JPay vs Securus: Your Facility Picks, Not You

You do not choose between JPay and Securus. The prison or jail does. Whichever system the facility has contracted with is the one your loved one can use, and the other one will not work no matter how many accounts you open. So the real first step is not comparing features. It is finding out which system your facility runs, then learning that system’s rules before you put money on an account.

This guide walks through how to check, what each company generally covers, where families get stuck the first time, and what to do if your loved one is in federal prison instead of state or county.

Start with the facility, not the app store

JPay and Securus are both large corrections technology companies, and many facilities use one or the other for messaging, money transfers, phone calls, or some combination. Some facilities use one for money and another for messages. That is why two families with loved ones in the same state can have completely different experiences.

To find out what applies to you:

1. Check the facility’s own website or inmate handbook first. It usually names the vendor for messaging and money.
2. Ask your loved one what they were told at intake. They often know which tablet or kiosk they use.
3. Call the facility’s main line and ask which messaging system inmates use. Keep the question simple.
4. Only after you have a name should you create an account or add funds.

If you create a JPay account and your facility runs Securus, nothing will connect. The money or credit may sit there unused, and getting it back can take effort. Confirm the vendor before you pay anything.

What JPay generally does, and where families trip

JPay is widely used for sending money, buying stamps and media, and messaging at facilities that contract with it. The exact features, message limits, and prices depend on the facility, so treat any number you see online as a starting point and confirm it in your account or with the facility.

The common first-time problems are predictable. Families sign up with a nickname instead of the legal name on the inmate’s record, and the contact request stalls. Or they buy a stamp pack before realizing the facility charges per message differently. Or they assume a message reaches a phone when it actually lands in a system the inmate checks on a device or kiosk when they get access.

Our JPay review on checking your state before you pay covers what to verify in your specific state, because JPay rules are set facility by facility.

What Securus generally does, and where families trip

Securus is best known for phone service and also offers messaging and other communication tools at facilities that use it. As with JPay, the features and prices you see depend on the contract your facility signed, not on a national rate card.

The usual snags involve account setup and approval. You may need to verify your identity, and the inmate may need to approve you before messages go through. Families also get confused about which product they bought: a phone account and a messaging account can be separate balances. If a message seems to vanish, check whether you funded the right one.

For a closer look at the messaging side specifically, see what to expect from Securus eMessaging before you pay.

How JPay and Securus actually compare for families

Honestly? For most families the comparison is not JPay versus Securus. It is your facility’s system versus your patience. Both companies operate under facility contracts, so the same brand can feel different from one county to the next. Prices vary by facility, and so do message length limits, photo rules, and how quickly staff review messages.

What you can compare is your own situation:

• Which system does my facility actually use? This settles most of the question.
• What does a message cost, all in? Look at per-message fees and any account or processing charges in your account, not a blog’s estimate.
• How does my loved one access messages? Tablet, kiosk, or terminal, and when they can get to it.
• What is the approval process? Identity checks and inmate approval add steps before your first message lands.
• Can I get my money back if I choose wrong? Read the refund policy before funding.

Do not trust a comparison table that lists flat prices for either company. Those numbers change by contract, and a wrong price can cost you real money. Confirm in your account or with the facility.

If your loved one is in federal prison, neither one is the whole answer

Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities run their own electronic messaging system. Inmates send messages from TRULINCS terminals inside the facility, and CorrLinks is the outside side families use to read and reply. JPay and Securus may handle other services at some federal locations, but the messaging path is different, and BOP policy details should come from bop.gov or the facility, not from a blog.

One option for federal families is InmateDB. The inmate texts any U.S. or Canada phone number, and the family replies from their normal texting app. Setup is simple: you find your loved one by name or BOP register number and start the trial or a plan, then the inmate adds one InmateDB contact in TRULINCS. After that, they put a phone number in the subject line and the message in the body. Families do not need an app, though the website, the InmateDB app, and Telegram all work if you prefer them.

Plans start at $9.99/month for texting, $14.99/month for texting plus AI chat and info apps, and $19.99/month for full access with a personal number, email, and more apps. New accounts get a 3-day free trial. How fast a reply is seen depends on when the inmate can get to a TRULINCS terminal, and facility staff can monitor messages. InmateDB works with BOP facilities that use CorrLinks, about 93% of federal facilities, and does not work in state prisons or county jails. Best Inmate Texting App is made by the team behind InmateDB, so weigh that as you compare.

If you are on a phone, these guides break down what works by facility type: inmate texting on iPhone by facility type and Android inmate texting by facility.

Quick answers

Can I use JPay if my facility uses Securus?

No. The facility’s contract decides which system the inmate can access, and the other company’s messages will not reach them. Confirm the vendor with the facility before you open an account or add funds.

Why can’t I find prices for either one online?

Because messaging and phone prices are set by each facility’s contract, not by a single national rate. Check the fees shown inside your own account or ask the facility directly. Any flat price you see in an article may not apply to your location.

What if my loved one is in a federal prison?

Federal messaging runs through TRULINCS and CorrLinks, so JPay versus Securus is not the main question. Check bop.gov for BOP policy, and if you want to text from your regular phone, you can Find your loved one on InmateDB by name or register number to see if their facility is covered.