What is the difference between Chert and messages.dev?

Chert supports 47 of the 77 features compared here, and messages.dev supports 30. Chert adds group management, group name and photo, edit and unsend, message effects and Live Photos. messages.dev adds threaded replies, local testing and uptime SLA.

How much do Chert and messages.dev cost?

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. messages.dev: The sandbox is free for 50 messages a day; a production line is $99 a month with unlimited messages, and Enterprise is custom.

Does messages.dev support group management?

messages.dev does not support group management.

Does messages.dev support group name and photo?

messages.dev does not list group name and photo on its site or in its docs.

Does messages.dev support edit and unsend?

messages.dev does not list edit and unsend on its site or in its docs.

Chert vs messages.dev: Features, Pricing and Differences

Feature comparison

Feature	Chert	messages.dev
iMessage messaging
iMessage	Supported	Supported
Group chats	Supported2 to 31 recipients; first group message must be text only.	SupportedSend into existing groups once someone in them has messaged; receive group messages.
Group management	SupportedCreate, add or remove participants, and leave a group.	Not supportedDocs say Apple does not let third-party software create groups; no member endpoints.
Group name and photo	SupportedSet a group's display name and icon.	Not listed
Mentions	Not listed	Not listed
Tapbacks	SupportedSix standard tapbacks; inbound tapbacks show in message history.	SupportedSix tapbacks; reaction.added and reaction.removed webhooks.
Threaded replies	Not listedHomepage mentions reply context; no reply-to field in the API docs.	Supportedreply_to with a message ID or GUID.
Typing indicators	SupportedBest effort; group typing is not supported on every line.	SupportedSending works; inbound typing events are not delivered yet.
Read receipts	SupportedMark chats read; messages carry read_at when known.	PartialYou can mark chats read; inbound read receipts are not delivered yet.
Edit and unsend	PartialEdit within 15 minutes; no unsend endpoint documented.	Not listedNot in the endpoint list in llms.txt.
Message effects	SupportedApple send effects, validated against an allowed list.	Not listed
Animated text effects	Not listed	Not listed
Stickers	Not listed	Not listed
Formatted text	Not listed	Not listed
Attachments	SupportedUpload then send; several images can go out as one grouped message.	SupportedOne uploaded file per message.
Live Photos	Supportedlive_photo pairs an uploaded HEIC with its MOV.	Not listed
Rich link previews	Supportedrich_link parts render as preview bubbles; falls back to a plain URL.	Not listed
Voice messages	SupportedNative voice notes on enabled lines; inbound memos arrive as attachments, no transcript.	SupportedNative waveform voice messages; inbound memos include Apple's transcription.
Contact cards	SupportedBuilds a vCard bubble in DMs and groups.	SupportedSDK helper builds the vCard, photo included.
Polls	SupportedEnabled lines only; read votes by polling, no vote webhooks yet.	Not listed
Chat backgrounds	Not listed	Not listed
Location sharing	PartialOne-time location pin on enabled lines; not Live Location or Find My.	Not listed
iMessage apps	Not listed	Not listed
Live app cards	Not listed	Not listed
Sender name and photo	SupportedNative name-and-photo sharing on enabled lines (share_native).	Not listed
FaceTime calls	SupportedInbound audio and video, outbound audio only, bridged to your LiveKit agent.	Not listed
Delivery status	SupportedPer-message status with delivered_at, and the channel used (iMessage or SMS).	PartialOutbox status pending, claimed, sent or failed; no separate delivered or read state.
iMessage availability check	Not listed	Not listed
Focus and Notify Anyway	Not listed	Not listed
Numbers and delivery
Managed lines	SupportedChert-managed sender lines assigned to your tenant.	SupportedTerms say messages.dev runs the Mac hardware, Apple IDs and carrier links for each line.
Dedicated numbers	Supported$250/mo per line, arranged on a call; no self-serve checkout yet.	Supported$99/mo per line with a dedicated number.
Shared numbers	SupportedFree 24-hour trial and $25/mo Shared plan on a shared line.	SupportedShared sandbox line, 50 messages a day, only to your own paired phone.
Bring your own number	Not listed	Not listed
Line pooling	SupportedPicks and pins a sender line per recipient from your assigned lines.	PartialMultiple lines supported, but you choose the line per user in your own code.
