As of Beside macOS 1.1.0, you can send and receive texts and make phone calls directly from your Mac. This brings the same phone communication you use on the mobile app to your desktop - no need to switch devices.
Available in the US & Canada for users on iOS and Android who have a phone line configured.
Before you start: set up on mobile first
Beside macOS uses the same phone line as your mobile app. Phone line and inbox configuration can only be done from the iOS or Android app - this isn't available on macOS yet.
⚠️ If you haven't set up a phone line on mobile yet, you'll see an upsell screen in the macOS app prompting you to get started. Download the Beside mobile app from the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) and complete inbox setup there first.
Once your line is active on mobile, it's automatically available in Beside for macOS - no extra setup needed.
Sending and receiving texts
To access your messages on macOS:
Open Beside on your Mac
Click Texts in the left sidebar
Your conversations will appear in the middle column
Select a conversation to read and reply, or click + New to start a new thread
💡 You can also use Ask Beside AI or Saved Replies directly from the message compose bar.
ℹ️ Read status is not yet synced between platforms. A message you read on macOS will still appear as unread on your mobile app (and vice versa). This will be improved in a future update.
Making and receiving calls
To use calls on macOS:
Open Beside on your Mac
Click Calls in the left sidebar
Click Start Call to dial a number, or select a recent call to call back
Your recent call history is displayed here, including incoming, outgoing, and missed calls — with AI-generated call summaries for recorded calls.
Current limitations (v1)
This is a first version focused on core messaging and calling. A few things to be aware of:
Inbox configuration (new lines, call forwarding, CallerID, etc.) is only available on the mobile app
Texts and calls on macOS are available to users in the US & Canada only
Some mobile-only features are not yet available on macOS - the team is actively adding more based on feedback
Read status is not synced between macOS and mobile
If you run into something that isn't working as expected, please reach out to our support team - your feedback helps us prioritize the next improvements.