BlueBubbles vs rustpush
Compare BlueBubbles and rustpush side by side: iMessage features, channels, developer tools, pricing and compliance, checked on each provider's own site.
BlueBubbles
Free, open-source iMessage bridge you host on a Mac
- Starting price
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source (Apache-2.0)
rustpush
Rust library for the iMessage, FaceTime and APNs protocols
- Starting price
- Free
- Free plan
- Free source (SSPL v1)
BlueBubbles supports 45 of the 77 features compared here, and rustpush supports 39.
Where BlueBubbles is ahead
Where rustpush is ahead
Feature comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| iMessage messaging | ||
| iMessage | ||
| Group chats | ||
| Group management | ||
| Group name and photo | ||
| Mentions | ||
| Tapbacks | ||
| Threaded replies | ||
| Typing indicators | ||
| Read receipts | ||
| Edit and unsend | ||
| Message effects | ||
| Animated text effects | Not listed | |
| Stickers | ||
| Formatted text | ||
| Attachments | ||
| Live Photos | ||
| Rich link previews | ||
| Voice messages | ||
| Contact cards | Not listed | Not listed |
| Polls | Not listed | |
| Chat backgrounds | ||
| Location sharing | ||
| iMessage apps | ||
| Live app cards | Not listed | |
| Sender name and photo | ||
| FaceTime calls | ||
| Delivery status | ||
| iMessage availability check | ||
| Focus and Notify Anyway | ||
| Numbers and delivery | ||
| Managed lines | Not supportedA library; you register your own Apple ID and device identity | |
| Dedicated numbers | Not supportedNot offered; uses your own Apple ID | Not supportedNot offered |
| Shared numbers | Not supported | Not supported |
| Bring your own number | ||
| Line pooling | Not listed | Not listed |
| SMS fallback | Not listedNot documented; FAQ says SMS is unsupported, the fit quiz says forwarded texts work | Not listed |
| RCS fallback | Not listed | Not listed |
| Outbound-first messaging | ||
| Calls on the iMessage number | ||
| Other channels | ||
| SMS | ||
| RCS | Not listed | |
Not supportedNot offered | Not supportedNot offered | |
| Telegram | Not supported | Not supported |
| Slack | Not supported | Not supported |
Not supported | Not supported | |
| Phone calls | Not supportedNot offered; FaceTime only | Not supportedNot offered; FaceTime only |
| Apple Messages for Business | Not supportedNot offered | Not supportedNot offered |
| Unified channel API | ||
| Developer tools | ||
| REST API | Not supportedRust library only; no HTTP API | |
| TypeScript SDK | Not listedRust crate only | |
| Python SDK | Not listed | |
| Other SDKs | ||
| CLI | Not listed | Not listed |
| Webhooks | Not supportedLibrary only; your code receives messages directly, no webhooks | |
| Signed webhooks | Not supportedNo webhooks | |
| MCP server | Not listed | |
| Open source | ||
| Self-hosting | ||
| Local testing | Not listed | Not listed |
| Custom channel providers | Not listed | Not listed |
| Event replay | Not listed | |
| OpenTelemetry | Not listed | Not listed |
| No-code integrations | Not listed | |
| CRM integrations | Not listed | Not listed |
| Built for AI agents | ||
| Agent framework | Not listed | Not listed |
| Agent framework integrations | Not listedOnly community projects are listed, such as a ChatGPT agent and Clawdbot | Not listed |
| Streaming replies | Not listed | Not listed |
| Agent group chats | Not listed | Not listed |
| Human handoff | Not listed | Not listed |
| Audit logs | Not listed | Not listed |
| Message history API | ||
| Plans and compliance | ||
| Free plan | ||
| Public pricing | Not listedNo prices or commercial license terms published | |
| No per-message fees | ||
| Uptime SLA | ||
| Isolated infrastructure | ||
| SOC 2 Type II | Not listedSelf-hosted; compliance is up to whoever runs the Mac | Not listedSelf-hosted; compliance is up to the operator |
| GDPR | Not listed | Not listed |
Checked on each provider's own site and docs on 2026-10-25. “Not listed” means the provider does not mention it.
Pricing
BlueBubbles
The software is free and open source; an optional BlueBubbles Pro subscription for the upcoming 2.x server costs $3/month, $30/year or $55 once.
Pricing model: free self-hosted software, optional Pro subscription
Sourcerustpush
rustpush is free source under SSPL v1; you supply Apple hardware identifiers or an always-on iPhone relay, and anyone offering it as a service must publish their service's source.
Pricing model: free self-hosted library
SourceWhich should you choose?
Choose BlueBubbles if you need polls, RCS, REST API and webhooks.
Choose rustpush if you need animated text effects and live app cards.
Frequently asked questions
BlueBubbles supports 45 of the 77 features compared here, and rustpush supports 39. BlueBubbles adds polls, RCS, REST API, webhooks and MCP server. rustpush adds animated text effects and live app cards.
BlueBubbles: The software is free and open source; an optional BlueBubbles Pro subscription for the upcoming 2.x server costs $3/month, $30/year or $55 once. rustpush: rustpush is free source under SSPL v1; you supply Apple hardware identifiers or an always-on iPhone relay, and anyone offering it as a service must publish their service's source.
rustpush does not list polls on its site or in its docs.
rustpush does not list RCS on its site or in its docs.
rustpush does not support REST API.