iMazing is desktop software for getting texts, attachments and backups off an iPhone and onto a computer, and for a lot of people it's the right tool. People look for an alternative for a few reasons: their messages are on Android or in WhatsApp, they don't have a Mac or Windows computer handy, they don't want a yearly subscription, or they want the texts numbered and kept with the rest of their evidence.
Here's a fair look at what iMazing does, when it's the better pick, and what else works. Its facts come from iMazing's own pages: its messages page, licensing policy and FAQ, checked October 22, 2026. We have not bought or tested iMazing for this page. Check its site again before you buy, because prices and features change.
What iMazing does well
- Full iPhone message exports. It reads SMS, MMS and iMessage conversations from the phone or from a backup, and exports them to PDF, Excel/CSV or plain text.
- Attachments included. Photos, videos, audio and contact cards from a conversation can be saved in bulk.
- Print options. Its messages page lists paper sizes, margins, page numbers and a timestamp on printouts.
- WhatsApp from an iPhone. It can also export and print WhatsApp chats, including WhatsApp Business, from an iPhone.
- More than messages. It backs up the whole device and manages photos, files and apps, on a Mac or Windows computer.
If your texts are on an iPhone, you have a computer, and you want attachments or a full backup too, iMazing is a strong choice. You may not need anything else.
When another tool may fit better
| Your situation | Why iMazing may not fit |
|---|---|
| Your texts are on an Android phone | Its FAQ says iMazing works only with Apple devices for now |
| The conversation is in WhatsApp and you only have a phone | WhatsApp's own Export chat option works on the phone, with no computer needed |
| You don't have a Mac or Windows computer | iMazing is desktop software and runs on a computer, not on the phone |
| You'd rather not pay yearly | Since June 2025 iMazing is sold as a yearly subscription. Its free trial mode limits exports |
| You want every message numbered and indexed with your other evidence | iMazing makes the export; numbering it as one log and keeping it with photos, a timeline and other exhibits is a separate step |
How to get messages off each kind of phone
Every tool starts from the same place: a copy of the conversation that came from your own phone.
iPhone texts and iMessages
Apple doesn't let apps or websites read your Messages directly, so the usual route is a computer program such as iMazing: connect the phone with a cable, open Messages, pick the conversation and export it. Check that the export covers the full date range you care about. Our guide to exporting iPhone text messages for court walks through the options.
Android
Android phones don't share one built-in export. Many people use a backup app that saves texts to a file, then open that file in a log tool. See exporting Android text messages for court.
Each WhatsApp chat has its own Export chat option, on iPhone and Android, which creates a text file. Export each chat you need separately and write down the date you exported it.
iMazing and a text log can work together
For iPhone texts, this isn't always an either-or choice. iMazing can export a conversation as a .csv file. Custody Commander reads that file and turns it into one chronological log, with every message numbered and dated. If you already own iMazing, or you only need it for one export, you can keep using it for that step.
You can see what your export looks like as a numbered log before you pay anything. The free text message log preview reads an iMazing .csv, an Android backup file or a WhatsApp export in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Screenshots or a full export?
Screenshots are quick and anyone can read them, but they're easy to question when they're cropped, out of order, or missing dates. A full export of the same conversation shows the context around each message. A common approach is to print a few screenshots of key moments and keep the full export of that conversation alongside them, so anyone can check the surrounding messages. Whatever you print, mark which pages are which and keep the original messages on your phone.
Questions to ask before you pay for any tool
- Does it read my phone? iPhone, Android and WhatsApp exports all look different. Check the tool names yours.
- What does it cost over time? A one-time price and a yearly subscription add up differently if your case runs long.
- Can I try it on my own messages? Run a free trial or preview on one short conversation and look at every page.
- Does every message show a sender, date and time? Check the printout, not just the screen.
- Where do my texts go? Some tools work only on your computer or in your browser; others upload. Read the privacy page.
What any court text printout needs
Whichever tool you use, judge it by what the printed page shows:
- Who: each sender's name or number on every message.
- When: a date and time on every message, not just at the top.
- Both sides, in order, with nothing cropped or left out of the stretch you print.
- Page numbers, so anyone can find "page 14" quickly.
- The originals kept. Leave the messages on your phone and keep a backup.
No tool can promise a court will accept its export. Whether it does depends on your court's rules and how the evidence is presented. The clerk's office, a self-help center or a licensed attorney where you live can tell you what yours expects. Our guide to printing text messages for court goes step by step.
Keep your export private and safe
- Know where your texts go. Check whether a tool uploads your messages or works only on your device, and read its privacy page.
- Keep two copies of every export, and note the date range each file covers.
- Don't edit the export. If you need to leave something out, ask a licensed attorney or the clerk how your court handles that, rather than deleting messages.
- Only export your own messages. Don't access someone else's phone or account to get theirs.
A one-parent option for Android, WhatsApp and iMazing exports
Custody Commander takes an export you already have, from an Android phone, WhatsApp, or an iMazing .csv of your iPhone texts, and turns it into a chronological, numbered PDF log (MSG-00001 onward) with an index page. It runs in a web browser, and your co-parent never joins or gets notified.
- Free preview first. The free text message log preview shows your texts numbered in your browser. Your texts never leave your device.
- One log for $39, no subscription, when you need the full PDF.
- Or the Full Suite, which keeps the log with your evidence, timeline and hearing prep, free for 7 days (card required).
It's self-help software: it organizes the messages you provide. It doesn't decide what to file or how a court will see them.
Pick iMazing if your texts are on an iPhone, you have a computer, and you want attachments or a full backup. Pick a phone export plus a numbered log if your texts are on Android or in WhatsApp. If you already have an iMazing .csv, you can use both.
Try the free text log previewFree plan, no card · Full Suite free for 7 days
