Chert

Name: Chert
Brand: Chert

Claim this tool Editor reviewed

Leverage iMessage infrastructure to build and deploy AI for scaled, personalized customer interactions.

Communication Marketing Automation Customer Support

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FreemiumVisit Website

Tracked since2026

0 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Achieves significantly higher reply rates compared to cold email or A2P SMS.

Biggest con

Relies on Apple's iMessage ecosystem, potentially limiting reach to non-Apple users (though SMS fallback exists).

TL;DR - Chert

Enables businesses to send and receive real iMessages at scale via an API.
Offers a trusted, personalized communication channel with high engagement rates.
Supports AI agents and integrates with CRM/marketing tools for various use cases.

Pricing: Free plan available

Best for: Growing teams

What is Chert?

Editorial review

Chert provides an API-driven platform that enables businesses to integrate with Apple's iMessage infrastructure, allowing them to communicate with customers at scale using the native iMessage experience. It's designed for product teams and GTM (Go-To-Market) teams looking to enhance customer engagement, support, and sales outreach through a trusted and personalized channel. The platform facilitates real iMessage threads with blue-bubble UX, offering features like live indicators, tapbacks, group chats, and attachment sending. This tool is particularly useful for businesses aiming to improve response rates and customer satisfaction by moving away from traditional, often filtered, A2P SMS or cold email. Chert handles the complexities of iMessage deliverability, including rotating sending identities and managing volume to avoid spam flags, while providing SMS/RCS fallback for recipients not on iMessage. It also supports the deployment of AI agents directly within iMessage for automated conversational experiences, making it suitable for customer lifecycle management, support, and outbound sales efforts.

Available on: Web

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcetrychert.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

Achieves significantly higher reply rates compared to cold email or A2P SMS.
Provides a trusted and personalized communication channel (blue bubble UX).
Bypasses carrier-side filtering common with A2P SMS, improving deliverability.
Offers robust API and webhooks for easy integration with existing systems like Salesforce and HubSpot.
Supports conversational AI agents for automated interactions.

Cons

Relies on Apple's iMessage ecosystem, potentially limiting reach to non-Apple users (though SMS fallback exists).
Requires integration work via API for full functionality.
Pricing model is not explicitly detailed beyond 'try it free'.

Key Features

iMessage API for sending and receiving messagesReal iMessage threads with blue-bubble UXLive typing indicators and tapbacksGroup chat functionality with named sendersSMS/RCS fallback for non-iMessage recipientsAttachment sending (photos, PDFs, links)Live delivery state telemetryVerified phone numbers

Pricing

Freemium

Chert offers a generous free tier with optional paid upgrades for advanced features.

View pricing

Is Chert worth the price?

50/100

Without specific tier details and dollar amounts, it's impossible to assess if Chert's pricing is fair, generous, or expensive.

The absence of a free tier or free trial makes it less accessible for initial exploration. This pricing model would likely be best for established businesses with a clear need for iMessage-based AI interactions and a budget for enterprise solutions.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Potential setup/onboarding fees

Overage charges for high usage

Integration costs with existing CRMs

Minimum seat requirements for custom plans

How Chert Compares to Competitors

Direct competitors leveraging iMessage infrastructure for AI are not widely advertised with transparent pricing. However, general AI customer service platforms like Intercom or Zendesk typically offer tiered pricing starting from $79-$100+ per month for basic AI features, scaling significantly for advanced capabilities. Chert's value will depend heavily on its specific feature set and how its custom pricing compares to these established players once revealed.

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Best Chert Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

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TwilioPaid

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TrengoPaid

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Comm100Paid

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Chert FAQ

How does Chert ensure messages are delivered as real iMessages and not just branded SMS?

Chert utilizes Apple’s iMessage protocol for both outbound and inbound messages, ensuring the blue-bubble user experience. It only falls back to SMS if the recipient is not on iMessage, and this distinction is surfaced in the API so users always know the channel of delivery.

What mechanisms does Chert employ to prevent messages from being flagged as spam by Apple?

Chert avoids carrier-side filtering by using the end-to-end iMessage protocol. To prevent spam flags from Apple, it rotates sending identities, gradually warms them up, and caps daily volume per identity, staying below Apple's throttling heuristics for abusive senders.

Can Chert integrate with my existing CRM or marketing automation platforms?

Yes, Chert provides a REST API and webhooks for all inbound and outbound events, allowing integration with platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, or custom CRMs. It also offers native sync for common scenarios such as lead creation, meeting bookings, and opt-out receipts, and can assist with integration during onboarding.

What kind of AI agents can be built and deployed using Chert on iMessage?

Chert allows for the creation and deployment of conversational AI agents that can handle various B2C interactions such as booking appointments, rescheduling, and answering customer questions, mimicking a real person's responses within the iMessage blue bubble.

How does Chert's approach to messaging differ from traditional A2P SMS services like Twilio?

Unlike Twilio, which primarily offers A2P SMS that is subject to carrier filtering and 10DLC registration, Chert delivers a peer-to-peer iMessage thread. This results in a native blue-bubble experience with read receipts and tapbacks, leading to significantly higher open and reply rates due to the trusted nature of the channel.

Source: trychert.com

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