Sunbird

After a three-year hiatus caused by a major privacy scandal, Sunbird Messaging has officially relaunched on the Apk Store. The app promises to deliver a genuine iMessage experience to Android users, complete with those coveted blue bubbles, without requiring any Apple hardware.

What Is Sunbird?

It is a subscription-based messaging app that bridges the gap between Android and iOS. It allows Android users to participate in iMessage group chats as if they were using an iPhone, with full support for reactions, replies, and high-quality video sharing—features that often break when RCS involved.

The app unifies iMessage, Google Messages (RCS), and SMS/MMS into a single inbox, with plans to add WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger support later this year. Join the app ML booster

The Problem Sunbird Solves

Despite Apple adding RCS support in 2024, Android users in iMessage group chats still face issues. Reactions, replies, and group features often fail, and Android messages still appear as green bubbles. A survey found that 38% of Android users had missed or misunderstood messages due to this incompatibility, and nearly a quarter of iPhone users said a green bubble would be a dating dealbreaker.

According to CEO Danny Mizrahi: “The real problem is that an Android user in a group chat still breaks it for everyone: reactions, replies, high quality video, and group management often just do not work. fixes that, so the Android user becomes a full participant, and their iPhone friends get the experience they expect too.”

Key Features of Sunbird

Priority Inbox

The app now features a Primary tab for important chats and a Secondary tab for routine messages like verification codes and unknown numbers. Users can move conversations between tabs at any time.

Enhanced Security

The 2023 shutdown was triggered security researchers discovering that Apple ID credentials were sent over unencrypted connections. Claims the app has completely rebuilt with proper encryption:

• Messages encrypted on the device and again in transit
• AES-256 encryption for stored data
• Apple ID passwords used once and immediately destroyed
• No authentication tokens are stored
• An independent security firm tested the app and found no critical vulnerabilities

AI Features Coming Soon (Q3 2026)

Intelligence will introduce:

• Catch Me Up: A summary of missed conversations
• Built-in Assistant: Can draft replies and move chats between tabs
• All AI processing happens on-device, keeping messages private

How Sunbird Works?

The uses a unique approach to access iMessage. Instead of reverse-engineering Apple’s protocol, the app creates a personal macOS environment for each user. You provide your Apple ID credentials to establish the session, but the password is then immediately destroyed.

The company stores no conversation history, and messages are deleted from servers within 48-72 hours of delivery.

Pricing and Availability

This is currently available only to US customers through the Google Play Store:

• Free Trial: 14 days
• Monthly: $2.99
• Yearly: $24.99 (30% savings)

Roughly 8% of trial users convert to paying subscribers, which is 6-8 times the industry average.

Conclusion

Sunbird’s return marks a significant moment for Android users who have long felt excluded from Apple’s iMessage ecosystem. The app offers a polished solution to a real problem, with improved security and a clear roadmap for future features. The pricing is affordable, and the 14-day free trial gives users a risk-free way to test if it meets their needs.