Bubble Reel
Write a text conversation, watch it play out on a phone screen, and export a vertical video ready for TikTok, Reels, or Shorts.
Free. macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon.
Loading latest version…Three Steps
Bubble Reel makes those texting-story videos, the ones where a conversation unfolds on screen one bubble at a time.
Type it
Type the messages, or paste a script, and pick who's talking.
Watch it
The timing, typing dots, delivered-and-read receipts, and sounds happen automatically. Preview it live.
Export it
One button, and out comes a 1080×1920 MP4, ready to post.
Looks Like The Real Thing
Eleven styles: an original clean default, plus looks inspired by iMessage, Android Messages, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, Snapchat, Telegram, Discord, Slack, and dating-app chats. Light or dark, your own wallpaper, group chats with names and avatars.
More Than Text
Photos, GIFs, stickers, real link previews, voice notes, polls, location cards, reply quotes, edited and unsent messages, incoming calls. Bubble effects like slam and invisible ink, full-screen confetti, fireworks, hearts. A lock-screen opening, notification banners, and live typing with the keyboard up.
Sounds Right
Three original sound sets, built-in music with automatic ducking, and optional narration that reads every message aloud in a different voice per person.
Exports For Wherever It's Going
Vertical, vertical 4K, square, or landscape. MP4, GIF, a still, or a transparent ProRes overlay for CapCut and Premiere. An end card with your handle and a picture.
Optional AI
Add your own OpenAI key to have the conversation written for you, generate photos and stickers, or make an end-card image. Add an ElevenLabs key for voices. Everything else works with no account and nothing leaves your Mac.
Everything In The Box
- Auto-timed typing dots, receipts, reactions
- 11 chat styles, light and dark
- Group chats
- Photos, GIFs, stickers, link previews, voice notes, polls, calls
- Bubble and full-screen effects
- Lock-screen opening and live typing
- Sound effects and music with ducking
- Narration in a voice per person (ElevenLabs key)
- AI script, images, stickers (OpenAI key)
- MP4, GIF, still, transparent overlay, up to 4K
- Command palette and keyboard editing
- Nothing uploaded, no account
No account. Nothing uploaded. The only network touches are the ones you turn on: your own OpenAI or ElevenLabs keys for the AI features, and an update check on launch. Updates come from this site over HTTPS, verified against a signed manifest and a notarized build, and install in place. Turn that off in Settings if you'd rather.
Free. macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon. Notarized by Apple, about 280 MB.
Open the DMG and drag Bubble Reel to Applications. On first launch it starts its own local render engine, so the first export takes a few seconds longer. AI features are off until you add your own keys in Settings (⌘,).