Is BlueBubbles a good fit for me?

7 questions. No email address, nothing sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser. We'll tell you if the answer is no.

Question 1 of 7

Do you have a Mac, or a way to get one?

This is the big one. BlueBubbles needs a Mac signed in to iMessage to do the actual talking — there's no way around it.

Question 2 of 7

What macOS version is that Mac on?

BlueBubbles runs on a wide range of macOS versions. Newer ones simply expose more of what iMessage can do.

Question 3 of 7

Can that Mac stay awake and online?

Your Mac is the bridge. When it sleeps, the bridge is out.

Question 4 of 7

Is the Mac managed by a school, an employer, or an MDM?

Managed Macs tend to lock down exactly the things BlueBubbles needs.

Question 5 of 7

Where do you want to read your messages?

This is the whole point, so it is worth being clear about it.

Question 6 of 7

Do you want green-bubble SMS and RCS as well?

BlueBubbles carries these too, but they reach your Mac by way of an iPhone, so a phone number is involved.

Question 7 of 7

How do you feel about a bit of setup?

Installing a server app, granting permissions, connecting a Google account for notifications. Roughly twenty minutes.

This questionnaire needs JavaScript. The short version: you need a Mac signed in to iMessage that can stay awake, it should not be a school or work machine, and BlueBubbles carries iMessage but not SMS. If that describes you, you are good to go.