in one API
    Starting price
    $0.0078 per US 10DLC SMS, plus carrier fees
    Free plan
    Free developer account with an SMS sandbox and test credit
    #36What it adds over Chert
    Visit SinchRead more

  37. ZeroSettle

    Managed iMessage numbers with a REST API and webhooks
    Starting price
    $49/month (Pro, one number)
    Free plan
    None. 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
    #37What it adds over Chert
    Visit ZeroSettleRead more

  38. Claw Messenger

    iMessage for personal AI agents, no Mac needed
    Starting price
    $5/month for 250 messages
    Free plan
    7-day free trial, card required
    #38What it adds over Chert
    Visit Claw MessengerRead more

  39. Plivo

    Voice AI and CPaaS with SMS, WhatsApp and SIP APIs
    Starting price
    $1,000/month Enterprise minimum for SMS; US SMS $0.0077 per message plus carrier fees
    Free plan
    $10 in free credits on pay as you go (voice and SIP; no SMS in the US)
    #39What it adds over Chert
    Visit PlivoRead more

  40. messages.dev

    TypeScript-first iMessage, RCS and SMS API
    Starting price
    $99/month per line
    Free plan
    Sandbox: 50 messages a day to your own paired phone
    #40What it adds over Chert
    Visit messages.devRead more

  41. AgenticMail

    Self-hosted email, SMS and calls for AI agents
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT); free agenticmail.io subdomain for the Enterprise package
    #41What it adds over Chert
    Visit AgenticMailRead more

  42. Gupshup

    Conversational AI platform for WhatsApp, RCS, SMS and voice
    Starting price
    $99/month plus per-message rates
    Free plan
    None on the self-serve plan; a WhatsApp offer page lists 3 months free
    #42What it adds over Chert
    Visit GupshupRead more

  43. myCRMSIM

    Send iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp and RCS from your own devices
    Starting price
    $29/month per iMessage line ($24.17/month billed annually)
    Free plan
    None; 30-day money-back guarantee
    #43What it adds over Chert
    Visit myCRMSIMRead more

  44. Sendara

    iMessage from your CRM on a dedicated line
    Starting price
    $249/month (first line) plus $99 setup
    Free plan
    None mentioned
    #44What it adds over Chert
    Visit SendaraRead more

  45. Webex Connect

    Cisco's enterprise CPaaS with Apple Messages for Business
    Starting price
    Custom (contact Cisco)
    Free plan
    Free sandbox: 10,000 SMS and WhatsApp requests within 365 days, up to 5 verified numbers
    #45What it adds over Chert
    Visit Webex ConnectRead more

  46. beeperbox

    One MCP endpoint for the chat apps in your Beeper account
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (Apache-2.0)
    #46What it adds over Chert
    Visit beeperboxRead more

  47. CM.com

    One messaging API for SMS, RCS, WhatsApp and more
    Starting price
    $58/month (Channels Go, 1 profile) plus usage
    Free plan
    Business Messaging trial without onboarding
    #47What it adds over Chert
    Visit CM.comRead more

  48. Hail

    Open-source voice, SMS and email API for AI agents
    Starting price
    Prepaid credit from $1; numbers from $0.50/month
    Free plan
    Free to self-host (AGPL-3.0). No free credit on Hail Cloud.
    #48What it adds over Chert
    Visit HailRead more

  49. SendiMessage

    Managed iMessage and SMS lines behind one REST API
    Starting price
    $129/month per line
    Free plan
    None
    #49What it adds over Chert
    Visit SendiMessageRead more

  50. SignalWire

    Voice, messaging and AI agents from the FreeSWITCH team
    Starting price
    $0.00415 per US 10DLC SMS segment plus carrier fees
    Free plan
    Trial mode at signup; add $5 credit to exit
    #50What it adds over Chert
    Visit SignalWireRead more

  51. Bandwidth

    Carrier-owned SMS, MMS, RCS and voice APIs
    Starting price
    $0.004 per outbound US 10DLC SMS
    Free plan
    Bandwidth Build free trial: 30 days of credits, texts only to your own verified mobile
    #51What it adds over Chert
    Visit BandwidthRead more

  52. Clerk AI

    AI voice, RCS and SMS agents for outbound lead qualification
    Starting price
    $0 (Pay as you Go, 100 credits); Startup $149/month
    Free plan
    Pay as you Go: free with 100 credits, then $0.045 per credit
    #52What it adds over Chert
    Visit Clerk AIRead more

  53. mautrix-imessage

    Matrix bridge for iMessage that runs on your own Mac
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (AGPL-3.0)
    #53What it adds over Chert
    Visit mautrix-imessageRead more

  54. Pinnacle

    RCS and SMS API with voice and per-account iMessage
    Starting price
    $0.015 per SMS segment plus a quoted monthly base
    Free plan
    None stated; self-serve sandbox and test numbers
    #54What it adds over Chert
    Visit PinnacleRead more

