imbridge

Overview

imbridge is an open-source (Apache-2.0) Python package at github.com/christianblandford/imbridge, published on PyPI. Sending goes through a helper loaded into Messages that calls Apple's private IMCore framework; the helper is BlueBubbles' Private API helper with imbridge's own patches. Receiving reads the Messages database (chat.db) read-only. There is no server to run. Version 0.8.0 shipped on September 29, 2026.

Key features

• Send, inline reply, edit and unsend, with bubble, screen and animated text effects
• Tapbacks with the classic six, any emoji or a sticker
• Polls, Send Later, location pins, link previews and voice messages, including text-to-speech
• Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough and @mentions in groups
• Delivery and read status, typing indicators, Focus status and contact names
• An allowlist of chats it may send to, plus per-chat and total rate limits
• MCP server for Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients, and a CLI with JSON output

Pricing

Free, Apache-2.0 software. You need an Apple Silicon Mac signed in to iMessage with System Integrity Protection disabled, and Python 3.10 or later. Some features need a newer macOS, up to macOS 26 for polls.

How it compares to Linq

Linq is a hosted REST API with managed lines, webhooks, SDKs in TypeScript, Python and Go, and SOC 2 Type II reports. imbridge runs on your own Mac with your own Apple ID and has no HTTP API or webhooks; your code imports it or talks to its MCP server. Both cover tapbacks, threaded replies, effects, polls, voice messages and typing indicators. imbridge's Python API does not yet create groups or manage members, which Linq supports.

Best for

Python developers who want an AI agent to work in a few chosen iMessage chats from a dedicated Mac.

Sources

• github.com/christianblandford/imbridge
• github.com/christianblandford/imbridge/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md
• pypi.org/project/imbridge
• github.com/christianblandford/imbridge/blob/main/LICENSE
• github.com/christianblandford/imbridge/blob/main/examples/ping_bot.py