Apple Messages for Business vs messages.dev

Apple Messages for Business supports 19 of the 77 features compared here, and messages.dev supports 30.

Feature comparison

Feature	Apple Messages for Business	messages.dev
iMessage messaging
iMessage	PartialBusiness chats inside Apple Messages, not person-to-person iMessage from a number	Supported
Group chats	Not supportedGroup chat with a business is not supported	SupportedSend into existing groups once someone in them has messaged; receive group messages.
Group management	Not supported	Not supportedDocs say Apple does not let third-party software create groups; no member endpoints.
Group name and photo	Not supported	Not listed
Mentions	Not supported	Not listed
Tapbacks	PartialCustomer tapbacks arrive as text; business-sent tapbacks not documented	SupportedSix tapbacks; reaction.added and reaction.removed webhooks.
Threaded replies	Not listed	Supportedreply_to with a message ID or GUID.
Typing indicators	SupportedBoth directions	SupportedSending works; inbound typing events are not delivered yet.
Read receipts	Not supportedNot among the message types Apple sends to MSPs	PartialYou can mark chats read; inbound read receipts are not delivered yet.
Edit and unsend	Not listed	Not listedNot in the endpoint list in llms.txt.
Message effects	Not listed	Not listed
Animated text effects	Not listed	Not listed
Stickers	PartialReceive only: customer sticker reactions arrive as text plus an image	Not listed
Formatted text	Not listed	Not listed
Attachments	SupportedFiles up to 100MB, encrypted before upload	SupportedOne uploaded file per message.
Live Photos	Not listed	Not listed
Rich link previews	SupportedRich Link messages with image, title and inline video; required for MSPs	Not listed
Voice messages	Not listed	SupportedNative waveform voice messages; inbound memos include Apple's transcription.
Contact cards	Not listed	SupportedSDK helper builds the vCard, photo included.
Polls	Not listedNot documented; List Pickers, Quick Replies and Forms handle choices	Not listed
Chat backgrounds	Not listed	Not listed
Location sharing	Not listed	Not listed
iMessage apps	SupportedCustom iMessage app and App Extension messages	Not listed
Live app cards	Not listediMessage app messages take a session ID and Live Layout flag; in-place updates not described	Not listed
Sender name and photo	SupportedVerified brand name and square logo set in Apple Business Register	Not listed
FaceTime calls	Not listed	Not listed
Delivery status	PartialSends return HTTP status codes; no delivered or read events	PartialOutbox status pending, claimed, sent or failed; no separate delivered or read state.
iMessage availability check	Not listedMSPs get a device capability list, but no iMessage reachability check	Not listed
Focus and Notify Anyway	Not listed	Not listed
Numbers and delivery
Managed lines	Not supportedNo phone lines; brands get an Apple-assigned Business ID	SupportedTerms say messages.dev runs the Mac hardware, Apple IDs and carrier links for each line.
Dedicated numbers	Not supportedBusiness accounts don't use phone numbers	Supported$99/mo per line with a dedicated number.
Shared numbers	Not supported	SupportedShared sandbox line, 50 messages a day, only to your own paired phone.
Bring your own number	Not supportedRegistered business numbers only power Message Suggest; nothing is sent from them	Not listed
Line pooling	Not supportedBusiness accounts don't use phone numbers	PartialMultiple lines supported, but you choose the line per user in your own code.
SMS fallback	PartialApple expects MSPs to fall back to SMS when an invitation can't be delivered	Not listedLines can be iMessage, SMS or auto; fallback behaviour is not documented.
RCS fallback	Not listed	Not listed
Outbound-first messaging	PartialApple-approved template invitations to opted-in numbers only; iOS 18+	Not supportedContact-first: the recipient must message your line before you can send.
Calls on the iMessage number	Not supportedBusiness accounts don't use phone numbers	Not listed
Other channels
SMS	Not supportedNot offered by Apple; MSPs may add other channels	SupportedSMS lines use the same endpoints; audio messages are iMessage only.
RCS	Not supported	Not listedHomepage and terms mention RCS; the API docs do not document it.
WhatsApp	Not supported	Not supportedNot offered
Telegram	Not supported	Not supported
Slack	Not supported	Not supported
Email	Not supported	Not supported
Phone calls	Not supportedNot offered; Message Suggest offers a chat instead of a call	Not supported
Apple Messages for Business	SupportedThis is Apple's channel itself	Not supported
Unified channel API	Not supportedSingle channel	SupportediMessage and SMS lines share the same endpoints.
Developer tools
REST API	PartialREST API for Apple-approved MSPs only; brands connect through an MSP	Supported
TypeScript SDK	Not listed	Supported@messages-dev/sdk, MIT.
Python SDK	Not listed	Not supportedOnly a TypeScript SDK; docs point other languages to the REST API.
Other SDKs	Not listed	Not supported
CLI	Not listed	Supportedmessages-dev CLI: send, list, manage webhooks and stream events.
Webhooks	PartialApple posts inbound messages to the MSP's endpoint; MSPs only	Supportedmessage.received, message.sent, reaction.added and reaction.removed.
Signed webhooks	SupportedEvery request carries an HS256-signed JWT	SupportedHMAC-SHA256 over timestamp and raw body, 5-minute replay window.
MCP server	Not listed	Not listed
Open source	Not supportedApple-run proprietary service	PartialTypeScript SDK and CLI are MIT on GitHub; the service is closed.
Self-hosting	Not supportedBots must connect through an Apple-approved MSP, not directly	Not listed
Local testing	Not listedTesting uses internal test accounts on real Apple devices	PartialSDK builds signed test webhook deliveries; real messaging still needs your phone.
Custom channel providers	Not listed	Not listed
Event replay	PartialApple retries only 5xx deliveries, 4 times with backoff from 100ms	Not listed
OpenTelemetry	Not listed	Not listed
No-code integrations	Not listed	Not listed
CRM integrations	PartialThrough MSPs, which integrate CRMs and other back-end systems	Not listed
Built for AI agents
Agent framework	Not listed	Not listed
Agent framework integrations	Not supportedBots must connect through an Apple-approved MSP	Not listed
Streaming replies	Not listed	Not listed
Agent group chats	Not supportedGroup chat with a business is not supported	Not listed
Human handoff	SupportedA live agent path is mandatory; bot-only deployments are not approved	Not listed
Audit logs	Not listed	Not listed
Message history API	Not listed	SupportedCursor-paginated chats and messages per line.
Plans and compliance
Free plan	PartialApple charges nothing; MSPs charge for their platforms	SupportedSandbox: 50 messages a day to your own paired phone.
Public pricing	Not supportedCost depends on the MSP; Apple's part is free	Supported
No per-message fees	Not listedApple charges nothing; MSP pricing models vary	Supported$99/mo per line with unlimited messages.
Uptime SLA	Not listed	PartialCustom SLAs on Enterprise only; terms say no formal uptime SLA at launch.
Isolated infrastructure	Not listed	SupportedDedicated infrastructure on the Enterprise plan
SOC 2 Type II	Not listed	Not supportedSite footer lists SOC 2 as in progress.
GDPR	Not listed	SupportedSite says GDPR compliant; a DPA is available on request.

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

Pricing

Which should you choose?

Choose Apple Messages for Business if you need stickers, rich link previews, iMessage apps and sender name and photo.

Choose messages.dev if you need group chats, threaded replies, read receipts and voice messages.

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