iMessage Relay

Overview

iMessage Relay is an open-source (MIT) macOS menu bar app at github.com/varops/imsg-relay, formerly ranaroussi/imsg-relay. It watches the Messages database on a Mac, pushes events to your HTTPS endpoint, and sends through Messages with AppleScript, using the IMsgCore library from the imsg project. Releases are code-signed and notarized, with Sparkle auto-updates. Version 0.2.0 shipped on September 10, 2026 as one build for Apple Silicon and Intel.

Key features

• Webhook events for received and sent messages and tapback reactions, plus tunnel and relay lifecycle events
• SQLite delivery queue with retries, backoff and dead-letter parking, and optional backfill after a restart
• REST API for chats, history, full-text search, attachments and sending, including to group chats by chat ID
• Attachments both ways up to 100 MB, with HEIC to JPEG conversion on download
• MCP server with seven tools, over stdio or over HTTP through the tunnel
• Built-in Cloudflare Tunnel, on a free trycloudflare.com URL or your own hostname
• Local message archive, sender allow and block lists, and contact name lookup

Pricing

Free, MIT-licensed software. You need a Mac on macOS 14 or newer signed in to Messages, with Full Disk Access. A named tunnel needs a domain on Cloudflare.

How it compares to Linq

Linq is a hosted service with managed lines, HMAC-signed webhooks, SDKs and SOC 2 Type II reports. iMessage Relay runs on your own Mac and Apple account, and its webhooks carry your bearer token rather than a signature. It sends text and files, while Linq also sends tapbacks, threaded replies, effects and typing indicators. Both retry failed webhook deliveries: Linq for 30 minutes, iMessage Relay from a queue kept on disk.

Best for

Developers and small teams with a spare Mac who want iMessage events in their own backend or a remote AI agent without opening ports.

Sources

• github.com/varops/imsg-relay
• github.com/varops/imsg-relay/releases
• github.com/varops/imsg-relay/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md
• github.com/varops/imsg-relay/blob/main/src/Sources/Relay/EventEnvelope.swift
• github.com/varops/imsg-relay/blob/main/src/Sources/Imsg/ImsgClient.swift
• github.com/varops/imsg-relay/blob/main/LICENSE