BlueBubbles vs Zernio
Compare BlueBubbles and Zernio 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)
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
BlueBubbles supports 45 of the 77 features compared here, and Zernio supports 57.
Where BlueBubbles is ahead
- Mentions
- Live Photos
- Polls
- Chat backgrounds
- iMessage apps
- FaceTime calls
- iMessage availability check
- Focus and Notify Anyway
and 2 more in the table below.
Where Zernio is ahead
and 14 more in the table below.
Feature comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| iMessage messaging | ||
| iMessage | ||
| Group chats | ||
| Group management | ||
| Group name and photo | ||
| Mentions | Not listed | |
| Tapbacks | ||
| Threaded replies | ||
| Typing indicators | ||
| Read receipts | ||
| Edit and unsend | ||
| Message effects | ||
| Animated text effects | Not listed | Not listed |
| Stickers | ||
| Formatted text | ||
| Attachments | ||
| Live Photos | Not listed | |
| Rich link previews | ||
| Voice messages | ||
| Contact cards | Not listed | |
| Polls | Not listed | |
| Chat backgrounds | Not listed | |
| Location sharing | ||
| iMessage apps | Not listed | |
| Live app cards | Not listed | Not listed |
| Sender name and photo | ||
| FaceTime calls | Not listedInbound FaceTime attempts show in the thread as call-typed messages. No calling documented. | |
| Delivery status | ||
| iMessage availability check | Not listed | |
| Focus and Notify Anyway | Not listed | |
| Numbers and delivery | ||
| Managed lines | ||
| Dedicated numbers | Not supportedNot offered; uses your own Apple ID | |
| Shared numbers | Not supported | |
| Bring your own number | ||
| Line pooling | Not listed | Not listedOne sender per profile; docs suggest spreading contacts across senders by hand. |
| SMS fallback | Not listedNot documented; FAQ says SMS is unsupported, the fit quiz says forwarded texts work | |
| RCS fallback | Not listed | |
| Outbound-first messaging | ||
| Calls on the iMessage number | ||
| Other channels | ||
| SMS | ||
| RCS | ||
Not supportedNot offered | ||
| Telegram | Not supported | |
| Slack | Not supported | |
Not supported | Not supportedNot offered as a channel. iMessage senders can use an email handle. | |
| Phone calls | Not supportedNot offered; FaceTime only | |
| Apple Messages for Business | Not supportedNot offered | Not supportedNot offered |
| Unified channel API | ||
| Developer tools | ||
| REST API | ||
| TypeScript SDK | ||
| Python SDK | ||
| Other SDKs | ||
| CLI | Not listed | |
| Webhooks | ||
| Signed webhooks | ||
| MCP server | ||
| Open source | ||
| Self-hosting | Not supportedHosted cloud service only | |
| Local testing | Not listed | Not listedThe free sandbox still needs your own phone or Apple ID. |
| Custom channel providers | Not listed | Not listed |
| Event replay | ||
| OpenTelemetry | Not listed | Not listed |
| No-code integrations | ||
| CRM integrations | Not listed | |
| Built for AI agents | ||
| Agent framework | Not listed | |
| Agent framework integrations | Not listedOnly community projects are listed, such as a ChatGPT agent and Clawdbot | |
| Streaming replies | Not listed | |
| Agent group chats | Not listed | Not listed |
| Human handoff | Not listed | |
| Audit logs | Not listed | |
| Message history API | ||
| Plans and compliance | ||
| Free plan | ||
| Public pricing | ||
| No per-message fees | ||
| Uptime SLA | Not listedSite states 99.97% uptime; no contractual SLA found. | |
| Isolated infrastructure | Not listed | |
| SOC 2 Type II | Not listedSelf-hosted; compliance is up to whoever runs the Mac | |
| GDPR | 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
SourceZernio
An iMessage sender costs $200 a month plus Zernio's per-account fee, with a free sandbox; SMS, calls and outbound messages past 10,000 a month are metered.
Pricing model: flat per sender, plus per connected account and usage meters
SourceWhich should you choose?
Choose BlueBubbles if you need mentions, Live Photos, polls and chat backgrounds.
Choose Zernio if you need contact cards, managed lines, dedicated numbers and shared numbers.
Frequently asked questions
BlueBubbles supports 45 of the 77 features compared here, and Zernio supports 57. BlueBubbles adds mentions, Live Photos, polls, chat backgrounds and iMessage apps. Zernio adds contact cards, managed lines, dedicated numbers, shared numbers and SMS fallback.
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. Zernio: An iMessage sender costs $200 a month plus Zernio's per-account fee, with a free sandbox; SMS, calls and outbound messages past 10,000 a month are metered.
Zernio does not list mentions on its site or in its docs.
Zernio does not list Live Photos on its site or in its docs.
Zernio does not list polls on its site or in its docs.