imessage-mcp (shadow173)

Overview

imessage-mcp by shadow173 is an MIT-licensed MCP server for Messages on a Mac (github.com/shadow173/imessage-mcp). A bridge on the Mac reads chat.db and Contacts read-only and sends through Messages.app. Claude Code uses it locally over stdio; ChatGPT and Claude reach it through an OAuth 2.1 gateway you host, for example on Railway. The repository was created on 18 October 2026; v0.2.1 was tagged on 22 October 2026.

Key features

• Reads text, tapbacks, edits, unsends, replies, link previews and attachments, with OCR and full-text search
• Merges each person across numbers and emails using Contacts
• send_message with text and files to people or groups, by iMessage or SMS, plus drafts and scheduled sends
• Send kill switch, recipient allowlist and hourly rate limit
• Hides chosen chats and one-time codes, and logs every call
• Optional Private API tier (third-party imsg helper, lowers macOS security) adds tapbacks, edit, unsend, read receipts, typing indicators and group management

Pricing

Free software. It needs an always-on Mac, Node.js 22.13 or later, Full Disk Access and Automation access; SMS needs iPhone Text Message Forwarding. Remote use needs a host for the gateway.

How it compares to Linq

Linq is a managed API with its own numbers, webhooks, SDKs and iMessage features such as tapbacks and typing indicators, free for 20 contacts and $260 a month for Pro. This server is free and uses your own Apple ID, but has no webhooks or REST API, and tapbacks and typing need the Private API helper.

Best for

People who want ChatGPT or Claude on any device to work with their own Messages.

Sources

• github.com/shadow173/imessage-mcp
• github.com/shadow173/imessage-mcp/blob/main/README.md
• github.com/shadow173/imessage-mcp/releases
• github.com/shadow173/imessage-mcp/commits/main