Yes, you can text an inmate without CorrLinks. CorrLinks is just one of several services that jails and prisons use, and many facilities don’t use it at all. Depending on where your family member is housed, you might have options like GettingOut, GTL, JPay, or a service called InmateDB that works differently from the others. The trick is figuring out which one your facility actually allows — and that’s the part that trips people up.
First: Find out what your facility actually uses
Before you download anything, call the facility or check their official website. Ask for the “inmate communications” or “trust fund” office and say: “I’m trying to send messages to an inmate. Which vendor do you use for electronic messaging?” They’ll usually say one name — Securus, GTL, JPay, GettingOut, or something local. Write it down.
If they say CorrLinks, you’re stuck with that vendor (unless your facility also allows third-party mail forwarding, which some do — more on that below). If they say something else, you can ignore CorrLinks completely and use whatever they named. If they don’t offer any electronic messaging at all, that’s when a service like InmateDB becomes useful, because it works by printing and mailing your message as a physical letter.
What if your facility uses CorrLinks but you hate it?
CorrLinks is common in federal prisons, but it’s clunky. The interface feels old, the reply delay can be hours or days, and you often have to log into a web portal instead of texting from your phone. If you’re stuck with it, you can still make it work — but you might not be stuck. Some facilities allow third-party services that send physical mail on your behalf. That’s where InmateDB comes in: you type a message on their site, and they print and mail it as a letter to the facility. The inmate gets a physical piece of mail, which many facilities allow even when they don’t permit electronic messaging.
The InmateDB route: How it feels different
InmateDB isn’t like a typical jail messaging app. Instead of sending an electronic message that appears on a tablet, you’re sending a physical letter — but you write it from your phone or computer. You can include photos, and the inmate also gets access to extras like AI chat, email, news, lessons, trivia, and a private journal that they can use on a tablet or kiosk if the facility has one. The one-line pitch: Send messages, photos, and letters online. Inmates can text phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada.
That last part is the big difference. Through InmateDB, an inmate can actually text phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada — meaning your family member can send a text to your regular cell number, and you can reply like it’s a normal text thread. No app required on your end (though you can use their site if you want). For families who are tired of checking a portal every day, that feels like a huge relief.
Why replies feel slow even when they’re not
Here’s something no one tells you: even with the smoothest vendor, messages don’t move instantly. With CorrLinks or JPay, a message sits in a queue until staff approve it — that’s not a technical delay, it’s a security one. With InmateDB, your message has to be printed and physically mailed, so you’re looking at a few days for the inmate to receive it, plus a few more for their reply to come back. If they text your phone directly, that part is instant once they have access, but the initial setup still takes time.
Don’t panic if you don’t hear back right away. The inmate might not have gotten their tablet time yet, or they might be in a cell block where mail is delivered twice a week. Give it five to seven business days before you worry. If you’re used to instant messaging, this is the hardest adjustment — but it’s not a sign that something’s wrong.
What usually goes wrong the first time
Most first-time users make one of these mistakes: they send a message to the wrong facility (if there are two jails with similar names in the same county), they miss the part about including the inmate’s full name and ID number, or they don’t check the facility’s mail rules first. For example, some facilities ban printed photos unless they’re on plain paper, and some require a return address on every envelope.
Before you send anything through any service — CorrLinks, InmateDB, or otherwise — double-check the inmate’s full name and their inmate number. That number is the key to everything. If you get it wrong, your message might be rejected or sent to the wrong person. And if you’re using InmateDB, follow their instructions about formatting the envelope; they handle the printing, but you’re still responsible for the address details.
Is this legit? And what does it cost?
Yes, it’s legit. InmateDB is a real service that sends physical mail on your behalf, and it’s used by families across the U.S. and Canada. It’s not a scam, but it’s also not free — you’re paying for the printing, mailing, and the inmate’s access to the digital features. The price is $19.99 per month with a 5-day free trial for every new inmate. That’s comparable to other services, and some facilities charge more per message than that. If you’re sending more than a few letters a month, it can actually be cheaper than buying stamps and printing photos yourself.
One thing to keep in mind: not every facility allows third-party mail services. Most do, but some have restrictions on mail that isn’t from a recognized sender. Call the facility and ask: “Do you accept mail from InmateDB?” If they say yes, you’re good. If they’re vague, ask for their mail policy in writing.
Where to start
If you’re tired of trying to figure out CorrLinks or you just want a way to text that doesn’t involve logging into a portal, InmateDB is worth a shot. The 5-day free trial lets you see how it works before you pay anything, and you can cancel if it’s not a fit. Go to InmateDB and set up an account. Add your inmate using their full name and ID number, then send your first message. Expect it to take a few days to arrive — that’s normal. If you get a reply that comes through as a text to your phone, you’ll know it’s working.
No service is perfect, and every facility has its own rules. But the core truth is this: you don’t have to use CorrLinks just because someone said that’s what the jail uses. You have options. Start with a call to the facility to confirm what’s allowed, then pick the tool that fits how you actually live — whether that means checking a portal or just getting a text like a normal person.