  55. Sent

    One API for SMS, WhatsApp and RCS with automatic routing
    Starting price
    $0.015 per active contact a month plus carrier fees (US SMS shown at $0.0047)
    Free plan
    Light onboarding: 6 pre-built OTP templates, 500 sends a day, no card
    #55What it adds over Chert
    Visit SentRead more

  56. AgentLine

    Open-source phone numbers, calls and SMS for AI agents
    Starting price
    $20/month (Individual: 1 number, 100 minutes, 400 SMS)
    Free plan
    No free hosted tier listed; MIT-licensed server is free to self-host
    #56What it adds over Chert
    Visit AgentLineRead more

  57. GoGHL

    WhatsApp, iMessage and SMS inside GoHighLevel
    Starting price
    $29/month per GoHighLevel sub-account
    Free plan
    7-day free trial, no credit card
    #57What it adds over Chert
    Visit GoGHLRead more

  58. Mac Messages MCP

    MCP server to read, search and send Mac Messages
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #58What it adds over Chert
    Visit Mac Messages MCPRead more

  59. Signal House

    US SMS, MMS and voice aggregator with an AI agent API
    Starting price
    $0.0065 per 10DLC SMS segment plus carrier fees
    Free plan
    $25 credit at signup
    #59What it adds over Chert
    Visit Signal HouseRead more

  60. Unipile

    Unified API for users' own WhatsApp, LinkedIn and email
    Starting price
    49 EUR/month for up to 10 linked accounts ($55)
    Free plan
    7-day free trial, no credit card
    #60What it adds over Chert
    Visit UnipileRead more

  61. VoidFix Gateway

    SMS, WhatsApp and iMessage from your own phones
    Starting price
    $99/month per iMessage line (your own iPhone)
    Free plan
    7-day trials for SMS and WhatsApp only; none for iMessage
    #61What it adds over Chert
    Visit VoidFix GatewayRead more

  62. imessage-sdk

    Provider-neutral TypeScript SDK for hosted iMessage APIs
    Starting price
    Free (provider fees extra)
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #62What it adds over Chert
    Visit imessage-sdkRead more

  63. Routee

    CPaaS for SMS, Viber, WhatsApp, voice and email
    Starting price
    $0.0085 per US SMS (toll-free) plus carrier fee
    Free plan
    Free email (up to 2,500 subscribers) and push plans only
    #63What it adds over Chert
    Visit RouteeRead more

  64. iMessage Relay

    Mac menu bar app relaying iMessage to webhooks, REST and MCP
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #64What it adds over Chert
    Visit iMessage RelayRead more

  65. Mobile Text Alerts

    US SMS platform and API with RCS and beta iMessage
    Starting price
    $36/month billed annually (1,000 messages)
    Free plan
    14-day free trial with 50 messages
    #65What it adds over Chert
    Visit Mobile Text AlertsRead more

  66. SentFromAI

    Email inboxes for AI agents, with iMessage in early access
    Starting price
    $19/month (Pro, email)
    Free plan
    Free: 5 inboxes, 5,000 emails a month, 5 GB storage, no card (email only)
    #66What it adds over Chert
    Visit SentFromAIRead more

  67. Apple Messages MCP

    Local MCP server for reading and sending Apple Messages
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #67What it adds over Chert
    Visit Apple Messages MCPRead more

  68. Dexatel

    SMS, Viber, WhatsApp and OTP API with channel fallback
    Starting price
    $0.0229 per US SMS
    Free plan
    30-day free trial with test credits, no card
    #68What it adds over Chert
    Visit DexatelRead more

  69. iMessage Max

    Swift MCP server for reading and sending iMessage on a Mac
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #69What it adds over Chert
    Visit iMessage MaxRead more

  70. Saperly

    Phone numbers with voice and SMS for AI agents
    Starting price
    Numbers from $2/month plus usage
    Free plan
    $5 signup credit that never expires, no card to start
    #70What it adds over Chert
    Visit SaperlyRead more

  71. smsmode

    French SMS, RCS, WhatsApp and TTS messaging platform
    Starting price
    €9/month (Basic) or €61 for a 1,000 SMS prepaid pack (France)
    Free plan
    20 free test credits
    #71What it adds over Chert
    Visit smsmodeRead more

  72. Surge

    SMS and voice API with fast US carrier registration
    Starting price
    $5/month (Hobby, credited toward usage)
    Free plan
    Demo number with 25 outbound demo SMS per account
    #72What it adds over Chert
    Visit SurgeRead more

  73. ClickSend

    Prepaid SMS, MMS and RCS messaging API
    Starting price
    $0.0285 per US SMS on a $20 top-up, plus a $0.0041 carrier fee
    Free plan
    Free trial on sign-up; credit amount not stated
    #73What it adds over Chert
    Visit ClickSendRead more

