Roundup, updated September 2026
Chat story apps for iPhone, compared (2026)
A chat story app lets you write a conversation and turn it into something people watch or read. The six apps below take that idea in different directions: narrated videos, lyric-style typography, a reading platform, or screenshots that look like a particular messaging app. We make Mimicly, one of the six, so we have tried to be specific about where the others do a better job. Ratings and prices are from the US App Store in September 2026.
Updated . Written by the Mimicly team.
Short answer
For classic text message story videos, TextingStory is the most established choice. For narrated stories, ChatTales has AI voice-over built in. For screenshots and short clips that match a specific app (iMessage, WhatsApp, ChatGPT-style chats, TikTok-style comments), Mimicly covers the most formats and also runs on the web. TypeStory suits music-driven typography, and Text Yourself is for reading and publishing rather than exporting video.
Side by side
Best for
- TextingStory
- Classic text story videos
- ChatTales
- Narrated stories
- Mimicly
- App-accurate screenshots and short clips
- TypeStory
- Music and lyric-style typography
- Text Yourself
- Reading and publishing stories
- TalkStory
- Trying a newer app
Makes
- TextingStory
- Texting videos with themes and chapter cards
- ChatTales
- Videos with AI voice-over, group chats, dark mode
- Mimicly
- Images from 80 templates; MP4 from supported chat and AI templates
- TypeStory
- Lyric-video-style scenes with music
- Text Yourself
- Stories published in the app
- TalkStory
- Chat stories; check the listing for export options
Built-in voice-over
- TextingStory
- Not verified
- ChatTales
- Yes, AI voices
- Mimicly
- No
- TypeStory
- Not verified
- Text Yourself
- Not verified
- TalkStory
- Not verified
Pricing (US, as listed)
- TextingStory
- One-time: $6.99 to $59.99
- ChatTales
- Subscriptions $4.99 to $69.99, plus voice gems
- Mimicly
- $4.99/week, $9.99/month, $27.99/year or $49.99 lifetime; a free account exports free templates clean
- TypeStory
- Pro $2.99
- Text Yourself
- Weekly $4.99 to $19.99; yearly $49.99 to $99.99
- TalkStory
- See listing
US rating
- TextingStory
- 4.7 (65,236)
- ChatTales
- 4.4 (6,467)
- Mimicly
- Too few ratings yet
- TypeStory
- 4.45 (2,982)
- Text Yourself
- 4.4 (14,921)
- TalkStory
- 4.8 (208)
Competitor ratings and prices come from each app’s US App Store listing as of September 2026. They change often, so check the listing before you buy. “Not verified” means we could not confirm the feature from the listing.
The apps, one by one
1. Best for classic text message story videos
TextingStory
- US rating:
- 4.7 average from 65,236 ratings
- Price:
- One-time in-app purchases, including watermark removal at $6.99, Pro at $29.99 and Commercial at $59.99.
The longest-running of these six apps, on the App Store since 2016. It is built around one job, turning a text conversation into a video, and adds themes and chapter cards for multi-part stories.
Good at
- Chapter cards for episodic stories
- Large user base: 65,236 ratings, 4.7 average
- One-time purchases, including a Commercial option
- 12 app languages
Trade-offs
- Focused on text message stories rather than other app styles such as comments, posts or email
2. Best for narrated stories with AI voice-over
ChatTales
Listed as “Text Story Maker - ChatTales”
- US rating:
- 4.4 average from 6,467 ratings
- Price:
- Subscriptions listed from $4.99 to $69.99, plus voice gems for voice-over.
Listed as “Text Story Maker - ChatTales”. Its standout feature is AI voice-over: the app can read your story aloud, which saves a separate audio step. It also lists group chats, video export and dark mode.
Good at
- AI voice-over (text to speech)
- Group chats
- Video export and dark mode
Trade-offs
- Subscription pricing, and voice-over uses voice gems
3. Best for screenshots and clips that match a specific app
Mimicly
- US rating:
- New app with too few ratings to summarize yet
- Price:
- A free account exports free templates without the watermark; Pro templates need Pro for that. Pro is $4.99 a week, $9.99 a month, $27.99 a year or $49.99 one time for lifetime access (US prices, shown before purchase).
