Sunbird Relaunches Its iMessage App for Android in Open Beta at $2.99 a Month
Sunbird has pushed its iMessage-for-Android app into open beta on the Google Play Store, ending a private testing period that ran for years and putting the service back in front of the public for the first time since it was pulled in 2023. The app signs in with your own Apple ID and relays iMessage traffic from an Android phone, so replies land in blue bubbles on the iPhone side rather than green.
It is a paid product. Sunbird lists a 14-day free trial followed by $2.99 per month, or $24.99 per year, which the company describes as a 30 percent saving on the monthly rate. Those are the prices as published by Sunbird; no other currencies are listed.
What the app actually does
Sunbird is a relay, not a port of Apple's software. Your Apple ID is used to establish a session, and messages then travel between your Android handset and Apple's network through Sunbird's infrastructure. The practical result is access to iMessage conveniences that Android users normally miss: tapback reactions, threaded replies, full-quality video instead of compressed MMS clips, and the ability to be added to and managed in group chats properly.
The company positions it as a single inbox rather than a single-purpose bridge. Alongside iMessage it handles SMS and Google Messages RCS, splits incoming threads into primary and secondary tabs, and offers an encrypted local backup you can restore from. Sunbird lists WhatsApp and Messenger as due in the third quarter of 2026, with Telegram, Discord and Slack described as in development — none of those are available today.
What you need to run it
- An Android phone and an Apple ID. Sunbird says no Mac, iPhone or other Apple hardware is required — a point that separates it from bridge tools that need a Mac left switched on at home.
- An internet connection. The service is not tied to a single country and works internationally; standard cellular data charges apply.
- A subscription after 14 days. There is no permanently free tier.
The security history, and what the company now claims
This matters more than it would for an ordinary messaging app. The earlier version of Sunbird was withdrawn in 2023 after researchers found that user data was travelling unencrypted despite the marketing claiming otherwise. Nothing's Chats app, which was built on Sunbird's platform, was pulled within days of launch, and reports at the time put the exposure at more than 630,000 files.
Sunbird's current security page sets out a different set of commitments. It states that messages are encrypted on the phone before they leave it, sent over certificate-pinned connections, and stored at rest on the device using AES-256. On credentials, it says your Apple ID password is used once to set up the session and then destroyed, with no password and no authentication token retained. It also says conversation history is not copied to Sunbird's servers.
One caveat is worth reading carefully rather than skipping. Photos and videos do pass through the company's systems, and the same page says they are deleted automatically "typically within 48 hours and never longer than 72". So text history staying off the servers and media briefly sitting on them are two separate statements, not one.
Sunbird's chief executive has said in published comments that independent audits turned up no critical vulnerabilities. That claim does not appear on the company's own security page, which makes no reference to third-party audits, and no audit report has been published for readers to check. Treat it as the company's assertion rather than verified fact.
The other risk: Apple
Third-party iMessage relays have a short history. Beeper Mini, which took a different technical route to the same goal, was repeatedly cut off by Apple in late 2023 within days of launching. Anyone paying for a year up front should weigh that precedent — the service depends on continued access to a network Apple controls.
If cross-platform features are the real goal rather than bubble colour, RCS already delivers read receipts, typing indicators and high-quality media between Android and iPhone at no cost. Our guide to turning RCS on or off in Google Messages covers how to check yours is active, and Google Messages has continued adding features such as live location sharing without a subscription attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Sunbird's iMessage app for Android cost?
Sunbird lists a 14-day free trial, after which the app costs $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year. The company describes the annual plan as a 30 percent saving over paying monthly. No other currencies are published on its site.
Do I need a Mac or an iPhone to use Sunbird?
No. Sunbird says the app needs only an Android phone, an Apple ID and an internet connection. That distinguishes it from relay setups that require a Mac to be left switched on to keep the bridge running.
Is Sunbird safe after the 2023 data incident?
The earlier app was withdrawn in 2023 after researchers found data travelling unencrypted, and Nothing's Chats app built on the same platform was pulled soon after launch. Sunbird now states that messages are encrypted on the device and in transit, that your Apple ID password is destroyed after setup, and that conversations are not kept on its servers. Photos and videos are an exception and stay on its systems for up to 72 hours.
Can Apple block Sunbird?
It is a real possibility. Apple repeatedly cut off Beeper Mini, a different third-party iMessage service, within days of its launch in late 2023. Because Sunbird depends on access to Apple's network, the service could be disrupted, which is worth weighing before paying for a full year.
Does Sunbird handle anything other than iMessage?
Yes. It also carries SMS and Google Messages RCS in a single inbox, sorts threads into primary and secondary tabs, and supports an encrypted local backup. Sunbird lists WhatsApp and Messenger as planned for the third quarter of 2026, with Telegram, Discord and Slack in development.
