If you’ve been searching for “inmatedb.com/">texting an inmate pricing,” here’s the short answer: with InmateDB, it’s $19.99 per month, and every new inmate gets a 5-day free trial. That flat rate covers unlimited messages, photos, and letters you send online, and it lets the inmate text real phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada. No per-message fees, no surprise charges. But before you pull out your card, let’s walk through what that actually looks like, because the first time is always a little confusing.
How does the $19.99 monthly price actually work?
You’re not paying per text. You’re paying for a subscription that covers the inmate’s whole account. Once you sign up and add your incarcerated loved one, they get access to a messaging system that works like a cross between email and texting. You type on your phone or computer, hit send, and it lands in their inbox. They read it and reply. Simple.
The flat fee means you can send as many messages as you want during the month. No counting characters, no “overage” charges. If you’re the type who sends a good-morning note and a good-night note every day, that’s fine. If you send one long letter a week, that’s fine too. Same price.
One thing to keep in mind: the subscription is tied to the inmate, not to you. So if you have two people inside, you’d need two plans. But if you’re the only one writing, you can share the login with other family members. Some families split the cost.
What does the free trial cover?
Five days, full access, no charge. That’s enough time to send a few messages, see how the system feels, and confirm the inmate is actually receiving what you send. If it doesn’t work for you, cancel before the trial ends and you won’t be billed.
Here’s the practical part: sign up, add the inmate, and send your first message right away. Don’t wait until day four. You want to see the reply flow before you commit. Some facilities have a delay in processing messages, so give it a full day before you assume something’s wrong.
Why replies feel slow even when they’re not
The first time you text an inmate, you might expect a response in five minutes. That’s not how this works. The inmate doesn’t have a phone in their pocket. They check messages when they have time, often on a shared tablet or kiosk in the housing unit.
So a reply might come in an hour, or it might come the next day. That’s normal. It’s not a sign that they didn’t get your message. If you’ve ever used email, you know the feeling of checking it twice a day. It’s like that, but with more rules and less privacy.
Also, the inmate has to send the first text to a phone number to start a conversation with someone outside. That’s a feature, not a bug. It keeps the system from being used to spam strangers. So if you want them to text your mom, you’ll need to tell them her number and ask them to send the first message.
What usually goes wrong the first time
Most problems aren’t with the software. They’re with the facility’s rules. Some jails and prisons have restrictions on which electronic messaging systems they allow. InmateDB works in most U.S. and Canadian facilities, but you should double-check that your specific one is on the list. The site has a lookup tool for that.
Another common hiccup: you enter the inmate’s ID number wrong. Double-check it. A typo means your message goes to the wrong person or gets rejected. Same with the facility name. Use the official name, not the nickname locals use.
And if the inmate doesn’t reply for a few days, don’t panic. They might be in a restricted unit, or they might just be adjusting to the system. Send a short follow-up: “Just checking you got my message.” That usually works.
Is this legit? And is it worth it?
Yes, InmateDB is a legitimate service. It’s not a scam, and it’s not affiliated with any prison. It’s a third-party platform that facilities approve for digital communication. The inmate gets a secure inbox, and you get a way to stay in touch that’s faster and cheaper than stamps.
Is it worth $19.99 a month? That depends on how much you’d spend on stamps, phone calls, and visiting trips otherwise. If you’re writing letters every week, you’re already paying for paper, envelopes, and postage. This replaces all of that, and it’s faster.
Plus, the inmate gets extras: AI chat, email, news, lessons, trivia, and a private journal. Some of that sounds gimmicky, but the journal is genuinely useful for someone who needs a private outlet. And the news feed helps them stay connected to the outside world.
One honest warning: don’t expect this to replace phone calls. It’s a text-based system. If hearing their voice is crucial, you’ll still want to schedule phone calls through the facility’s official system. But for daily connection, this is the closest thing to a normal texting relationship you can get.
Where to start
Go to InmateDB and sign up. Add your inmate, start the 5-day free trial, and send your first message. Keep it simple: introduce the system, tell them you love them, and ask them to write back when they can. Then give it a day.
If it works, you’ll know within the trial period. If it doesn’t, cancel and you’ve lost nothing but a few minutes. That’s the whole pitch. No hidden fees, no per-text charges, just one flat price for a line of connection that didn’t exist a generation ago.