$0
Early access · no login required.
- 100 real webhook messages / month
- Multiple rules, senders, conditions, and webhooks
- Encrypted local retry and history
Mac-native message routing
Route only
what matters.
Messages Relay is a native macOS app that matches Apple Messages by exact sender and Contains or Exact conditions, then forwards eligible content to webhooks, email, or Slack. Rules, retries, usage, and history stay on your Mac.
- macOS 14+
- Free 100 webhooks / month
- Annual: 3 Macs
- No relay server
- v0.3.1 · Updated Aug 2026
A quiet utility, not another inbox
See the whole route.
Know what arrived.
Messages Relay lives in the menu bar and opens into a native command center. Rule and destination rails, explicit back navigation, searchable history, account, plan usage, and Standard, Low Power, or Manual checking each have a clear home.
Many rules, reusable exits
Match safely.
Route dynamically.
01ANY senderExact matches
02AND junctionANY message check
WebhookHTTPS JSON
EmailApple Mail
SlackIncoming webhook
- 01
Add multiple exact senders
Phone numbers, Apple ID emails, and carrier sender IDs are independent OR choices inside each rule. Group filtering stays rule-specific.
- 02
Mix Contains and Exact checks
Press Return to save one condition at a time. Any message condition can match, but the sender group and message group must both pass.
- 03
Reuse every destination
Create multiple Webhook, Apple Mail, and Slack routes, then attach any combination to each rule. A shared route receives one copy even when multiple rules match.
Evidence, not guesswork
A local history with the timestamps that matter.
Search by sender, rule, destination, or message; filter by destination type, exact route, or origin; then inspect every successful timestamp. A clear Back to Overview action keeps navigation obvious.
- Named destination and matched-rule timestamps
- Full message detail on selection
- Latest 500 entries encrypted locally
- 24-hour missed-message recovery with confirmation
Privacy architecture
Your Mac is the relay.
There is no Messages Relay backend between Messages and your enabled destinations.
Stays on this MacMessage scan, dynamic rules, Free usage meter, encrypted queue/history, secrets in Keychain
Sent to destinationsMatched message content and delivery metadata—only when that route is enabled
Processed by GoogleAnnual activation only: OpenID identity, email, and profile—no Gmail or Messages scope
Processed by Lemon SqueezyAnnual purchase, license, account email, and a minimal label for each activated Mac
Messages Relay opens Apple’s local Messages database read-only. Full Disk Access is required because macOS protects that file. Apple does not provide a public incoming-message event API, so a future macOS release may require a compatibility update.
Two clear packages
Start useful.
Upgrade when routing grows.
$10 / year
Unlimited messages on 3 Macs.
- Unlimited real-message forwarding
- Webhook, Apple Mail, and Slack
- Updates during the active year
Questions before you route
Clear answers.
Does Messages Relay store my messages on a server?
No. Messages Relay has no message-relay backend. Matching, queueing, retry state, and history run locally. A matched body leaves the Mac only for Webhook, Email, or Slack destinations you enable.
How does rule logic work?
Exact senders are OR choices. Contains and Exact message checks are another OR group. The two groups are joined with AND, so a message must come from a configured sender and satisfy at least one saved message check. With no message checks, any non-empty text from a matching sender is eligible.
How often does Messages Relay check?
Standard checks every 30 seconds and is recommended for timely alerts. Low Power checks every 4 hours. Manual performs no background checks and scans only when you press Check Now; slower modes also delay retries.
What is included in Free and Annual?
Free requires no login and includes 100 real webhook messages per UTC month. Annual costs $10/year, activates on up to 3 Macs, removes the message limit, and unlocks Email and Slack.
Why does the app need Full Disk Access?
macOS protects the local Messages database. Messages Relay reads it in SQLite read-only mode and never edits, sends, or deletes an Apple Messages conversation.
How does Slack forwarding work?
You create an incoming webhook for a Slack channel and paste it into the app. The URL stays in Keychain; matched content is posted directly from your Mac to Slack.
Does the Mac need to stay on?
Yes. Routing happens on your Mac, so the app must be running and the Mac must be awake and connected. Confirmed recovery can find eligible missed matches from the previous 24 hours.
What does Google sign-in access?
Only OpenID identity, verified email, and basic profile are requested. The app does not request Gmail, Drive, contacts, or Messages access.
Messages Relay for macOS
