Decipher TextMessage alternatives
Published October 13, 2026 · Updated October 28, 2026
Short answer: with no computer, turn screenshots into a transcript; for WhatsApp or more export formats, iMazing; for Bates numbers or hash reports, TextExhibit; on Android, TextExhibit, SMS Backup & Restore or screenshots.
Decipher TextMessage has been the standard answer to "how do I print my iPhone texts for court" for years, and for the case it was built for it still works: an iPhone, a Mac or PC, a cable, and a conversation you want on paper with a time on every line. Here is what to use when that is not your case.
What Decipher TextMessage does
It is a program for Mac and Windows. You back up the iPhone on the computer, open Decipher, pick the contact, and export the conversation to PDF, CSV, HTML or text. The PDF carries contact names, dates and times, and MMS photos. The licence is $29.99 one-time with two device activations and no subscription, and there is a free trial that previews but restricts exports. It reads only Apple's own backup, so it covers iMessage and SMS but not WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or Signal, and it does not work with Android phones at all.
You have no computer, or no time to set up a backup
The backup step is where most people stall: it needs a computer with enough free space, a cable, and often an hour. If the hearing is close or there is no computer, screenshot the conversation on the phone and turn the screenshots into a transcript. Court Texts reads the screenshots, removes the overlap, numbers and dates every message, and attaches the original screenshots behind the transcript. Free to preview, $19 to export. It shows what your screenshots show, nothing more, and it is not a forensic extraction.
Can you pick up Sofia at 3 today?
I told you I can't on Tuesdays.
You need WhatsApp or more export formats: iMazing
iMazing reads the same iPhone backup and adds WhatsApp, Excel and RSMF export, read receipts and device metadata on the PDF. It is sold as a subscription with a one-time option. See Decipher TextMessage or iMazing for court.
You want Bates numbers or hash reports: TextExhibit
TextExhibit's desktop program also reads iPhone backups, for $19.99 per personal iPhone, and adds Bates numbering and SHA256/MD5 hash reports to the output. Its Android app does the same on an Android phone. SMS and MMS only. See TextExhibit alternatives.
You use Android
Decipher cannot help. TextExhibit's Android app, the free SMS Backup & Restore, or screenshots with a transcript are the options. See print text messages for court from Android.
Side by side
| Decipher TextMessage | iMazing | TextExhibit | Screenshots + Court Texts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phones | iPhone | iPhone | Android, iPhone via backup | Any |
| Apps | iMessage, SMS | iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp | SMS, MMS | Anything on screen |
| Computer needed | Yes | Yes | iPhone yes, Android no | No |
| Time on every message | Yes | Yes | Yes | What the screenshot shows |
| Originals attached | No | No | No | Yes |
| Price | $29.99 one-time | Subscription or one-time per device | $19.99 one-time per platform | $19 per transcript |
This page is general information, not legal advice. Prices and features were checked on the makers' own sites in October 2026 and change; confirm before buying. The other products named belong to their own companies, which have no connection to Court Texts, which makes a competing tool.
Common questions
Is Decipher TextMessage worth it for court?
If you have an iPhone, a computer and a long conversation, yes: it is the simplest export program and a one-time price. If you have no computer, a short exchange, or messages in WhatsApp or another app, you will not get to use it and screenshots are the practical route.
Is there a free version of Decipher TextMessage?
There is a free trial that lets you see your messages but restricts exports. The full licence is $29.99 one-time for two devices.
What is the Android equivalent of Decipher TextMessage?
TextExhibit's Android app is the closest, producing court-style PDFs on the phone. SMS Backup & Restore is a free option with plainer output. Screenshots with a transcript work on Android too.
Can Decipher TextMessage export WhatsApp?
No. It reads only the iPhone's own Messages database. iMazing exports WhatsApp from an iPhone backup, and screenshots work for WhatsApp on any phone.
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