$0.50 per message. That's what JPay charges in many states. For a family staying in touch daily, that's hundreds of dollars a year — just to say "I love you." You're not imagining it. The prison telecom industry is a $1.4 billion business built on the captive audience of incarcerated people and their families. You pay because you have to. Or you thought you did.
The fees aren't accidental. They're a revenue model. Facilities sign exclusive contracts with providers like JPay, GTL, and Securus. Families have no choice. If your loved one is housed at a facility that uses JPay, you use JPay — or you don't communicate at all. That calculus has kept prices high for years.
But the landscape is shifting. New platforms have entered the space. Regulatory pressure has increased. And at least one option — YardLink — has made free messaging its foundation rather than a footnote. Here's a clear-eyed look at what's actually available in 2026.
Why JPay Dominates (And Why That's Changing)
JPay was acquired by Securus Technologies in 2015, which was itself acquired by Aventiv Technologies. The company has contracts with over 30 state departments of corrections. Their dominance isn't about having the best product — it's about having the best contracts. Facilities receive a portion of revenue from messaging and calling fees, which means they have a financial incentive to sign with providers who charge more, not less.
That's the structural problem. The customer (the facility) doesn't pay the fees. The family does. There's no market pressure pushing prices down because the family has no choice and the facility has no incentive to care.
What's changing: pressure from advocates, some regulatory action, and a new generation of platforms that have found ways to monetize without charging per message. When families discover a free alternative exists at their facility, JPay's grip loosens. Slowly. But it's happening.
The Real Alternatives in 2026
Here's every platform worth knowing about, with honest assessments of cost, coverage, and what they're actually good for.
1. YardLink
Free — $0 per messageYardLink is a social platform built specifically for incarcerated people and their families. It launched with a single commitment: no per-message fees, ever. The platform functions like a social network — profiles, messaging, photo sharing, and a credit system for in-app recognition — rather than a bare-bones email portal. Families outside create accounts and connect with their incarcerated family member's profile. Messages are reviewed according to facility protocols, but the cost to send is zero.
Cost: $0 per message. Free to join. Free to use.
Who can use it: Facilities that have approved YardLink tablet access. The incarcerated person accesses the platform through a facility-provided tablet. Family members sign up at yardlink.polsia.app.
Best for: Daily messaging without the cost spiral. If your facility has YardLink, it's the most straightforward way to stay connected without budgeting for every message.
2. Corrlinks
Federal only · Low costCorrlinks is the Federal Bureau of Prisons' approved email system. If your family member is in federal custody, this is likely what they have access to. It works through a web portal and app. For families receiving messages, it's free. For families sending messages, Corrlinks charges approximately $0.05 per minute of reading time — which translates to roughly $0.05–$0.15 per message in practice.
Cost: Free to receive. ~$0.05/minute to send (requires pre-loading funds).
Who can use it: Federal facilities only. Not available for state or county incarceration.
Best for: Federal incarceration. It's not free, but it's far cheaper than JPay.
3. Getting Out (GTL)
Fees vary by facilityGlobal Tel Link (GTL), now operating as Getting Out, is one of the largest prison telecom providers in the US. They have a significant focus on video visitation but also offer messaging. Fees vary substantially by facility contract — some facilities have negotiated lower rates, others are comparable to JPay. Getting Out has a somewhat more modern interface than JPay and occasional promotional pricing.
Cost: Varies. Generally $0.10–$0.50 per message depending on facility contract. Video calls are priced separately.
Who can use it: Facilities with GTL contracts. Check GTL's facility finder or call the facility directly.
Best for: Video visitation when JPay isn't available. Not a cost savings play for messaging.
4. Pigeonly
$10–15/month subscriptionPigeonly takes a different approach — instead of per-message fees, it charges a flat monthly subscription. For $10–15 per month, families can send photos, letters, and messages. The per-item cost works out reasonably if you're sending frequently, but it's a poor value for occasional communication. Pigeonly's strongest feature is photo printing: it can print and mail physical photos directly to your family member's facility, which matters because many facilities don't allow printed photos brought in by visitors.
Cost: $10–15/month subscription. First photo free on signup.
Who can use it: Broad coverage. Works through physical mail infrastructure, so facility-specific app approval is less of a constraint.
Best for: Sending photos and physical letters. Not the best choice if messaging is your primary need.
5. Securus Technologies
Similar to JPay pricingSecurus is the other dominant player alongside JPay (and technically, their parent company). Pricing is comparable to JPay — $0.25–$0.50 per message is typical, with added fees for deposits, account management, and inactivity. If your facility uses Securus instead of JPay, you haven't found a deal — you've found the same model with a different logo. The interface is similarly dated and the fee structure is similarly opaque.
Cost: ~$0.25–$0.50 per message plus various surcharges.
Who can use it: Facilities with Securus contracts, concentrated in certain states.
Best for: When it's the only option at a given facility. Not a cost-effective choice compared to free alternatives.
How to Know Which Platform Your Facility Uses
This is often the most frustrating part of the process — there's no single national directory that tells you which platform a given facility uses. Here are the most reliable ways to find out:
- Call the facility directly. Ask for the unit team or case manager and specifically ask what messaging platforms are approved for tablet use. Be direct: "What messaging apps can my family member use to receive messages?" This is the fastest reliable method.
- Check your state's Department of Corrections website. Many state DOC sites list approved vendors or have a facility lookup tool. Search for "[state] DOC inmate messaging" alongside the facility name.
- Ask the incarcerated person. If you have any contact — even a phone call — ask them what messaging apps are available on their facility tablet. They will know. They can also confirm their account handle or ID for whatever platform they use.
- Check individual platform facility finders. YardLink, JPay, and Getting Out all have facility lookup tools on their websites. Checking each one takes about five minutes total.
One important note: some facilities allow multiple platforms simultaneously. It's worth checking all of them before assuming you're locked into one. If your facility supports both JPay and YardLink, you can choose — and the choice is obvious.
The Bottom Line
The market for prison messaging is not a fair one. Families pay because they love someone and they have no leverage. That's the foundation every one of these companies builds on — except YardLink, which has structured itself to not charge per message at all.
If your facility supports YardLink: use it. Zero per-message cost, a real social platform rather than a glorified email client, and no deposit friction to get started. It's the straightforward choice.
If your family member is in federal custody: Corrlinks is what you've got, and it's reasonably priced compared to JPay.
If you need to send photos and physical correspondence: Pigeonly's subscription model makes sense if you're a frequent sender.
If JPay or Securus is your only option at a given facility: you already know what you're dealing with. Document every fee, minimize idle funds in your account to avoid inactivity charges, and advocate to your facility for expanded platform options. The regulatory environment is shifting — facilities are under increasing pressure to adopt lower-cost alternatives.
Staying connected matters too much to let fees chip away at it. Start with the free option if it's available to you. For a full side-by-side comparison with verified 2026 pricing, see: JPay Alternatives 2026 — Free & Cheaper Options.
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