SMS fallback	PartialLines enabled for SMS retry only; plain-text 1:1 messages, not groups or media.	Not listedLines can be iMessage, SMS or auto; fallback behaviour is not documented.
RCS fallback	Not listedHomepage says SMS or RCS fallback; API docs only describe SMS retry.	Not listed
Outbound-first messaging	SupportedFirst send to a new recipient creates a lead and pins a line.	Not supportedContact-first: the recipient must message your line before you can send.
Calls on the iMessage number	PartialHomepage offers one number for iMessage and FaceTime; docs say identities are not unified yet.	Not listed
Other channels
SMS	PartialOnly as an automatic retry after a failed iMessage, on enabled lines.	SupportedSMS lines use the same endpoints; audio messages are iMessage only.
RCS	Not listedMentioned only as a fallback on the homepage.	Not listedHomepage and terms mention RCS; the API docs do not document it.
WhatsApp	Not supportedNot offered	Not supportedNot offered
Telegram	Not supported	Not supported
Slack	Not listed	Not supported
Email	Not supportedNot offered	Not supported
Phone calls	Not supportedNot offered; calls are FaceTime only.	Not supported
Apple Messages for Business	Not supportedNot offered	Not supported
Unified channel API	PartialiMessage and SMS retry share one API; FaceTime uses a separate API.	SupportediMessage and SMS lines share the same endpoints.
Developer tools
REST API	Supported	Supported
TypeScript SDK	Beta@trychert/sdk 0.2.0 on npm (MIT); the homepage still says SDK packages are not published.	Supported@messages-dev/sdk, MIT.
Python SDK	BetaSource preview on GitHub; not released on PyPI.	Not supportedOnly a TypeScript SDK; docs point other languages to the REST API.
Other SDKs	BetaRust, C#/.NET, C++ and Go clients are source previews on GitHub.	Not supported
CLI	BetaFaceTime CLI on npm's beta tag; the SDK adds a chert-sdk CLI for sends.	Supportedmessages-dev CLI: send, list, manage webhooks and stream events.
Webhooks	SupportedMultiple subscriptions with event filters; message.received for inbound.	Supportedmessage.received, message.sent, reaction.added and reaction.removed.
Signed webhooks	SupportedHMAC-SHA256 per-subscription secret over timestamp and raw body.	SupportedHMAC-SHA256 over timestamp and raw body, 5-minute replay window.
MCP server	Not listed	Not listed
Open source	PartialSDKs are MIT and a FaceTime link connector is Apache-2.0; the service is closed.	PartialTypeScript SDK and CLI are MIT on GitHub; the service is closed.
Self-hosting	Not listedOnly the open-source FaceTime link connector runs on your own machine.	Not listed
Local testing	Not listedSSE stream and dev inbox avoid a public webhook, but a real phone is still needed.	PartialSDK builds signed test webhook deliveries; real messaging still needs your phone.
Custom channel providers	Not listed	Not listed
Event replay	SupportedDurable event log with replay by event ID, polling and SSE.	Not listed
OpenTelemetry	Not listed	Not listed
No-code integrations	Not listed	Not listed
CRM integrations	SupportedSalesforce managed package and HubSpot app.	Not listed
Built for AI agents
Agent framework	PartialChert-managed FaceTime assistants and a LiveKit voice-agent starter; messaging is send and receive.	Not listed
Agent framework integrations	PartialFaceTime calls connect to LiveKit agents; no messaging framework integrations.	Not listed
Streaming replies	Not listed	Not listed
Agent group chats	Not listed	Not listed
Human handoff	SupportedSlack reply triage with approve-to-send drafts, plus a console reply pane.	Not listed
Audit logs	Not listed	Not listed
Message history API	PartialLast 200 messages per chat; no pagination yet.	SupportedCursor-paginated chats and messages per line.
Plans and compliance
Free plan	Partial24-hour trial with 10 messages and 10 FaceTime minutes on a shared line.	SupportedSandbox: 50 messages a day to your own paired phone.
Public pricing	Supported	Supported
No per-message fees	SupportedFlat monthly prices; paid plans have usage limits that are not spelled out.	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	SupportedDedicated $250/mo line for your project; lower plans use shared lines	SupportedDedicated infrastructure on the Enterprise plan
SOC 2 Type II	Not listed	Not supportedSite footer lists SOC 2 as in progress.
GDPR	SupportedPrivacy policy sets out GDPR legal bases and rights.	SupportedSite says GDPR compliant; a DPA is available on request.

