The Relay vs Google Messages for web: texts and codes on a Mac

For texting from a Mac keyboard, Google Messages for web is the better tool, and it is free. It reads and sends, which The Relay does not. The Relay is better for one narrow job, login codes: an SMS that arrives on the phone shows up on the Mac, and a code in it is copied to the Mac's clipboard so you can paste it. Many people should use Google Messages for web for conversations and add The Relay only if the codes, notifications, and calls around texting are their pain.

Publisher note: The Relay publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Details about other products come from each maker's own pages, checked on 26 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

What does Google Messages for web do?

Google's help page says Google Messages for web "shows what's on your Google Messages mobile app", so you can chat from a computer. It sends SMS through the phone, which means "carrier fees will apply, just like on the mobile app." What you need:

• On the phone: the latest Google Messages, a Wi-Fi or data connection, and Android 5.0 or higher.
• On the computer: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, and an internet connection.

Pairing runs through your Google Account. On the phone, open Google Messages, tap your account menu, then Device Pairing. In the browser, sign in with the same account, and tap the emoji on the phone that matches the one on the computer screen. Google's page says you can pair several computers but only one can be active at a time, that your latest conversation threads and contacts are encrypted and cached in the browser, and that if you do not use it for a few weeks you will be unpaired automatically. It also says to unpair on a shared or public computer, because the messages can include "two factor verification codes".

When it will not connect, see Google Messages for web not working. Setup in detail is in Android messages on a Mac.

What does The Relay do with texts?

Two things, both incoming. An SMS that arrives on the phone shows up on the Mac. A login code in that text is copied to the Mac's clipboard so you can paste it. It also shows the phone's notifications on the Mac and shows incoming calls where you can accept or decline them. It does not send texts from the Mac. If you want to reply, you need Google Messages for web, or the phone. See the login codes page and SMS verification codes from Android on a Mac.

How do they compare for texts and codes?

Two lines in that table need care. Google's page lists an internet connection for the computer and Wi-Fi or data for the phone; we have not tested what happens when the phone is on a different network, so we do not claim more than that. And the "not described" cell means exactly that: Google's page says nothing about copying codes, and you can still read them in the browser tab and type or copy them yourself.

Why do login codes behave differently from other texts?

Because Android treats them as sensitive. Google's Android 15 behaviour changes say Android "will stop untrusted apps that implement a NotificationListenerService from reading unredacted content from notifications where an OTP has been detected." That is why some apps that mirror notifications show a hidden-content message for codes. We do not describe how The Relay works underneath; we state what it does, which is the feature in the previous section. Check the behaviour on your own phone in the test below.

Which should I use?

Use Google Messages for web if you reply to texts from the Mac, or if you want nothing to install. It is the free, first-party answer. Use The Relay if what annoys you is the code that arrives while you are logging in on the Mac, or the call and notification you miss because the phone is across the room. Use both if you do both: they do not conflict, since one is a browser tab and the other is a paired app.

Where does The Relay fit, honestly?

It does not replace Google Messages for web, and we would not tell anyone to cancel a tab to subscribe. It fits when the codes are the point. Your texts and notifications travel directly between your phone and your Mac over your local network and are not uploaded to The Relay's servers. See the privacy policy. It needs Android 8.0 or later and macOS 13 Ventura or later. The Relay is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial at /download.

How do I test the code route?

1. Pair the option you want to try.
2. On the Mac, open any site that sends a text code at login.
3. Request the code and note where it appears and whether you had to copy it yourself.
4. Do it again with the phone's screen locked.
5. Check the Mac's clipboard history, if you use one, to see what was copied.

Questions people ask

Can The Relay send texts from my Mac?

No. It shows incoming texts and copies login codes. Google Messages for web does two-way texting.

Does Google Messages for web need the phone on the same Wi-Fi?

Google's page lists a Wi-Fi or data connection on the phone and an internet connection on the computer. It describes pairing through your Google Account rather than a shared network. Carrier fees apply, as on the phone.

Why was I unpaired from Google Messages for web?

Google's page says that if you do not use your Google Messages account for a few weeks you are unpaired automatically for security reasons. Pair again from Device Pairing on the phone.

Is Google Messages for web enough for two-factor codes?

It shows the text, so you can read the code and type it. Whether that is enough is a matter of how often it comes up. If you copy codes many times a day, the extra step is what an app like The Relay removes.