Color Text Messages for iMessage is a paid utility app for iOS that provides text styling and background customization for iMessage users.
Product velocity
Dormant
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#199
▼81Social Networking · free
Sentiment
1.0
4 reviews
Nemesis
Sticker.ly - Sticker Maker
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Users hire this app to differentiate their personal messages visually, though the current ad-heavy experience undermines the value of the paid entry.
For iMessage users seeking visual customization and text styling options for their personal communications.
What does it look like?
Key features
Selection of pre-designed backgrounds for iMessage text bubbles. Revenue Link: Paid-tier gate ($0.99) — direct purchase required to access customization tools.
Formatting options including shadow, bold, italic, and underline styles. Revenue Link: Paid-tier gate ($0.99) — value proposition for users seeking visual differentiation.
Pre-designed message templates for quick composition. Revenue Link: Paid-tier gate ($0.99) — reduces friction for users to create stylized content.
How much does it cost?
Paid model anchored at $0.99, gating all customization features behind a single upfront transaction.
Velocity
Dormant developmentopaqueShow more...
The app exhibits a zombie development status with no meaningful release activity in the last 12 months. The latest release on Android occurred in April 2026, while the iOS version has not seen an update since 2014. There is no evidence of active maintenance, feature development, or live operations support for this application.
Who built it?
Jan-Niklas FREUNDT
13+ apps tracked · Social Networking
Analytics - Website stats
IQ - Brain Training
Puzzeln: Traumhafte Puzzles
Cofrinho
Quick Actions for Threema - A shortcut to Threema right from your Homescreen!
Colour by Number Pro
Ziffernblock - Tastatur und Taschenrechner
Brain Challenge - Train memory
PokéCatcher - Cheat for Pokémon GO
Analytics for Google Analytics
Clean Up: Photo Gallery Doctor
Web for Apple TV - Web BrowserUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads excited. Users appreciate core messaging functionality provides a fast and convenient communication experience for daily users, but report aggressive advertising placement disrupts the reading and replying experience for active users.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Core messaging functionality provides a fast and convenient communication experience for daily users
- Aggressive advertising placement disrupts the reading and replying experience for active users
51 of 51 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Excited overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 more frustration theme, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Color Text Messages for iMessage
How's the Social Networking market?
The app maintains a presence in the Paid category across multiple regions (e.g., #98 US, #62 AU), though rankings show a consistent downward trend in several key markets. This performance suggests that the $0.99 entry barrier is increasingly difficult to justify against free, feature-rich alternatives.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By NAVER Z Corporation
Dominates the visual messaging space with a massive user base and high-frequency release cadence.
- Provides an automated AI-powered background removal tool for custom sticker creation within the app
- Integrates directly with major messaging platforms to export sticker packs with a single tap
- Maintains a social discovery feed where users share and download community-created sticker packs
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Color Text Messages for iMessage
Where is it heading?
The visual messaging market is consolidating around free, high-frequency content platforms, leaving this app's paid-entry model increasingly exposed. Without a shift to a freemium model and a modern feature set, the app will continue to lose chart position to competitors that offer better utility at zero cost.
- Intrusive ad placement blocks message content, which leads to immediate user churn and negative rating trends.
- The lack of feature updates since 2014 leaves the app unable to compete with modern, free alternatives.
The SWOT
- Core messaging speed provides a functional baseline for daily users
- Transition to a freemium model to remove ad-friction
- Integrate modern AI-powered sticker creation tools
Next best moves
Audit ad placement logic because user reports indicate ads block core messaging functionality → reduce churn
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's #98 US Paid rank is a liability, not an asset…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
AI-powered background removal (available in Sticker.ly but missing here) +1
Bottom line
The app retains a functional core but suffers from a legacy monetization model that alienates users, so the PM should prioritize removing ad-friction to stabilize the user base before attempting any feature expansion.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Color Text Messages for iMessage free to use?
Does the app have intrusive advertisements?
How does this compare to Sticker.ly?
Are there free alternatives to this app?
Sources
Report last updated