Feature

Chert

messages.dev

iMessage messaging

iMessage

Group chats

2 to 31 recipients; first group message must be text only.

Send into existing groups once someone in them has messaged; receive group messages.

Group management

Create, add or remove participants, and leave a group.

Not supportedDocs say Apple does not let third-party software create groups; no member endpoints.

Group name and photo

Set a group's display name and icon.

Not listed

Mentions

Not listed

Tapbacks

Six standard tapbacks; inbound tapbacks show in message history.

Six tapbacks; reaction.added and reaction.removed webhooks.

Threaded replies

Not listedHomepage mentions reply context; no reply-to field in the API docs.

reply_to with a message ID or GUID.

Typing indicators

Best effort; group typing is not supported on every line.

Sending works; inbound typing events are not delivered yet.

Read receipts

Mark chats read; messages carry read_at when known.

PartialYou can mark chats read; inbound read receipts are not delivered yet.

Edit and unsend

PartialEdit within 15 minutes; no unsend endpoint documented.

Not listedNot in the endpoint list in llms.txt.

Message effects

Apple send effects, validated against an allowed list.

Not listed

Animated text effects

Not listed

Stickers

Not listed

Formatted text

Not listed

Attachments

Upload then send; several images can go out as one grouped message.

One uploaded file per message.

Live Photos

live_photo pairs an uploaded HEIC with its MOV.

Not listed

Rich link previews

rich_link parts render as preview bubbles; falls back to a plain URL.

Not listed

Voice messages

Native voice notes on enabled lines; inbound memos arrive as attachments, no transcript.

Native waveform voice messages; inbound memos include Apple's transcription.

Contact cards

Builds a vCard bubble in DMs and groups.

SDK helper builds the vCard, photo included.

Polls

Enabled lines only; read votes by polling, no vote webhooks yet.

Not listed

Chat backgrounds

Not listed

Location sharing

PartialOne-time location pin on enabled lines; not Live Location or Find My.

Not listed

iMessage apps

Not listed

Live app cards

Not listed

Sender name and photo

Native name-and-photo sharing on enabled lines (share_native).

Not listed

FaceTime calls

Inbound audio and video, outbound audio only, bridged to your LiveKit agent.

Not listed

Delivery status

Per-message status with delivered_at, and the channel used (iMessage or SMS).

PartialOutbox status pending, claimed, sent or failed; no separate delivered or read state.

iMessage availability check

Not listed

Focus and Notify Anyway

Not listed

Numbers and delivery

Managed lines

Chert-managed sender lines assigned to your tenant.

Terms say messages.dev runs the Mac hardware, Apple IDs and carrier links for each line.

Dedicated numbers

$250/mo per line, arranged on a call; no self-serve checkout yet.

$99/mo per line with a dedicated number.

Shared numbers

Free 24-hour trial and $25/mo Shared plan on a shared line.

Shared sandbox line, 50 messages a day, only to your own paired phone.

Bring your own number

Not listed

Line pooling

Picks and pins a sender line per recipient from your assigned lines.

PartialMultiple lines supported, but you choose the line per user in your own code.

SMS fallback

PartialLines enabled for SMS retry only; plain-text 1:1 messages, not groups or media.

Not listedLines can be iMessage, SMS or auto; fallback behaviour is not documented.

RCS fallback

Not listedHomepage says SMS or RCS fallback; API docs only describe SMS retry.

