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Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Linux and iPhone Continuity (iMessage / SMS)

After switching to 100% Linux a couple of years ago there was basically only one thing I missed about macOS and that was what Apple calls "Continuity". It's where you get texts, notifications, clipboard sync, file transfer (to/from) the iPhone from the Mac desktop. Especially that thing where OTP codes via text autofilled into the browser form I was waiting on. It took about 4 months of work: - reverse-engineering Apple/iOS Bluetooth behavior - MAP / OBEX - Bluetooth LE + Wi-Fi working together - iMessage through the iPhone's own cellular/iMessage stack - iOS app, Linux…

Tether enables Linux users to access iPhone features like iMessage, SMS, notifications, clipboard sync, and file transfer directly from their desktop, mimicking Apple's Continuity feature. The project includes an iOS… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes.

  1. 1

    Hi HN! I’m proud to share that we have built a real 3rd party iMessage client for Android. We did it by reverse engineering the iMessage protocol and encryption system. It's available to download today (no waitlist): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beeper.ima and there's a technical writeup here: https://blog.beeper.com/p/how-beeper-mini-works. Unlike every other attempt to build an iMessage app for Android (including our first gen app), Beeper Mini does not use a Mac server relay in the cloud. The app connects directly to Apple…

    2023 · beeper.com · its alternatives →

  2. 2

    send and receive iMessages in a terminal or over ssh - CamHenlin/imessageclient

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

  3. 3

    An Apple iMessage client for classic Macintosh (System 2.0 - MacOS 9.2.2) - CamHenlin/MessagesForMacintosh

    2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

  4. 4
    Tether▲81

    The presence who comes to life in your messages

    May 2026 · therealtether.com · its alternatives →

  5. 5

    :zap: Transfer files over wifi from your computer to your mobile device by scanning a QR code without leaving the terminal. - claudiodangelis/qrcp

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

  6. 6

    Bring a continuity-style experience to Android and Mac

    Aug 2026 · andromeld.catchingnow.com · its alternatives →

  7. 7

    Mac + Android, perfectly in sync

    Mar 2026 · bounceconnect.app · its alternatives →

  8. 8

    send iMessages from your terminal and over ssh!

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

  9. 9

    Use AI for writing & translating your messages 10x faster

    Apr 2026 · tryclarifier.app · its alternatives →

  10. 10

    Cross-platform files and text sharing app

    2021 · its alternatives →

  11. 11

    send and receive iMessages on anything with a web browser - CamHenlin/iMessageWebClient

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

  12. 12SI

    If you text 8145594701, it will send back an image with the prompt you specified. Currently only US numbers can send/receive texts because Twilio. Sorry to the rest of the planet! I think this will likely fall over but I figured this would be a cool little thing to demo. I removed the NSFW filter so be mindful of your prompts! I don't persist numbers and there is no linkages being saved between the original text message and the generated images.

    2022 · its alternatives →

  13. 13
    Crono▲139

    Sync notifications, files, clipboard between phone & browser

    2019 · crono.app · its alternatives →

  14. 14
    Clipt▲109

    Seamlessly transfer photos, files & text between devices

    2021 · its alternatives →

  15. 15
    Crono▲93

    Android text messages & notifications on PC/Mac

    2020 · crono.app · its alternatives →

  16. 16

    Annoyingly, iPhones don't have a great way to schedule messages. This around 100 lines of python to schedule iMessage texts from .txt files on your computer. If this is useful to you, please give it a try and let me know what you think. Thanks.

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

  17. 17

    Retro telegrams delivered by iMessage

    2017 · teletype.website · its alternatives →

  18. 18
    Scribe▲112

    Copy and paste anything between your Mac and iOS device

    2014 · its alternatives →

  19. 19

    I created a simple shell (zsh) script to help macOS users extract attachments (photos, videos, audio files) and URLs from their iMessages. The script pulls data directly from the Messages database (chat.db), organizes attachments into folders named after each contact or group conversation, and compiles all shared links into CSV files. This tool can be useful for anyone looking to back up or organize files shared over iMessage without needing the entire conversation history. It also handles macOS's complex local storage structure for attachments. No sign-ups or dependencies beyond macOS and…

    2024 · gist.github.com · its alternatives →

  20. 20

    Better Telegram on Apple Watch

    2021 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  21. 21

    A powerful SSH terminal with FTP & SFTP support

    May 2026 · termiux.webideapp.com · its alternatives →

  22. 22
    Strings▲71

    A messaging app that lets you take messages back

    2015 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  23. 23

    STOP STOP STOP¶ HoRNDIS is unmaintained software. For years now, I have wanted to write an essay on why this is the case. I never got around to doing that, but here

    2012 · joshuawise.com · its alternatives →

  24. 24

    Save one iMessage conversation as a private offline album

    Aug 2026 · messagealbum.com · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →