Sunbird Messaging

FAQ's

What is the Sunbird Messaging App?

Sunbird Messaging is an Android & web app that gives users the ability to unify the world’s most popular messaging apps into one app inbox including iMessage, SMS/MMS, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

More message app types such as Telegram, RCS, Instagram Messenger, Slack, Line, and Discord will be included in future updates.

Sunbird Messaging servers never store user messages, or any other personal data, ensuring safety, security and privacy.

How can I use Sunbird?

Signup for the waitlist at sunbirdapp.com. Once your spot opens up on the waitlist, you will receive an invitation email to a closed beta launch in the Google Play store. You can refer friends to bump up on the list. Sunbird is better with friends!

How is Sunbird different from other unified messaging apps?

There are some significant differences. Here are some of them:

Sunbird is the first and only fully featured “iMessage for Android” app.

Setup only requires an Android phone. No personal server, Apple device or desktop software is required.

The Sunbird app is fully encrypted while SMS text messages are not.

Your messages from the Sunbird app will appear as blue bubbles to iPhone and Mac users.

At launch, iMessage, SMS/MMS, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger will be supported.
Over the coming months, the most popular message apps will be added, too. Telegram, RCS, Signal, Line, Slack, Discord, Instagram DMs and many more.

How safe is my data when I use the Sunbird App?

The Sunbird servers do not store user data promoting a safe, secure, and private messaging environment. With end-to-end encrypted, conﬁdential messaging, Sunbird is fully secure and completely private.

By adding encryption between Android and iMessage where there currently is none, Sunbird is the first of its kind to give a uniﬁed and safe messaging experience to Android users.

Is Sunbird available on the Google Play, or other app stores?

The short answer is “YES!” It will be available in the Google play store. We will also be looking at the other Android stores. For example, Huawei has a store, Samsung Galaxy has a store, ShuMei has a store. This is going to be a global product - we built the infrastructure so that we can translate the app to pretty much any language and we’ll be rolling it out in multiple languages over the next year to 18 months.

🚨 There is a fake Sunbird app that was discovered in the Google Play store. 🚨
It’s been revealed that it’s adware and possibly malicious code.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT.

We have reached out to Google to have them remove it. Thanks to our amazing Discord community for spotting it and letting everyone know to be safe.

As of 3/2/23, you can only get the app by being a provisioned Alpha Tester in our Discord server.

How fast is the Sunbird set up on my Android device?

Sunbird takes less than a minute to set up and less than 5 minutes to add iMessage on Android.

Do I need a Mac or Apple device to make this work?

No Apple or Mac device is needed! Only your Android phone. You don't have to create or maintain an Apple server in your closet or some complex virtual machine to jump into iMessage conversations. Sunbird was created for the masses.

Does Sunbird use my data plan?

If your device is not connected to a Wi-Fi network, Sunbird messages will be sent over cellular data possibly incurring data usage. This means that cellular rates may apply, depending on your carrier.

Does Sunbird work internationally?

Yes. Sunbird works anywhere in the world as long as you have an Internet connection. International roaming text messaging rates may apply.

Does Sunbird work without Wi-Fi?

Yes. If you do not have a Wi-Fi connection, messages sent from the Sunbird app will be sent over your cellular network.

Can Sunbird work in Airplane Mode?

Yes. You can send and receive iMessages when you’re connected to in-flight Wi-Fi, even if Airplane Mode is enabled.

How can I move up the waitlist?

When you join the waitlist, you’ll get a unique link to share with your friends to move up on the waitlist. We plan on releasing the Sunbird Beta App to waitlisters in waves starting in Q2 2023.
🚨 As of January 2023, we have granted thousands of people in our growing Discord community Alpha access.🚨

If you would like to apply for Alpha testing, please join our Discord server (link at the bottom of our site) and check the announcement channels for more info! We also run giveaways on our socials and Discord so make sure to follow and jump in the conversation.

When will I get access to Sunbird?

Signup for the waitlist at sunbirdapp.com. Once your spot opens up on the waitlist, you will receive an invitation email to a closed beta launch in the Google Play store.

🚨 If you would like to alpha test the current version, join our Discord community to see when the next registration wave is. We currently have over 1000 Alpha testers! Link to Discord is at the bottom of this website along with our other official social media links. 🚨

You can refer friends to bump up on the list. Sunbird is better with friends!

Is there a way to backup or archive messages?

This is on the product roadmap. We are creating the ability for the user to back up their Sunbird Account to their Google Drive Account. So if you do change phones you will be able to use your Google backup that is on your Android phone to repopulate your new Sunbird app on your new phone.

Can you send images/videos in full quality?

It is uncompressed and high resolution. Sunbird uses the native Apple message media compression.

How much will Sunbird Cost?

Sunbird will be free for the foreseeable future, that's the bottom line. We don’t have any reason to turn on paid subscriptions right now just based on our goals. Right now we have one goal in mind to give iMessage on Android to millions of users. Let's connect the world first.

Are there plans for a desktop client?

Anybody with a browser is going to be able to use Sunbird. The messages will synchronize. A big challenge has been synchronizing without them storing the data but we got it right. And so, the web app will synchronize with the Sunbird app. Got a browser? You will be able to use Sunbird.

Will Sunbird work on a tablet?

Our web app will work on any device, including tablets. So, yes.

Is an iOS app on the roadmap?

We are building a Sunbird for Android app of course. We have been asked, are we going to build Sunbird for iPhone? Maybe. Maybe down the line. If there’s sufficient demand for unified messaging on iPhone, then definitely. The web app which also functions as a desktop app as well can be used across in any browser so Mac users are good from the get go!

Can Sunbird work on Apple devices?

For now, only Android devices can use Sunbird. If you send a message to someone with an iPhone, your messages will be delivered as blue bubbles. Full quality media, reactions/tapbacks, live typing, and other iMessage features are all supported in Sunbird.

Will the app be open source?

Some of the messaging community believes that software that is open source is more secure. It is our view that it is not. The more visibility there is into the infrastructure and code, the easier it is to penetrate it. By design, open source software is distributed in nature. There is no central authority to ensure quality and maintenance and by putting that responsibility on Sunbird, development would not be feasible. Open source vulnerabilities typically stem from poorly written code that leave gaps, which attackers can use to carryout malicious activities.

To help satisfy our own ambitious goals of providing total privacy and security, we are currently undergoing a third party audit that will validate our security, encryption and data policies and plan on receiving ISO 27001 certification after launch.

Blue bubbles on your Android.

60 Second Setup

Secure & Private

Unified Messaging

Don't wait for Apple or Google to make your green bubbles blue.

The Sunbird Development Roadmap

FAQ's

Blue bubbles on your Android.

60 Second Setup

Secure & Private

Unified Messaging

Don't wait for Apple or Google to make your green bubbles blue.

The Sunbird Development Roadmap

FAQ's

Join The Waitlist