Chat & SMS to PDF: PlainThread

tedmosby

About this app

PlainThread turns a chat export or a text-message backup into a tidy, printable PDF: every message with its sender, date and time, day headings, and page numbers. Made for the times a conversation has to be read by someone else: a landlord dispute, an HR complaint, small claims, family matters or simply keeping a record.

HOW IT WORKS
Chat app conversations:
1. In WhatsApp, open the chat and tap ⋮ › More › Export chat.
2. Share the file to PlainThread, or open the saved .txt or .zip from the app.
3. Check what was read, pick the dates you need, and tap Create PDF.

Text messages (SMS and MMS):
1. Back up your texts with an SMS backup app that saves an .xml file (for example SMS Backup & Restore).
2. Open the .xml in PlainThread, or share it to PlainThread.
3. Pick the conversation, check it, and tap Create PDF. Both sides of the conversation, with exact times, and photos listed where they were sent.
PlainThread never asks for permission to read your messages: it only reads the file you give it.

SEE WHAT'S IN THE FILE BEFORE YOU PRINT
• Participants with their message counts, and the first and last dates
• A completeness check that tells you plainly about:
– a chat where only one person's messages were found
– attachments that are named but weren't shared
– media and deleted messages that the export left out
– long gaps between messages, and exports that may have hit the size limit
– any line that isn't part of a message (nothing is dropped silently)
• If the dates could be day/month or month/day, you confirm which before anything is printed
• For SMS backups: unsent drafts are counted, and you're reminded that chat-feature (RCS) messages are often missing from SMS backups

A CLEAN, READABLE PDF
• Sender, date and time on every message, with page numbers ("Page 3 of 12")
• The whole chat or a date range: "All" really means all
• A4 or Letter
• Right-to-left scripts, accents and emoji
• Attachments listed by file name at the time they were sent
• Share, print or save anywhere you like

PRIVATE BY DESIGN
PlainThread has no internet permission, so your chats can't leave your phone unless you share the PDF yourself. There are no ads, no analytics and no account. Working copies are deleted when you close the chat.

EVERYTHING INCLUDED
Every feature is included, with no message limit: exhibit or case labels on every page, and an export record page with the source file names, SHA-256 fingerprints, counts, date settings, time zone and app version. No subscription, no in-app purchases, no watermark.

PLEASE NOTE
• PlainThread is a formatting tool, not legal advice. Whether a printout is accepted depends on your court or agency. Keep your original messages and files.
• The PDF can only contain what is in the file you give it. Deleted messages, media left out of an export, and chat-feature (RCS) messages missing from an SMS backup can't be added, and PlainThread can't verify that a file hasn't been edited.
• For your own conversations only.
• Works with chats exported from WhatsApp and with SMS backup files. PlainThread is not affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsApp, Meta or any SMS backup app.

What’s new

PlainThread is now completely free, with every feature included:
• Exhibit or case label on every page
• Export record page with SHA-256 fingerprints of the source files
• No footer branding, no in-app purchases