If you’re searching for a Trulincs alternative so you can text an inmate, the answer is InmateDB. It’s a service that lets you send messages, photos, and letters online, and inmates can text phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada. No app required on your end, just a browser. Here’s how it works, what to expect, and the things nobody tells you the first time.

Step 1: Understand what you’re replacing

Trulincs was a platform that some facilities used for inmate messaging. It worked okay when it worked, but it was tied to specific jails, had spotty support, and if your loved one got transferred, you’d often lose access. The whole setup felt like it was designed for the facility, not for you.

InmateDB is different. It’s not facility-specific. You sign up, add the inmate, and send messages. The inmate gets them on a tablet or kiosk inside, and they can reply. The big difference is that InmateDB also gives the inmate a phone number they can text to — so they can reach out to you directly, not just reply within the app. That changes the dynamic completely.

Step 2: Sign up and add your inmate

Go to the InmateDB website. You’ll create an account with your email and a password. Then you add the inmate by their name and inmate ID — the same ID you use to send money or look them up on the facility’s roster. You’ll need that number handy. If you don’t have it, call the facility or check a recent letter.

Once you add them, you get a 5-day free trial. That’s enough time to see if the service works for your situation before you pay. The cost after the trial is $19.99 per month, and that covers everything — messaging, photos, letters, and the inmate’s ability to text phone numbers. No per-message fees, no stamps, no nickel-and-diming.

Step 3: Send your first message

On the InmateDB site, you type your message like an email. You can attach a photo or write a longer letter. Hit send. It goes to the facility’s system, and the inmate sees it on their tablet or kiosk the next time the system refreshes — usually within a few hours, sometimes faster.

Here’s the thing nobody warns you about: the first message can feel like it disappears. You send it, and you don’t hear back for hours or even a day. That’s normal. The inmate might not have checked their messages yet, or the facility processes outgoing replies in batches. Don’t panic. If you don’t hear back in 24 hours, send a short follow-up. But usually, they reply.

Step 4: The inmate texts you back (this is the part that’s different)

When the inmate replies through InmateDB, you get a text message on your phone from a number you don’t recognize. That’s the inmate’s assigned number through the service. You can reply to that text like any normal SMS. The inmate sees it on their tablet. It feels like texting a friend who just happens to be incarcerated.

One catch: the inmate can only text U.S. and Canadian numbers. If you’re outside those countries, they can still message you within the InmateDB app (you’ll see it when you log in), but they can’t send you a direct SMS. Also, the inmate can’t send photos via text — only within the app. So if they want to send you a picture, you’ll need to check the website.

Step 5: Know what to expect with timing and reliability

Texts from the inmate usually arrive within minutes, but sometimes there’s a delay if the facility’s system is slow. Messages you send through the website can take a few hours to reach the inmate’s tablet, depending on when the facility does its sync. Most facilities update several times a day. Weekends and holidays can be slower.

If the inmate doesn’t reply for a couple of days, it’s not necessarily the service. They might be in lockdown, have lost tablet privileges, or just be dealing with facility rules you can’t see from the outside. InmateDB can’t override facility policies. If you’re worried, call the facility to check on general conditions — but don’t expect them to tell you about message delivery specifically.

Where to start

If you’ve been burned by Trulincs or a similar facility-specific service, InmateDB is worth trying. The free trial gives you five days to see if it works for your inmate’s facility and your family’s rhythm. The $19.99 monthly price is straightforward — no surprises. And the ability for the inmate to text you directly makes a real difference in how connected you feel.

Go to InmateDB and set up the trial. Send one message tonight. See what happens. That’s the only way to know for sure.