Unlock the Full Photon
Free
Everything you need to get started. Powerful APIs, open-source tools, and zero cost
Ideal for individuals
Community support
Best-in-class stability and reliability
iMessage
- • Unlimited daily messages with Auto Scale
- • RCS and SMS fallback
- • Full direct messaging iMessage API access
- • iOS 26 features supported - polls, background customization, and more
- • Up to 10 users
SMS/RCS
Included
Telegram
Pro
Most Popular
For growing teams that need more power, more channels, and priority support
Ideal for individuals and early-stage startups
Community support with fast-track ticketing
Best-in-class stability and reliability
iMessage
$25/mo
- • Unlimited daily messages with Auto Scale
- • RCS and SMS fallback
- • Full direct messaging iMessage API access
- • iOS 26 features supported - polls, background customization, and more
- • Up to 100 users
SMS/RCS
Included
Telegram
Business
Unlimited scale, dedicated infrastructure, and full platform access for your business
Unlock the full power of Photon
Dedicated Slack & Discord support channel
Enterprise-grade stability and reliability
iMessage
$250/line/mo
- • Dedicated iMessage lines
- • Unlimited daily messages
- • RCS and SMS fallback
- • Full direct messaging iMessage API access
- • iOS 26 features supported - polls, background customization, and more
- • Cold outreach supported - up to 50 new contacts per day
- • Full group messaging iMessage API access
- • Bring your own iMessage mini apps
- • Unlimited users*
- * Auto Scale Required for unlimited users
Phone Call
SMS/RCS
Included
Telegram
Enterprise
Custom-tailored for organizations that demand full control, dedicated support, and no limits
Everything in Business, plus custom configurations
Priority support with a dedicated Slack & Discord channel
Enterprise-grade contractual SLA, stability, and reliability
iMessage
Custom
- • Unlimited daily messages with lowest throttling
- • Full direct and group messaging iMessage API access
- • iOS 26 features supported - polls, background customization, and more
- • Cold outreach supported - up to 50 new contacts per day
- • Bring your own iMessage mini apps
- • Dedicated iMessage lines - you own the numbers
- • Unlimited users
Phone Call
Custom
Custom
SMS/RCS
Included
Telegram
Platform Comparison
iMessage Features
| Feature | Open Source | Free | Pro | Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number Type | Your own number | Managed Shared | Managed Shared | Managed Dedicated |
| Daily Messages | Unlimited (note 4) | Unlimited (note 4) | Unlimited (note 4) | Unlimited (note 4) |
| RCS and SMS Fallback | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Direct Messaging API (note 1) | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Polls, Chat Background | Not included | Included | Included | Included |
| Location Sharing | Not included | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Maximum Users | - | 10 | 100 | Unlimited (note 2) |
| Group Messaging API | Limited | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Cold Outreach | Not included | Not included | Not included | 50 per lines/day |
| Contact Sharing (note 3) | Not included | Not included | Not included | Included |
| iMessage Mini Apps | Not included | Not included | Not included | Included |
- Supports plain text, rich text, file attachments, and audio messages
2. Auto Scale required for unlimited users
- Automatically share your agent name and profile pic
- Unlimited daily messages needs Auto Scale
Understanding iMessage Number Types
Open Source
Run Photon on your own Mac and it automatically uses your iCloud account as your agent's iMessage number. Perfect for exploring and building locally before going production.
Managed Shared (Free / Pro)
Photon maintains a large pool of numbers and assigns each of your users a fresh one they have never received a message from before. Everything is handled for you with no infrastructure to worry about.
Dedicated Number (Business)
Numbers allocated just for your project. All your users text the same number and get connected to your agent. Nothing is shared with other tenants, giving you full control over your messaging identity.
Open-Source First by Design
Photon is built on a foundation of open source. The core system is fully open-sourced - you can self-host using first-party and community platform adaptors, no Spectrum Cloud service required. Choose our hosted service and we handle the rest, from configuration to scaling, so you can focus on building.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can self-host Photon and use your own phone number. However, we recommend using Photon Cloud, which is free for personal use with up to 10 users. With Photon Cloud, you'll receive a managed phone number at no additional cost, along with access to more advanced features and a fully managed experience.
We accept all major credit cards, PayPal, and can arrange invoice billing for Business and Enterprise customers.
Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. Changes will be reflected in your next billing cycle.
For unlimited users on the Business tier, auto scale ensures your account automatically adds credits when needed to maintain uninterrupted service as your usage scales.
While Photon provides powerful APIs for developers, our hosted service handles all the complexity. If you choose to self-host, some technical knowledge is recommended.