  74. Crypton.sh Blue Relay

    Dedicated iMessage lines hosted in the EU and UK
    Starting price
    €89/month per line (Reply)
    Free plan
    None
    #74What it adds over Chert
    Visit Crypton.sh Blue RelayRead more

  75. OpenMessage

    Local Google Messages, WhatsApp and Signal inbox with MCP
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source
    #75What it adds over Chert
    Visit OpenMessageRead more

  76. Texting Blue

    Shared team iMessage inbox on your own iPhone number
    Starting price
    $19/month per number
    Free plan
    3-day free trial
    #76What it adds over Chert
    Visit Texting BlueRead more

  77. AgentCall

    Phone numbers, SMS and AI voice calls for AI agents
    Starting price
    $19.99/month (Pro) plus usage
    Free plan
    One-time 72-hour trial with one local number, 5 inbound AI minutes and 5 texts; card verification required
    #77What it adds over Chert
    Visit AgentCallRead more

  78. AgentMessage

    SMS and iMessage API for AI agents with 10DLC tooling
    Starting price
    $0.94/month per number plus $0.0078 per SMS segment
    Free plan
    $5 starting credit on new accounts (new signups currently paused)
    #78What it adds over Chert
    Visit AgentMessageRead more

  79. Apple Messages for Business

    Apple's official business chat in the Messages app
    Starting price
    Free from Apple; MSP fees vary
    Free plan
    Apple charges nothing; an MSP is still required
    #79What it adds over Chert
    Visit Apple Messages for BusinessRead more

  80. Artil

    Email inboxes, SMS numbers and Telegram bots for AI agents
    Starting price
    $25/month (Pro)
    Free plan
    Free: 3 inboxes, 500 messages received and 500 sent a month, no card
    #80What it adds over Chert
    Visit ArtilRead more

  81. Messente

    Estonian SMS, Viber, WhatsApp and RCS messaging API
    Starting price
    0.0136 EUR per US SMS segment (pay as you go)
    Free plan
    Free signup with test messages, no card
    #81What it adds over Chert
    Visit MessenteRead more

  82. adit

    Windows daemon for iPhone texts over Bluetooth, with an API
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #82What it adds over Chert
    Visit aditRead more

  83. Chatbubbles

    Self-hosted iMessage HTTPS API for a Mac on Tailscale
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free download (GitHub releases, Homebrew tap)
    #83What it adds over Chert
    Visit ChatbubblesRead more

  84. GatewayAPI

    Danish SMS, RCS and email API with an EU-hosted setup
    Starting price
    0.0201 EUR per US SMS (standard route)
    Free plan
    Free account with test credits
    #84What it adds over Chert
    Visit GatewayAPIRead more

  85. iMessage Sender

    iMessage and SMS from your Apple devices in GoHighLevel
    Starting price
    unknown
    Free plan
    unknown
    #85What it adds over Chert
    Visit iMessage SenderRead more

  86. TXTImpact

    Business texting platform and API for SMS, RCS, WhatsApp
    Starting price
    $5/month (API Start up plan, 100 credits)
    Free plan
    15-day free trial, no credit card
    #86What it adds over Chert
    Visit TXTImpactRead more

  87. Cadence

    RCS conversation API for AI agents, with SMS fallback
    Starting price
    $250/month per brand to go live
    Free plan
    Free sandbox and real RCS to your own accepted test devices, no time limit
    #87What it adds over Chert
    Visit CadenceRead more

  88. mautrix-gmessages

    Matrix bridge for Google Messages SMS and RCS chats
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (AGPL-3.0)
    #88What it adds over Chert
    Visit mautrix-gmessagesRead more

  89. Telgorithm

    SMS, MMS, RCS and voice APIs for 10DLC platforms
    Starting price
    $0.005 per SMS segment (500,000 messages a month minimum)
    Free plan
    $100 credit on self-serve signup; 30-day pay-as-you-go trial
    #89What it adds over Chert
    Visit TelgorithmRead more

  90. Vernacular

    iMessage lines with AI-drafted replies you approve
    Starting price
    $899/month per line (Growth); Support has $1,000 setup and no minimum
    Free plan
    Free trial offered; terms not stated
    #90What it adds over Chert
    Visit VernacularRead more

  91. imsg (gnufood)

    Linux CLI that texts through a paired iPhone via Bluetooth
    Starting price
    Free
    Free plan
    Free and open source (MIT)
    #91What it adds over Chert
    Visit imsg (gnufood)Read more

  92. BlueSendr

    iMessage in GoHighLevel from your own Mac and iPhone
    Starting price
    $49/month (billed annually)
    Free plan
    None found
    #92What it adds over Chert
    Visit BlueSendrRead more

