rustpush vs Zernio
Compare rustpush and Zernio side by side: iMessage features, channels, developer tools, pricing and compliance, checked on each provider's own site.
rustpush
Rust library for the iMessage, FaceTime and APNs protocols
- Starting price
- Free
- Free plan
- Free source (SSPL v1)
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
rustpush supports 39 of the 77 features compared here, and Zernio supports 57.
Where rustpush is ahead
- Mentions
- Animated text effects
- Live Photos
- Chat backgrounds
- iMessage apps
- Live app cards
- FaceTime calls
- iMessage availability check
and 3 more in the table below.
Where Zernio is ahead
and 21 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 | |
| Stickers | ||
| Formatted text | ||
| Attachments | ||
| Live Photos | Not listed | |
| Rich link previews | ||
| Voice messages | ||
| Contact cards | Not listed | |
| Polls | Not listed | Not listed |
| Chat backgrounds | Not listed | |
| Location sharing | ||
| iMessage apps | Not listed | |
| Live app cards | 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 | Not supportedA library; you register your own Apple ID and device identity | |
| Dedicated numbers | Not supportedNot offered | |
| 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 listed | |
| RCS fallback | Not listed | |
| Outbound-first messaging | ||
| Calls on the iMessage number | ||
| Other channels | ||
| SMS | ||
| RCS | Not listed | |
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 | Not supportedRust library only; no HTTP API | |
| TypeScript SDK | Not listedRust crate only | |
| Python SDK | Not listed | |
| Other SDKs | ||
| CLI | 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 | 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 | Not listed | |
| OpenTelemetry | Not listed | Not listed |
| No-code integrations | Not listed | |
| CRM integrations | Not listed | |
| Built for AI agents | ||
| Agent framework | Not listed | |
| Agent framework integrations | Not listed | |
| 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 | Not listedNo prices or commercial license terms published | |
| 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 the operator | |
| 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
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.
Pricing model: free self-hosted library
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 rustpush if you need mentions, animated text effects, Live Photos and chat backgrounds.
Choose Zernio if you need contact cards, managed lines, dedicated numbers and shared numbers.
Frequently asked questions
rustpush supports 39 of the 77 features compared here, and Zernio supports 57. rustpush adds mentions, animated text effects, Live Photos, chat backgrounds and iMessage apps. Zernio adds contact cards, managed lines, dedicated numbers, shared numbers and SMS fallback.
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. 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 animated text effects on its site or in its docs.
Zernio does not list Live Photos on its site or in its docs.