You want to send a text to someone in prison, and you want them to be able to text you back. The only inmate text website that does that right now is InmateDB. Here’s exactly how it works, what it costs, and what to expect the first time you use it.
Step 1: Create an account on InmateDB
Go to the InmateDB website and sign up. You’ll need your email and a password. That’s it. You don’t have to enter the inmate’s information yet. The site will ask you to confirm your email. Do that first or nothing else will work.
Once you’re logged in, the dashboard shows a big button that says “Add an Inmate.” Click that. You’ll fill in the inmate’s name, facility, and inmate ID number. If you don’t know the ID number, you can usually find it on the facility’s inmate locator page. InmateDB also has a search tool that can sometimes find the inmate for you, but entering the ID is faster.
Step 2: Pick a plan and start the free trial
Every new inmate you add comes with a 5-day free trial. That means you can test everything before you pay. The plan costs $19.99 per month after the trial ends. That covers unlimited messages, photos, and letters for that one inmate. If you have multiple people inside, you pay for each one separately.
During the trial, you can send as many messages as you want. The inmate will get them on a tablet or kiosk inside the facility. But here’s the key: they can also reply by texting any phone number in the U.S. or Canada. That’s what makes this different from other services. Most inmate messaging apps only let the inmate send replies back into the app. With InmateDB, your phone rings with a real text from them.
Step 3: Send your first message
After you add the inmate and start the trial, you’ll see a chat window. Type your message like you would in any texting app. You can also attach a photo. The site will tell you if the photo needs to be smaller or if it’s the wrong format. Usually, a standard phone photo works fine.
Hit send. The message shows as “pending” for a few seconds, then “delivered.” That means it’s on the facility’s server, waiting for the inmate to open their tablet. Inmates don’t have phones on them 24/7. They get access during certain hours, usually after meals or in the evening. Your message might sit for a few hours before they see it. That’s normal.
Step 4: The inmate replies by text
When the inmate writes back, the reply comes as a standard SMS text message to your phone. It will show the inmate’s name as the sender, or sometimes a random number from the system. Save that number in your contacts so you know it’s them.
Your reply to that text goes back into the InmateDB system and appears in the chat window on the website. So the conversation moves between text and web seamlessly. You don’t need to keep the website open. You can be at work, in the car, anywhere you get texts, and you’ll hear from them.
Step 5: Understand the limits
Facilities have rules about what inmates can receive. No explicit photos, no weapons, no gang signs. InmateDB’s system scans messages and photos for violations. If something gets flagged, it won’t go through, and you’ll get a notice. You can resend it without the problem content.
Also, inmates can only send texts to numbers in the U.S. and Canada. If you’re outside those countries, you won’t get their replies. The inmate can still receive your messages, but they can’t text you back. That’s a hard limit set by the phone networks the system uses.
Another thing: the inmate’s outgoing texts are limited in length, usually around 160 characters. If they write more, it will be split into multiple texts. You’ll get them in order, but they might arrive a few seconds apart. Don’t panic if you get three texts in a row from them — it’s just a long message cut up.
Step 6: What happens if they don’t reply
Maybe you send a message and hear nothing for days. That happens. The inmate might be in lockdown, have lost tablet privileges, or simply not have enough money to send texts. InmateDB doesn’t charge the inmate to send texts back to you — the $19.99 covers both directions — but some facilities charge the inmate a small fee per outgoing message. If their account is empty, they can’t reply. You can usually add funds to their communication account through the facility’s official system, but InmateDB can’t do that for you.
If you’re worried, send a second message asking if they got the first one. Keep it light. “Just checking in — let me know if you’re getting these.” That usually clears it up.
Where to start
If you want a real two-way text conversation with someone inside, InmateDB is the only option that works this way. The 5-day free trial gives you enough time to see if the facility allows it and if the inmate engages. No other inmate text website lets them text your actual phone number. Set up the account, add the inmate, and send your first message today. The reply might come while you’re making dinner.