  93. Commio

    US voice, SMS, MMS and RCS APIs with published rates
    Starting price
    $0.0035 per 10DLC SMS segment, outbound or inbound
    Free plan
    None found
    #93What it adds over Chert
    Visit CommioRead more

  94. Signalmash

    US SMS, RCS, voice and SIP with managed 10DLC compliance
    Starting price
    $19/month platform fee plus $0.0039 per SMS segment
    Free plan
    None found
    #94What it adds over Chert
    Visit SignalmashRead more

  95. TextGrid

    Low-cost SMS, MMS, voice and email API
    Starting price
    $0.0035 per outbound SMS segment, no minimum
    Free plan
    Free signup with trial credits (amount not stated)
    #95What it adds over Chert
    Visit TextGridRead more

  96. AgentNumber

    US phone numbers with SMS and AI voice for agents
    Starting price
    $5 per number (one-time)
    Free plan
    None listed
    #96What it adds over Chert
    Visit AgentNumberRead more

Chert vs the top alternatives

Chert next to the 4 alternatives that support the most features on our list.

FeatureChertPhotonLinqBlooioSendblue
iMessage messaging
iMessage
Supported
SupportedManaged cloud lines, or your own Mac with the local provider
Supported
Supported
Supported
Group chats
Supported2 to 31 recipients; first group message must be text only.
SupportedOn the Business plan (dedicated lines)
SupportedPro plan. Up to 31 recipients. No read or delivery receipts in groups.
Supported
BetaGroup API is in beta on select plans. AI Agent plan can only reply in existing groups.
Group management
SupportedCreate, add or remove participants, and leave a group.
SupportedCreate groups and add, remove or leave members; Business plan (dedicated lines)
SupportedAdd and remove participants and leave a group, iMessage groups only, 3-member minimum.
PartialCreate groups by API. Adding or removing members is marked coming soon (returns 501).
BetaAdd and remove participants in iMessage groups via the beta groups API.
Group name and photo
SupportedSet a group's display name and icon.
SupportedRename groups and set group photos; Business plan (dedicated lines)
SupportedSet display_name and group_chat_icon on group chats.
SupportedRename groups and set or remove group icons.
SupportedRename groups and set group photos on supported lines.
Mentions
Not listed
SupportedSend @mentions in multipart messages and read mention ranges on inbound
SupportedGroup chats only. Notifies iMessage recipients even in a muted chat.
Not listedA guide index lists mentions, but no mention field is documented.
Not listed
Tapbacks
SupportedSix standard tapbacks; inbound tapbacks show in message history.
SupportedSix native tapbacks plus emoji reactions, send and receive
SupportedSix classic tapbacks or any emoji, send and receive via reaction webhooks.
SupportedAdd or remove tapbacks on any message; inbound reactions arrive as message.reaction events.
PartialSend classic tapbacks or any emoji. No inbound reaction events documented.
Threaded replies
Not listedHomepage mentions reply context; no reply-to field in the API docs.
Supported
Supportedreply_to with optional part_index. iMessage only.
Supportedreply_to on sends.
Supportedreply_to on V2 iMessage lines, in direct and group chats.
Typing indicators
SupportedBest effort; group typing is not supported on every line.
Supported
SupportedSend and receive, in direct and group chats. iMessage only.
SupportedSend, and receive typing.started and typing.stopped events.
SupportedSend and receive. iMessage 1:1 only, not in groups.
Read receipts
SupportedMark chats read; messages carry read_at when known.
SupportedMark chats read and receive read events; group receipts are best-effort
SupportedMark chats read and receive message.read. One-to-one chats only.
SupportedMark chats read and receive message.read events.
PartialCan mark chats read (1:1). Outbound statuses stop at DELIVERED, with no read status.
Edit and unsend
PartialEdit within 15 minutes; no unsend endpoint documented.
SupportedEdit within 15 minutes and unsend within 2 minutes (Apple limits)
PartialEdit text up to 5 times within 15 minutes. Delete does not unsend from the recipient's device.
Not listed
Not supportedDocs say editing is not supported via API and delete does not unsend.
Message effects
SupportedApple send effects, validated against an allowed list.
SupportedAll bubble and screen effects, including invisible ink
Supported11 screen and 4 bubble effects.
Supportedeffect field on text sends.
Supported13 send_style values.
Animated text effects
Not listed
SupportedPer-range effects such as bloom, shake, explode and jitter
Supportedtext_decorations animations: big, small, shake, nod, explode, ripple, bloom, jitter.
Not listed
Not listed
Stickers
Not listed
SupportedPlace image stickers on any bubble with position, scale and rotation; sticker events inbound