Not listed

Outbound-first messaging

First send to a new recipient creates a lead and pins a line.

Not supportedContact-first: the recipient must message your line before you can send.

Calls on the iMessage number

PartialHomepage offers one number for iMessage and FaceTime; docs say identities are not unified yet.

Not listed

Other channels

SMS

PartialOnly as an automatic retry after a failed iMessage, on enabled lines.

SMS lines use the same endpoints; audio messages are iMessage only.

RCS

Not listedMentioned only as a fallback on the homepage.

Not listedHomepage and terms mention RCS; the API docs do not document it.

Not supportedNot offered

Not supported

Slack

Not listed

Not supported

Not supportedNot offered

Not supported

Phone calls

Not supportedNot offered; calls are FaceTime only.

Not supported

Apple Messages for Business

Not supportedNot offered

Not supported

Unified channel API

PartialiMessage and SMS retry share one API; FaceTime uses a separate API.

iMessage and SMS lines share the same endpoints.

Developer tools

REST API

TypeScript SDK

Beta@trychert/sdk 0.2.0 on npm (MIT); the homepage still says SDK packages are not published.

@messages-dev/sdk, MIT.

Python SDK

BetaSource preview on GitHub; not released on PyPI.

Not supportedOnly a TypeScript SDK; docs point other languages to the REST API.

Other SDKs

BetaRust, C#/.NET, C++ and Go clients are source previews on GitHub.

Not supported

CLI

BetaFaceTime CLI on npm's beta tag; the SDK adds a chert-sdk CLI for sends.

messages-dev CLI: send, list, manage webhooks and stream events.

Webhooks

Multiple subscriptions with event filters; message.received for inbound.

message.received, message.sent, reaction.added and reaction.removed.

Signed webhooks

HMAC-SHA256 per-subscription secret over timestamp and raw body.

HMAC-SHA256 over timestamp and raw body, 5-minute replay window.

MCP server

Not listed

Open source

PartialSDKs are MIT and a FaceTime link connector is Apache-2.0; the service is closed.

PartialTypeScript SDK and CLI are MIT on GitHub; the service is closed.

Self-hosting

Not listedOnly the open-source FaceTime link connector runs on your own machine.

Not listed

Local testing

Not listedSSE stream and dev inbox avoid a public webhook, but a real phone is still needed.

PartialSDK builds signed test webhook deliveries; real messaging still needs your phone.

Custom channel providers

Not listed

Event replay

Durable event log with replay by event ID, polling and SSE.

Not listed

OpenTelemetry

Not listed

No-code integrations

Not listed

CRM integrations

Salesforce managed package and HubSpot app.

Not listed

Built for AI agents

Agent framework

PartialChert-managed FaceTime assistants and a LiveKit voice-agent starter; messaging is send and receive.

Not listed

Agent framework integrations

PartialFaceTime calls connect to LiveKit agents; no messaging framework integrations.

Not listed

Streaming replies

Not listed

Agent group chats

Not listed

Human handoff

Slack reply triage with approve-to-send drafts, plus a console reply pane.

Not listed

Audit logs

Not listed

Message history API

PartialLast 200 messages per chat; no pagination yet.

Cursor-paginated chats and messages per line.

Plans and compliance

Free plan

Partial24-hour trial with 10 messages and 10 FaceTime minutes on a shared line.

Sandbox: 50 messages a day to your own paired phone.

Public pricing

No per-message fees

Flat monthly prices; paid plans have usage limits that are not spelled out.

$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

Dedicated $250/mo line for your project; lower plans use shared lines

Dedicated infrastructure on the Enterprise plan

SOC 2 Type II

Not listed

Not supportedSite footer lists SOC 2 as in progress.

GDPR

Site 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.

Chert vs messages.dev

Compare Chert and messages.dev side by side: iMessage features, channels, developer tools, pricing and compliance, checked on each provider's own site.

Chert

messages.dev

Where Chert is ahead

Where messages.dev is ahead

Feature comparison

Pricing

Chert

messages.dev

Which should you choose?

Frequently asked questions

More Chert comparisons

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