Our app. Mimicly has 80 templates covering messaging apps, AI-style chats, social posts, comments, stories, email and game chats. You write both sides, edit names, photos and timestamps, then save a PNG or JPG or record supported chats as an MP4. It works on iPhone and in the browser.
Good at
- Most formats of the six: 80 templates
- Still images and video from the same editor
- Web editor plus iPhone app
- $27.99 a year, or $49.99 one time for lifetime, in the US
Trade-offs
- New app with few ratings so far
- No voice-over, background gameplay or chapter cards; add audio and B-roll in a video editor
- Game chats, comments, posts and email export as images only
4. Best for music-driven, lyric-style text videos
TypeStory
- US rating:
- 4.45 average from 2,982 ratings
- Price:
- Pro listed at $2.99.
TypeStory makes lyric-video-style scenes where text moves with music. It is a different look from a chat screen, and useful when rhythm matters more than a realistic message thread.
Good at
- Lyric-video-style animation with music
- Low one-time Pro price ($2.99)
Trade-offs
- Not aimed at scenes that look like a messaging app
5. Best for reading and publishing chat stories
Text Yourself
- US rating:
- 4.4 average from 14,921 ratings
- Price:
- Weekly plans listed from $4.99 to $19.99 and yearly plans from $49.99 to $99.99.
Text Yourself is now positioned as a story reading and publishing platform rather than a video maker. Choose it if you want readers inside an app. It is rated 17+.
Good at
- Built-in audience of readers
- Publishing lives inside the app
Trade-offs
- Not built around exporting a video file
6. Worth a look if you want a newer option
TalkStory
- US rating:
- 4.8 average from 208 ratings
- Price:
- See the App Store listing for current in-app purchases.
TalkStory launched in January 2025 and has a 4.8 average from 208 ratings so far. We could verify fewer feature details than for the others, so read the current listing before deciding.
Good at
- High early rating
Trade-offs
- Small number of ratings so far
- Fewer details we could confirm
Which one to pick
Choose TextingStory if…
- You are making a series of text story videos and want chapter cards.
- You want the most established app in the category.
Choose ChatTales if…
- You want AI narration without a separate audio tool.
Choose Mimicly if…
- The scene must look like iMessage, WhatsApp, a ChatGPT-style chat, a TikTok-style comment or another specific app.
- You need screenshots as well as videos, or want to work in a browser.
Choose TypeStory if…
- You want text that moves to music, lyric-video style.
Choose Text Yourself if…
- You want to read stories or publish to readers inside an app.
What Mimicly is
Mimicly is a mockup editor for iPhone and the web. You write fictional conversations and posts yourself, then save them as images or record supported chats as MP4. It does not send messages, generate AI answers or connect to the apps whose styles it follows, and it is not affiliated with them.
Questions
What is the best chat story app for iPhone?
It depends on the video you want. As of September 2026, TextingStory is the most established choice for text message story videos, ChatTales is the pick for built-in AI voice-over, and Mimicly covers the widest range of app styles for screenshots and short clips. TypeStory suits music-driven typography.
Which chat story app has AI voice-over?
ChatTales lists AI voice-over (text to speech) using voice gems. Mimicly has no voice-over; you add audio in a video editor after export. We could not verify voice-over for the other apps from their listings.
Which app avoids a subscription?
TextingStory lists one-time purchases and TypeStory lists a one-time $2.99 Pro (US prices, September 2026). Mimicly offers a one-time $49.99 lifetime option next to its weekly, monthly and yearly plans. ChatTales and Text Yourself list subscriptions.
How do I make a text story video for TikTok?
Write the script, build it in a chat story app, export the video, then add music, voice and captions in a video editor before posting. Our step-by-step guide covers the Mimicly version on iPhone.
Why does Mimicly show no rating?
Mimicly is new and has too few App Store ratings to summarize fairly. We will not quote a rating until there is a meaningful number of them.
Sources
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