SupportedPeel emoji or images onto messages, send stickers, or place them inline in text.
Not listed
Not listed
Formatted text
Not listed
SupportedMarkdown rendered as native bold, italic, underline and strikethrough
SupportedBold, italic, underline and strikethrough ranges, plus animated text. iMessage only.
SupportedMarkdown bold, italic, underline and strikethrough sent as iMessage rich text.
Not listed
Attachments
SupportedUpload then send; several images can go out as one grouped message.
SupportedFiles up to 100 MiB by default, including Live Photos
SupportedUp to 10MB by URL, 100MB with pre-upload.
Supported
SupportedUp to 100MB on iMessage, 5MB on SMS.
Live Photos
Supportedlive_photo pairs an uploaded HEIC with its MOV.
SupportedHEIC still plus MOV companion uploaded as one Live Photo
Not listed
Not listed
Not listed
Rich link previews
Supportedrich_link parts render as preview bubbles; falls back to a plain URL.
Supportedrichlink() asks Messages to render its own preview
Supportedlink parts render as rich previews on iMessage and RCS.
Supportedrich_link bubbles with image and title overrides.
PartialDocs say links expand only after the recipient saves your contact.
Voice messages
SupportedNative voice notes on enabled lines; inbound memos arrive as attachments, no transcript.
Supported
SupportedDedicated voice memo endpoint renders the native iMessage voice bubble.
SupportedA single audio file is sent as a native voice memo.
SupportedSend .caf files to render as inline voice notes.
Contact cards
SupportedBuilds a vCard bubble in DMs and groups.
SupportedvCard or structured contacts, plus the bot's own native contact card
SupportedSend .vcf files as media parts.
Not listedAttachments accept other files, but .vcf is not named. Name and Photo cards are documented.
SupportedSend .vcf files via media_url.
Polls
SupportedEnabled lines only; read votes by polling, no vote webhooks yet.
SupportedCreate, vote, add options and receive poll events; all managed plans
SupportedCreate, add options, vote and read tallies, with poll webhooks. Not as a chat's first message.
SupportedSend, vote and read results, with poll webhooks.
Not listed
Chat backgrounds
Not listed
Supported
SupportedColor, animated or photo backgrounds, in direct and group chats.
SupportedImage backgrounds only.
Not listed
Location sharing
PartialOne-time location pin on enabled lines; not Live Location or Find My.
SupportedFind My requests and live location; Business plan
SupportedRequest, read and stop Find My shares. Live location is a $79/mo add-on on Pro.
PartialReads Find My locations of contacts already sharing. Location access is provisioned on request.
SupportedFind My request, read and live watch. Dedicated iMessage lines only.
iMessage apps
Not listed
SupportedCustom and live app cards; iMessage mini apps on the Business plan
SupportedPro plan. Cards from your own Messages extension, or Linq-hosted cards (Experiences).
SupportedCustom bubbles for your own iMessage app extension, sent and received.
SupportedApp Cards for your own Messages extension. V2 lines, not on the free plan.
Live app cards
Not listed
SupportedEdit an app card in place and render live UI without a new bubble
SupportedUpdate App Card replaces a delivered iMessage app or Experience card in place.
Not supportedDocs say a send cannot continue an app session; each bubble starts a new one.
PartialUpdates go out as new messages in the same App Card session; Sendblue says the original is not edited.
Sender name and photo
SupportedNative name-and-photo sharing on enabled lines (share_native).
SupportedShares the agent's name and photo automatically; Business plan
SupportedContact card API sets name and photo, shared per chat via Name and Photo Sharing.
SupportedSet name and avatar per number and share the card into a chat.
SupportedName and Photo Sharing profile per line, shared into direct iMessage chats.
FaceTime calls
SupportedInbound audio and video, outbound audio only, bridged to your LiveKit agent.
Not listed
Not supportedDocs say the API does not place or answer calls.
PartialOn request for dedicated lines. Docs say the FaceTime API is disabled for now (returns 501).
PartialOutbound FaceTime audio over WebRTC (Agora). Needs a purchased FaceTime line.
Delivery status
SupportedPer-message status with delivered_at, and the channel used (iMessage or SMS).
SupportedSent, delivered, read and send-error fields per message
Supportedsent, delivered, read and failed webhooks. Groups report sent only.
Supported
SupportedStatus callbacks from REGISTERED through SENT or DELIVERED.
iMessage availability check
Not listed
SupportedCheck if a number or email can get iMessage, SMS or RCS before sending
Supportedcheck_imessage and check_rcs endpoints.
SupportedLive per-number iMessage, SMS and RCS capability lookup.
SupportedLookup API checks a phone number or email for iMessage.
Focus and Notify Anyway
