Textlore vs imessage-exporter, free tool or app.
imessage-exporter is a free, open-source command-line tool that turns your Messages database into text files or web pages. Textlore is a paid Mac app. If you're comfortable in Terminal and only need an export, the free tool may be all you need.
Short answer
Pick imessage-exporter if you're happy in Terminal, want a free one-off export to text or HTML, need to read an iPhone backup, or use Linux or Windows. Pick Textlore if you want to see what friends told you to try and what you promised, a window to search your iMessages and WhatsApp for Mac chats every day, exports in more formats with private details hidden, and an archive that keeps saving without you running anything.
Textlore and imessage-exporter at a glance
| Feature |  Textlore | imessage-exporter |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Mac app with a window | A command-line tool you run in Terminal |
| Where messages come from | The Messages history on your Mac | The Messages database on a Mac, or an iPhone backup |
| Runs on | Mac, macOS 26 or later | Mac, Linux and Windows |
| Open source | GPL-3.0 | |
| What friends told you to try, in their words | Recs | |
| Promises you made, and which are still open | Promises | |
| From WhatsApp for Mac | ||
| Export to text and HTML | ||
| Export to PDF | Print the HTML from a browser | |
| Export to CSV, Markdown or an image | ||
| Export a date range | Start and end date options | |
| Pick a few messages to export | ||
| Hide names, phone numbers and emails | Numbers and emails hidden by default | Can relabel your own name |
| Copy and convert attachments | Photos in exports | HEIC to JPEG, audio and video to MP4 |
| Search every year as you type, with filters | ||
| Keeps its own archive as new texts arrive | Run it again for a new copy | |
| Your Lore and Ask AI | ||
| Price | $20 until 28 October, then $39$39Once, for 2 Macs. 14 days free. | Free |
imessage-exporter is made by ReagentX and published on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 licence. You install it with Homebrew (brew install imessage-exporter), with Cargo, or by downloading a release. Its README recommends opening the HTML export in a browser and printing it when you need a PDF.
Where imessage-exporter is the better choice
- It is free and open source. You pay nothing, and anyone can read the code to see exactly what it does with your messages.
- It reads iPhone backups. Point it at an iPhone backup folder, encrypted or not, and it exports the messages inside.
- It runs anywhere. It works on Mac, Linux and Windows, and on older Macs that can't run macOS 26.
- It is scriptable. You can run it on a schedule, filter by person with
-t, set dates with-sand-e, and fold it into your own backups. - It converts attachments. It can turn HEIC photos into JPEG and audio and video into MP4, so exports open anywhere.
Where Textlore is the better choice
Textlore is a Mac app that reads your Messages and WhatsApp for Mac history. Recs lists what friends told you to try, with their exact words, and Promises lists what you said you'd do for people, both found by Apple's on-device model on Macs with Apple Intelligence. It also searches every year as you type, keeps its own archive of messages and photos, exports to 6 formats with names and numbers hidden, and adds Your Lore, your texting years as tree rings, and Ask AI. It never sends, edits or deletes a message, and nothing leaves your Mac.
- No Terminal. Install it, switch on Full Disk Access, and your history is ready in about a minute for 100,000 messages.
- Recs and Promises. Every book, show, restaurant and app friends told you to try, with who said it and their words, and every promise you made, with how many days late it is. imessage-exporter doesn't list anything like them.
- Search, not just export. Results narrow as you type, with filters such as
from:,before:andhas:photo, and ⌥Space searches from any app. imessage-exporter has no search. - More export choices. PDF, HTML, plain text, Markdown, CSV or an image, for a whole chat, a date range or just the messages you pick, with a live preview.
- Private by default. Phone numbers and emails are hidden unless you switch them on, and names can be initials or hidden.
- An archive that runs itself. Textlore saves new messages and photos as they arrive, so they stay after Messages deletes them or clears space. With imessage-exporter you run it again for a fresh copy.
- Photos by person and month, plus Your Lore and, on Macs with Apple Intelligence, Ask AI.
What Textlore doesn't do
- It is Mac only, and needs macOS 26 or later.
- It reads the Messages history on your Mac, so your iPhone texts need Messages in iCloud switched on to get there.
- It reads Messages (iMessage, SMS and the other texts in it) and WhatsApp for Mac. It can't read an iPhone backup.
- Recs, Promises and Ask AI need a Mac with Apple Intelligence.
- It isn't open source, and it costs $20 until 28 October, then $39$39 once after the 14-day free trial.
Which one should you pick?
- You want a free, one-off export and you know Terminal: imessage-exporter.
- Your texts are in an iPhone backup, or you use Linux or Windows: imessage-exporter.
- You want to see what friends told you to try and what you promised: Textlore.
- You want to search your messages, not just save them, including WhatsApp for Mac: Textlore.
- You want PDF or CSV, picked messages, or hidden phone numbers without extra steps: Textlore.
Our guides use imessage-exporter as the free option where it fits, such as backing up iMessages on a Mac and exporting an iMessage conversation.
Comparing more options? See all imessage-exporter alternatives, or the Textlore pricing.
Questions
Is imessage-exporter really free?
Yes. It's free, open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Is imessage-exporter safe to use?
Its code is public on GitHub, and it reads your Messages database without changing it. As with any tool you give Full Disk Access, install it from the official source.
Can imessage-exporter make a PDF?
Not directly. It exports text and HTML, and its README suggests opening the HTML in a browser and printing it to PDF. Textlore exports PDF directly.
Do I need Terminal for Textlore?
No. Textlore is a normal Mac app. You install it from a disk image, switch on Full Disk Access when it asks, and everything else happens in its window.
Can I try Textlore before I pay?
Yes. Every feature is free for 14 days, with no account, no email and no card. After that it's a one-time purchase for 2 Macs.
Your messages, without the Terminal.
Download Textlore and search, keep and export your Messages history. Free for 14 days.