Tuco AI vs Zernio
Compare Tuco AI and Zernio side by side: iMessage features, channels, developer tools, pricing and compliance, checked on each provider's own site.
Tuco AI
iMessage follow-up for opted-in leads from your CRM
- Starting price
- $149/month (Starter, 1 line) plus $335 setup
- Free plan
- None; docs say no free trials or refunds
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
Tuco AI supports 41 of the 77 features compared here, and Zernio supports 57.
Where Tuco AI is ahead
Where Zernio is ahead
- Group chats
- Group management
- Group name and photo
- Threaded replies
- Edit and unsend
- Message effects
- Stickers
- Formatted text
and 15 more in the table below.
Feature comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| iMessage messaging | ||
| iMessage | ||
| Group chats | Not supportedTuco's llms.txt says it has no group chats. | |
| Group management | Not supportedNo group chat support | |
| Group name and photo | Not supported | |
| Mentions | Not supported | Not listed |
| Tapbacks | ||
| Threaded replies | Not listed | |
| Typing indicators | ||
| Read receipts | ||
| Edit and unsend | Not listed | |
| Message effects | Not listed | |
| Animated text effects | Not listed | Not listed |
| Stickers | Not listed | |
| Formatted text | Not listed | |
| Attachments | ||
| Live Photos | Not listed | Not listed |
| Rich link previews | Not listed | |
| Voice messages | ||
| Contact cards | Not listed | |
| Polls | Not listed | Not listed |
| Chat backgrounds | Not listed | Not listed |
| Location sharing | Not listed | |
| iMessage apps | Not listed | 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 | Not listed |
| Numbers and delivery | ||
| Managed lines | ||
| Dedicated numbers | ||
| Shared numbers | Not listed | |
| Bring your own number | ||
| Line pooling | Not listedOne sender per profile; docs suggest spreading contacts across senders by hand. | |
| SMS fallback | ||
| RCS fallback | Not supportedRCS not offered | |
| Outbound-first messaging | ||
| Calls on the iMessage number | ||
| Other channels | ||
| SMS | ||
| RCS | Not supportedNot offered | |
Not supported | ||
| Telegram | ||
| Slack | ||
Not supportedNot offered as a channel. iMessage senders can use an email handle. | ||
| Phone calls | ||
| Apple Messages for Business | Not supportedNot offered | Not supportedNot offered |
| Unified channel API | ||
| Developer tools | ||
| REST API | ||
| TypeScript SDK | Not listedThe iMessage API page shows npm install @tuco-ai/sdk, but no such package is on npm. | |
| Python SDK | Not listed | |
| Other SDKs | Not listed | |
| CLI | Not listed | |
| Webhooks | ||
| Signed webhooks | ||
| MCP server | ||
| Open source | ||
| Self-hosting | Not listedHosted on Tuco hardware. Self-hosting is not mentioned. | Not supportedHosted cloud service only |
| Local testing | Not listedThe free sandbox still needs your own phone or Apple ID. | |
| Custom channel providers | Not listed | |
| Event replay | ||
| OpenTelemetry | Not listed | Not listed |
| No-code integrations | ||
| CRM integrations | ||
| Built for AI agents | ||
| Agent framework | ||
| Agent framework integrations | Not listed | |
| Streaming replies | Not listed | |
| Agent group chats | Not supportedNo group chat support | Not listed |
| Human handoff | ||
| Audit logs | ||
| Message history API | ||
| Plans and compliance | ||
| Free plan | ||
| Public pricing | ||
| No per-message fees | ||
| Uptime SLA | Not listedGrowth lists a 4-hour support SLA. No uptime SLA found. | Not listedSite states 99.97% uptime; no contractual SLA found. |
| Isolated infrastructure | Not listed | |
| SOC 2 Type II | ||
| GDPR |
Checked on each provider's own site and docs on 2026-10-25. “Not listed” means the provider does not mention it.
Pricing
Tuco AI
Starter is $149 a month for 1 line and Growth $299 a month for 2 lines, each with a one-time $335 setup fee per line and no per-message fees.
Pricing model: flat per line, plus AI credits and call minute packs
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 Tuco AI if you need FaceTime calls, iMessage availability check, line pooling and email.
Choose Zernio if you need group chats, group management, group name and photo and threaded replies.
Frequently asked questions
Tuco AI supports 41 of the 77 features compared here, and Zernio supports 57. Tuco AI adds FaceTime calls, iMessage availability check, line pooling, email and local testing. Zernio adds group chats, group management, group name and photo, threaded replies and edit and unsend.
Tuco AI: Starter is $149 a month for 1 line and Growth $299 a month for 2 lines, each with a one-time $335 setup fee per line and no per-message fees. 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 FaceTime calls on its site or in its docs.
Zernio does not list iMessage availability check on its site or in its docs.
Zernio does not list line pooling on its site or in its docs.