Not listed
SupportedCheck if a recipient has Focus on, then trigger Notify Anyway
Not listed
SupportedRead a contact's Focus status and send Notify Anyway. Direct chats only.
Not listed
Numbers and delivery
Managed lines
SupportedChert-managed sender lines assigned to your tenant.
SupportedSpectrum Cloud runs the Mac fleet; no Mac needed
Supported
SupportedPre-warmed numbers claimed self-serve from the dashboard.
Supported
Dedicated numbers
Supported$250/mo per line, arranged on a call; no self-serve checkout yet.
Supported$250 per line per month on Business
SupportedPaid lines are dedicated. Provisioned by Linq, no self-serve number API.
Supported
Supported
Shared numbers
SupportedFree 24-hour trial and $25/mo Shared plan on a shared line.
SupportedFree and Pro route each user through a managed shared pool
SupportedFree Hobby tier uses a Shared Line, inbound-first, 20 contacts.
SupportedStarter and Commercial Shared use managed shared pools.
SupportedFree sandbox uses a shared number with verified contacts only.
Bring your own number
Not listed
SupportedYour own Apple ID when self-hosting on a Mac, and your own number for WhatsApp Business
Not listed
PartialiMessage only by porting on dedicated plans. Your own Twilio number can carry SMS.
PartialOnly by porting the number in, which adds 3 to 5 days.
Line pooling
SupportedPicks and pins a sender line per recipient from your assigned lines.
SupportedBusiness: auto-scale adds lines and a routing endpoint balances users
SupportedManaged load balancing (Pro): send without from and Linq picks and fails over lines.
SupportedNumber pools and channel priorities; a contact keeps one number in a pool.
SupportedNumber pooling with sticky sending. Automatic line selection needs account enablement.
SMS fallback
PartialLines enabled for SMS retry only; plain-text 1:1 messages, not groups or media.
SupportedOn every plan per pricing; carrier rules apply to fallback traffic
Supported
Supported
Supported
RCS fallback
Not listedHomepage says SMS or RCS fallback; API docs only describe SMS retry.
Supported
SupportedOrder is iMessage, then RCS, then SMS.
Supported
SupportediMessage, then RCS, then SMS. RCS on V2 lines.
Outbound-first messaging
SupportedFirst send to a new recipient creates a lead and pins a line.
SupportedBusiness plan, up to 50 new contacts per line per day
SupportedFree Hobby tier is inbound-first. Docs recommend inbound-first flows to avoid flagging.
SupportedShared plans cap new conversations per day. Inbound plan is reply-only.
SupportedFull outbound on Enterprise or Blue Ocean; Free and AI Agent plans are inbound-first
Calls on the iMessage number
PartialHomepage offers one number for iMessage and FaceTime; docs say identities are not unified yet.
SupportedPlace and receive SIP calls from the line people already text
PartialAPI forwards inbound calls on the line; outbound needs caller-ID masking via another provider.
SupportedVoice calling and call forwarding on Commercial and Enterprise Dedicated lines.
SupportedDashboard calls and FaceTime from the texting number; API calls via your Twilio caller ID.
Other channels
SMS
PartialOnly as an automatic retry after a failed iMessage, on enabled lines.
BetaStandalone SMS and MMS numbers with 10DLC in the 2.0 beta; SMS fallback on iMessage lines today
Supported
SupportedFrom the iMessage line, or through your own Twilio account.
Supported
RCS
Not listedMentioned only as a fallback on the homepage.
PartialSent on the iMessage line when the recipient cannot get iMessage
Supported
SupportedRCS fallback on numbers, plus an RCS for Business channel type.
SupportedV2 lines.
WhatsApp
Not supportedNot offered
SupportedWhatsApp Business, one-to-one, on the Business plan
BetaSeparate WhatsApp API in beta. Access by request, no SLA.
SupportedWhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API) on the v4 API.
Not supportedNot offered
Telegram
Not supported
Supported
Not supportedNot offered
Not supportedNot offered
Not supported
Slack
Not listed
Supported@spectrum-ts/slack provider on npm and GitHub
Not supported
Not supported
Not listed
Email
Not supportedNot offered
BetaYour own domain with DKIM, SPF and inbound MX in the 2.0 beta
Not supportedNot offered. iMessage can be sent to Apple ID email handles.
Not supportedNot offered. iMessage can be sent to email handles.
Not supportedNot offered. iMessage can be sent to Apple ID email addresses.
Phone calls
Not supportedNot offered; calls are FaceTime only.
SupportedSIP calls on iMessage lines; the 2.0 beta adds calls on SMS numbers
PartialAPI does not place or answer calls; it forwards inbound calls. Calling lives in the Linq Blue app.
PartialVoice calling and forwarding on dedicated plans. No calling API documented.
PartialNo native calling API. Dashboard calls, outbound via your Twilio caller ID, inbound forwarding.
Apple Messages for Business
