Chert vs Linq
Compare Chert and Linq side by side: iMessage features, channels, developer tools, pricing and compliance, checked on each provider's own site.
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
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
Chert supports 47 of the 77 features compared here, and Linq supports 63.
Where Chert is ahead
Where Linq is ahead
- Mentions
- Threaded replies
- Animated text effects
- Stickers
- Formatted text
- Chat backgrounds
- iMessage apps
- Live app cards
and 11 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 | Not listedHomepage mentions reply context; no reply-to field in the API docs. | |
| Typing indicators | ||
| Read receipts | ||
| Edit and unsend | ||
| Message effects | ||
| Animated text effects | Not listed | |
| Stickers | Not listed | |
| Formatted text | Not listed | |
| Attachments | ||
| Live Photos | Not listed | |
| Rich link previews | ||
| Voice messages | ||
| Contact cards | ||
| Polls | ||
| Chat backgrounds | Not listed | |
| Location sharing | ||
| iMessage apps | Not listed | |
| Live app cards | Not listed | |
| Sender name and photo | ||
| FaceTime calls | ||
| Delivery status | ||
| iMessage availability check | Not listed | |
| Focus and Notify Anyway | Not listed | Not listed |
| Numbers and delivery | ||
| Managed lines | ||
| Dedicated numbers | ||
| Shared numbers | ||
| Bring your own number | Not listed | Not listed |
| Line pooling | ||
| SMS fallback | ||
| RCS fallback | Not listedHomepage says SMS or RCS fallback; API docs only describe SMS retry. | |
| Outbound-first messaging | ||
| Calls on the iMessage number | ||
| Other channels | ||
| SMS | ||
| RCS | Not listedMentioned only as a fallback on the homepage. | |
Not supportedNot offered | ||
| Telegram | Not supported | Not supportedNot offered |
| Slack | Not listed | Not supported |
Not supportedNot offered | Not supportedNot offered. iMessage can be sent to Apple ID email handles. | |
| Phone calls | Not supportedNot offered; calls are FaceTime only. | |
| Apple Messages for Business | Not supportedNot offered | Not listedAI context page mentions it, but no product page or docs were found. |
| Unified channel API | ||
| Developer tools | ||
| REST API | ||
| TypeScript SDK | ||
| Python SDK | ||
| Other SDKs | ||
| CLI | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| Signed webhooks | ||
| MCP server | Not listed | |
| Open source | ||
| Self-hosting | Not listedOnly the open-source FaceTime link connector runs on your own machine. | |
| Local testing | Not listedSSE stream and dev inbox avoid a public webhook, but a real phone is still needed. | Not listedThe CLI streams webhooks locally, but tests still use a real phone. |
| Custom channel providers | Not listed | Not listed |
| Event replay | ||
| OpenTelemetry | Not listed | |
| No-code integrations | Not listed | |
| CRM integrations | ||
| Built for AI agents | ||
| Agent framework | ||
| Agent framework integrations | ||
| 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 listed | |
| Isolated infrastructure | ||
| SOC 2 Type II | Not listed | |
| GDPR |
Checked on each provider's own site and docs on 2026-10-25. “Not listed” means the provider does not mention it.
Pricing
Chert
A free 24-hour trial includes 10 messages and 10 FaceTime minutes on a shared line; Shared is $25 a month and a dedicated line is $250 a month, but paid checkout is paused.
Pricing model: flat monthly per line, with usage limits
SourceLinq
Hobby is free with up to 20 contacts through the CLI, Pro starts at $260 a month with a 7-day free trial, and Enterprise is custom.
Pricing model: flat monthly, no per-message fees
SourceWhich should you choose?
Choose Chert if you need Live Photos, FaceTime calls and human handoff.
Choose Linq if you need mentions, threaded replies, animated text effects and stickers.
Frequently asked questions
Chert supports 47 of the 77 features compared here, and Linq supports 63. Chert adds Live Photos, FaceTime calls and human handoff. Linq adds mentions, threaded replies, animated text effects, stickers and formatted text.
Chert: A free 24-hour trial includes 10 messages and 10 FaceTime minutes on a shared line; Shared is $25 a month and a dedicated line is $250 a month, but paid checkout is paused. Linq: Hobby is free with up to 20 contacts through the CLI, Pro starts at $260 a month with a 7-day free trial, and Enterprise is custom.
Linq does not list Live Photos on its site or in its docs.
Linq does not support FaceTime calls.
Linq does not list human handoff on its site or in its docs.