Exhibitly vs iMazing for court PDFs of text messages

By Kayabyte · Last updated 2 November 2026

Short answer: both read an iPhone backup and export messages to PDF and Excel. iMazing is a full iPhone manager for Mac and Windows with legal-export options such as timestamps, contact details, a device-and-database footer and digitally signed PDFs. Exhibitly is a Mac-only app built for one job, a numbered PDF for a lawyer or court with SHA-256 fingerprints, a verification page, redaction and optional Bates numbers. We make Exhibitly, so check iMazing’s own pages; for many people iMazing is the better fit.

Compared on 2 November 2026 against iMazing’s guide “Export or print iPhone Messages and WhatsApp chats for e-Discovery and legal purposes” (dated 21 October 2026) and our own Exhibitly 1.1.0 documentation. Prices and features change, so check both vendors before you buy.

Side by side

	iMazing	Exhibitly
Built for	Managing, backing up and transferring iPhones, with message export	Court-ready exports of messages and WhatsApp chats
Platforms	Mac and Windows	Mac only, macOS 14 or later
Output	PDF, Excel, CSV and plain text; RSMF for e-discovery needs a Business subscription	PDF, Excel, original attachments, SHA256SUMS.txt, verification page
Timestamps and numbers	Options to show the time on every message and contact details	Date, time and sender with number or email on every message
Integrity features	Optional footer with the iPhone’s name and serial number, export date and the Messages database’s last-modified date; PDFs can be digitally signed	SHA-256 fingerprints of attachments and databases and of every exported file, plus a verification page
Redaction	Not described in its legal guide	Redact text, attachments or a word, saved on your Mac
Bates numbers and exhibit cover page	Not described in its legal guide	Evidence Bundle edition
WhatsApp	Same export steps as Messages	Export files (iPhone and Android) and WhatsApp in an iPhone backup
Price	See iMazing’s store	Personal USD 39, Evidence Bundle USD 69, one time; free preview of 50 messages per export

When iMazing is the better choice

You use Windows.
You already use it to back up or manage iPhones.
You need RSMF for e-discovery, or want a digitally signed PDF.
You want the iPhone and database details in the page footer.

When Exhibitly may fit better

You want redaction, Bates numbers and an exhibit cover page built in.
You want fingerprints of every exported file and a verification page that states the source.
You want a one-time price and a free preview, on a Mac.

Neither decides admissibility or proves messages are genuine; that is for the court. Keep the phone and ask a lawyer. See also Exhibitly vs iMazing, TouchCopy and Decipher TextMessage and a sample export made from invented messages.

Steps with Exhibitly

Back up your iPhone to your Mac in Finder (encrypted works with your password), or use Messages on the Mac.
Choose the conversation, then the whole thread, a date range or key messages with context.
Redact what should not be shared.
Export the PDF, Excel file, attachments and verification page, and check every page.

Download Exhibitly (free preview)

Questions

Is Exhibitly an alternative to iMazing? For exporting messages to a court-ready PDF on a Mac, yes. It does not manage iPhones, transfer apps or run on Windows, which iMazing does.

Does iMazing export WhatsApp? Per its legal-export guide, WhatsApp chats follow the same steps and export options as Messages. Check its current page.

How do the prices compare? Exhibitly is USD 39 or USD 69 one time. iMazing’s pricing has changed over time, so check its store for the current price.

Can either one prove my messages are real? No. A court decides, and may want the phone or a witness. Keep the original phone.