Not supportedNot offered
BetaListed as available in the 2.0 beta
Not listedAI context page mentions it, but no product page or docs were found.
SupportedBlooio says it is an official Apple Messages for Business MSP.
Not supportedNot offered
Unified channel API
PartialiMessage and SMS retry share one API; FaceTime uses a separate API.
SupportedOne Spectrum SDK across channels, and one REST model in the 2.0 beta
PartialiMessage, RCS and SMS share one API. WhatsApp is a separate API with its own keys and SDKs.
Supportedv4 API covers iMessage, SMS, RCS, WhatsApp and Apple Messages for Business.
SupportedOne API for iMessage, RCS and SMS, the only channels offered.
Developer tools
REST API
Supported
SupportedREST API for projects and lines; sending over REST in the 2.0 beta
Supported
Supported
Supported
TypeScript SDK
Beta@trychert/sdk 0.2.0 on npm (MIT); the homepage still says SDK packages are not published.
Supportedspectrum-ts, plus low-level iMessage and WhatsApp SDKs
Supported@linqapp/sdk
Supported@blooio/sdk
Supportedsendblue on npm.
Python SDK
BetaSource preview on GitHub; not released on PyPI.
Betaphotonhq-api on PyPI, for the 2.0 beta API
Supportedlinq-python
Supportedblooio on PyPI.
Supportedsendblue on PyPI.
Other SDKs
BetaRust, C#/.NET, C++ and Go clients are source previews on GitHub.
SupportedGo client for Advanced iMessage; Rust and Go clients for the 2.0 API
SupportedOfficial Go SDK.
SupportedGo and Java SDKs.
PartialGo, Rust and Ruby packages, listed as community packages.
CLI
BetaFaceTime CLI on npm's beta tag; the SDK adds a chert-sdk CLI for sends.
Supported@photon-ai/cli manages projects, lines, users and billing
Supported@linqapp/cli: signup, sending, and a local webhook listener.
Not listed
Supported@sendblue/cli: signup, messaging, contacts and webhooks.
Webhooks
SupportedMultiple subscriptions with event filters; message.received for inbound.
Supported
Supported
Supported
Supported
Signed webhooks
SupportedHMAC-SHA256 per-subscription secret over timestamp and raw body.
SupportedHMAC-SHA256, plus Standard Webhooks signatures
SupportedHMAC-SHA256, Standard Webhooks format, with replay protection.
SupportedHMAC-SHA256 with timestamp, rotatable secrets and delivery replay.
PartialSends your shared secret in an sb-signing-secret header. No HMAC signature.
MCP server
Not listed
SupportedHosted MCP server, plus an MCP server for the docs
Supported@linqapp/sdk-mcp with docs search and code execution tools.
SupportedHosted at mcp.blooio.com/v4.
Supportedsendblue-api-mcp via npx.
Open source
PartialSDKs are MIT and a FaceTime link connector is Apache-2.0; the service is closed.
SupportedMIT: spectrum-ts, imessage-kit and most SDKs
PartialSDKs, CLI and adapters are Apache-2.0 or MIT on GitHub. The messaging platform is closed.
PartialSDKs are Apache-2.0 on GitHub. The messaging platform is closed.
PartialSDKs and CLI are MIT or Apache-2.0 on GitHub. The messaging platform is closed.
Self-hosting
Not listedOnly the open-source FaceTime link connector runs on your own machine.
SupportedRun the open-source core on your own Mac and number, no Spectrum Cloud
Not supportedLinq describes itself as fully managed, in contrast to self-hosted options.
Not supportedBlooio says it is not a self-hosted iMessage relay.
Not listedSold as a hosted service on Sendblue's Apple devices; self-hosting is not mentioned.
Local testing
Not listedSSE stream and dev inbox avoid a public webhook, but a real phone is still needed.
SupportedTerminal chat UI provider, no phone or number needed
Not listedThe CLI streams webhooks locally, but tests still use a real phone.
Not listed
Not listed
Custom channel providers
Not listed
SupporteddefinePlatform plugs any interface into the same Spectrum API
Not listed
PartialYour own Twilio account can be added as an SMS channel under the same API.
Not listed
Event replay
SupportedDurable event log with replay by event ID, polling and SSE.
SupportedCatch up on events after a disconnect from a durable sequence
PartialRetries for 30 minutes; after that, re-fetch chats or ask Linq for a manual replay.
SupportedWebhook delivery logs with replay, plus an events feed to list past events.
PartialNo replay. Docs say to repair gaps by listing messages updated since a timestamp.
OpenTelemetry
Not listed
SupportedOpt-in messaging traces in spectrum-ts, and traces in the 2.0 beta dashboard
PartialW3C trace IDs on every response and webhook for OTel backends. No export of Linq spans by default.
Not listed
Not listed
No-code integrations
Not listed
Supportedn8n community nodes and a Dify plugin
SupportedLinq Blue works as a GoHighLevel messaging provider. No n8n, Make or Zapier found for the API.
SupportedGoHighLevel, n8n, Make, Zapier and IFTTT.
SupportedZapier, Make and GoHighLevel. Docs FAQ says n8n resources are coming soon.
CRM integrations
SupportedSalesforce managed package and HubSpot app.
