VaultXT vs iMazing and Decipher TextMessage
Last reviewed 1 November 2026
iMazing and Decipher TextMessage pull messages off an iPhone. VaultXT doesn't touch the phone: it builds a court-style pack from a file. So they're often used together. For iMessage, iMazing makes the file and VaultXT reads it.
We make VaultXT; the rest is from their sites on 31 October 2026.
Side by side
| iMazing | Decipher TextMessage | VaultXT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reads the iPhone | Yes, from a Mac or PC | Yes, Mac or Windows | No |
| Output | PDF, Excel/CSV, text | PDF, plus attachments saved to the computer | Dated, numbered pages with timeline |
| Yes | Not stated on the page we fetched | Yes, from the chat export | |
| Free trial | Messages limited to 25 items | Offered; limits not stated | Free to build and preview |
| Price | Not verified | Not shown; one-time purchase per a reviewer quoted on its page | From US$7 |
| Device details in the file | Optional footer with phone name, serial number and export date | Not stated | No |
Sources: iMazing guide, iMazing trial FAQ, Decipher, VaultXT.
Where iMazing and Decipher are stronger
- They read the phone directly, so no go-between file.
- iMazing's optional footer records the device and export date, which VaultXT can't.
- For a plain PDF of a whole thread, either does it in one step.
Where VaultXT is stronger
- You choose the messages and get a timeline and bundle layout, not just the thread.
- Check a pack tests that each quote matches the chat.
- Nothing to install, and your messages are read on your device.
What none of them settle
Format is one thing; admissibility is another. Read are text messages admissible in court?. No tool can promise acceptance. Ask your court or a solicitor.
Questions people ask
Can VaultXT read my iPhone directly?
No. It reads a CSV file. Our iMessage guide uses iMazing's Excel/CSV export to make one.
Does iMazing's free trial export a whole thread?
Its trial FAQ limits Messages to 25 items, so a longer thread needs more than the trial.
General information only, not legal advice. VaultXT is not a law firm. Prices and limits change, so check each site.