OpenClaw imsg vs Linq
Compare OpenClaw imsg and Linq side by side: iMessage features, channels, developer tools, pricing and compliance, checked on each provider's own site.
OpenClaw imsg
MIT-licensed macOS CLI for reading and sending iMessage
- Starting price
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source (MIT)
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
OpenClaw imsg supports 38 of the 77 features compared here, and Linq supports 63.
Where OpenClaw imsg is ahead
Where Linq is ahead
- Mentions
- Animated text effects
- Contact cards
- Location sharing
- iMessage apps
- Live app cards
- Managed lines
- Dedicated numbers
and 20 more in the table below.
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 listedFormatting covers bold, italic, underline and strikethrough only | |
| Stickers | ||
| Formatted text | ||
| Attachments | ||
| Live Photos | Not listed | Not listed |
| Rich link previews | ||
| Voice messages | ||
| Contact cards | Not listed | |
| Polls | ||
| Chat backgrounds | ||
| Location sharing | Not listed | |
| iMessage apps | Not listed | |
| Live app cards | Not listed | |
| Sender name and photo | ||
| FaceTime calls | Not listed | |
| Delivery status | ||
| iMessage availability check | ||
| Focus and Notify Anyway | Not listed | |
| Numbers and delivery | ||
| Managed lines | ||
| Dedicated numbers | Not supportedNot offered; uses the Mac's own iMessage account | |
| Shared numbers | Not supportedNot offered | |
| Bring your own number | Not listed | |
| Line pooling | ||
| SMS fallback | ||
| RCS fallback | Not listed | |
| Outbound-first messaging | ||
| Calls on the iMessage number | Not listed | |
| Other channels | ||
| SMS | ||
| RCS | Not listed | |
Not supportedNot offered | ||
| Telegram | Not supported | Not supportedNot offered |
| Slack | Not supported | Not supported |
Not supportedNot offered; iMessage can be sent to Apple ID email addresses | Not supportedNot offered. iMessage can be sent to Apple ID email handles. | |
| Phone calls | Not supportedNot offered | |
| Apple Messages for Business | Not supported | Not listedAI context page mentions it, but no product page or docs were found. |
| Unified channel API | ||
| Developer tools | ||
| REST API | ||
| TypeScript SDK | Not listedNo SDK listed; IMsgCore is a Swift library | |
| Python SDK | Not listed | |
| Other SDKs | ||
| CLI | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| Signed webhooks | Not supportedNo webhooks | |
| MCP server | Not listed | |
| Open source | ||
| Self-hosting | ||
| Local testing | Not listed | 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 | Not listed | |
| Built for AI agents | ||
| Agent framework | ||
| Agent framework integrations | ||
| Streaming replies | Not listed | |
| Agent group chats | Not listed | Not listed |
| Human handoff | Not listed | Not listed |
| Audit logs | Not listed | |
| Message history API | ||
| Plans and compliance | ||
| Free plan | ||
| Public pricing | ||
| No per-message fees | ||
| Uptime SLA | ||
| Isolated infrastructure | ||
| 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
OpenClaw imsg
imsg is free, MIT-licensed software; you supply a Mac on macOS 14 or later and, for SMS, a paired iPhone.
Pricing model: free self-hosted software
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 OpenClaw imsg if you need Focus and Notify Anyway, bring your own number and self-hosting.
Choose Linq if you need mentions, animated text effects, contact cards and location sharing.
Frequently asked questions
OpenClaw imsg supports 38 of the 77 features compared here, and Linq supports 63. OpenClaw imsg adds Focus and Notify Anyway, bring your own number and self-hosting. Linq adds mentions, animated text effects, contact cards, location sharing and iMessage apps.
OpenClaw imsg: imsg is free, MIT-licensed software; you supply a Mac on macOS 14 or later and, for SMS, a paired iPhone. 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 Focus and Notify Anyway on its site or in its docs.
Linq does not list bring your own number on its site or in its docs.
Linq does not support self-hosting.