Not listed
SupportedVia Linq Blue: GoHighLevel, HubSpot and Salesforce.
SupportedGoHighLevel and HubSpot.
SupportedGoHighLevel, HubSpot, Salesforce, Close and Monday.com.
Built for AI agents
Agent framework
PartialChert-managed FaceTime assistants and a LiveKit voice-agent starter; messaging is send and receive.
SupportedSpectrum is a multi-channel agent framework with streaming replies
PartialNo own framework. Maintains a Vercel Chat SDK adapter and OpenClaw and Hermes plugins.
PartialNo own framework. Community Chat SDK adapter, plus plugins for Hermes Agent and eve.
PartialNo own framework. Maintains a Vercel Chat SDK adapter.
Agent framework integrations
PartialFaceTime calls connect to LiveKit agents; no messaging framework integrations.
SupportedVercel Chat SDK, Mastra, LangChain, Convex and others
SupportedLinq-maintained Vercel Chat SDK adapter, plus OpenClaw and Hermes Agent plugins.
SupportedBlooio publishes Hermes Agent and eve channel plugins. The Chat SDK adapter is a community package.
SupportedSendblue-maintained Vercel Chat SDK adapter.
Streaming replies
Not listed
SupportedAI output streams into one iMessage bubble, edited in place
Not supportedDocs say the Chat SDK adapter buffers streams into one final message.
Not listed
Not supportedDocs say message editing is not supported via the API.
Agent group chats
Not listed
BetaAgents find other agents and add them to a group chat (2.0 beta)
Not listed
Not listed
BetaA line can add another of your own dedicated lines to a group, via the beta groups API.
Human handoff
SupportedSlack reply triage with approve-to-send drafts, plus a console reply pane.
BetaA person can reply in a conversation from the 2.0 beta Inbox
Not listed
PartialHandoff webhook events, documented for Apple Messages for Business chats.
SupportedShared team inboxes with assignment, and agents that escalate to a rep.
Audit logs
Not listed
BetaAPI logs and traces in the 2.0 beta dashboard
SupportedDashboard Activity page plus account-change webhooks with actor and origin.
PartialLists audit logging among internal security controls. No customer audit log documented.
PartialSecurity page says all API requests are logged. No customer-facing audit log documented.
Message history API
PartialLast 200 messages per chat; no pagination yet.
SupportedList and get messages per chat
Supported
SupportedRetention runs 90 days to unlimited depending on plan.
Supported
Plans and compliance
Free plan
Partial24-hour trial with 10 messages and 10 FaceTime minutes on a shared line.
SupportedUp to 10 users on shared lines
SupportedHobby: $0, up to 20 contacts, through the CLI.
PartialFree trial is 20 messages total on a shared number. Apple Messages for Business has a free sandbox.
SupportedFree sandbox: shared number, up to 10 verified contacts, no webhooks.
Public pricing
Supported
Supported
SupportedPro from $260/mo. Enterprise is custom.
SupportedNumber plans from $39/mo. Apple Messages for Business is custom, per monthly active user.
SupportedAI Agent plan at $100/mo per line. Enterprise is custom.
No per-message fees
SupportedFlat monthly prices; paid plans have usage limits that are not spelled out.
SupportedNo per-message fees for iMessage, WhatsApp or Telegram; SMS, voice and email are metered in the 2.0 beta
Supported
SupportedNumber plans are flat. Apple Messages for Business is billed per monthly active user.
Supported
Uptime SLA
Not listed
SupportedContractual SLA on the Enterprise plan
SupportedContractual SLAs on the Enterprise plan; marketing cites 99.95%
SupportedContractual SLA with a signed Enterprise Order Form; 99.9% uptime target
Supported99.99% uptime SLA on the Enterprise plan
Isolated infrastructure
SupportedDedicated $250/mo line for your project; lower plans use shared lines
SupportedEach line runs in an isolated, dedicated environment
SupportedDedicated lines across 4 data centers on paid plans; Hobby uses a shared line
PartialDedicated numbers are isolated to your workspace. No per-customer servers or devices described.
SupportedA dedicated HIPAA instance for HIPAA customers
SOC 2 Type II
Not listed
SupportedStated on photon.codes
SupportedType I and Type II, reports for 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Not supportedTrust Center lists SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 as in progress.
SupportedSOC 2 Type II, report on request.
GDPR
SupportedPrivacy policy sets out GDPR legal bases and rights.
SupportedPrivacy policy covers GDPR rights and SCC transfers
SupportedDPA covers GDPR and UK GDPR, with Standard Contractual Clauses.
SupportedTrust Center marks GDPR as passing.
SupportedPrivacy policy says Sendblue adheres to GDPR. DPAs on request.

Checked on each provider's own site and docs on 2026-10-25. “Not listed” means the provider does not mention it.

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