CorrLinks vs Securus Technologies
CorrLinks and Securus serve almost entirely different facility types, so the winner depends entirely on whether your loved one is in a federal prison or a county jail.
Quick Verdict: CorrLinks vs Securus Technologies
A quick summary to help you decide before reading the full comparison.
- CorrLinks and Securus do not compete because they serve different facility types.
- Use CorrLinks for federal prison messaging.
- Use Securus for county jail phone calls and video visits.
- If you are unsure which type of facility your loved one is in, search bop.gov to check if they are a federal inmate.
Comparison Snapshot
A high-level summary across the four most important categories.
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CorrLinks vs Securus Technologies: Full Comparison
CorrLinks and Securus serve almost entirely different facility types. CorrLinks is the exclusive messaging platform for all federal Bureau of Prisons facilities. Securus serves county jails and some state prisons for phone calls, video visits, and messaging. If your loved one is in a federal prison, you need CorrLinks. If they are in a county jail, you likely need Securus.
CorrLinks serves exclusively the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Every federal prison in the United States uses CorrLinks for messaging regardless of location. Securus serves over 1,200 county jails and some state prisons across 45 states. These two platforms do not compete for the same facilities. Federal inmates use CorrLinks and county jail inmates likely use Securus.
CorrLinks outside contact accounts are completely free. The inmate pays per message. Securus phone call rates are capped at $0.11 per minute for large facilities under FCC rules. Securus video visit rates are capped at $0.23 per minute. Account setup on both platforms is free.
Feature Scores
Scores are based on service availability, quality, and user experience across both platforms.
| Category | CorrLinks | Securus Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging | 8 | 4 |
| Video Visits | 1 | 7 |
| Photo Sharing | 1 | 3 |
| Phone Calls | 1 | 8 |
| Money Transfer | 1 | 6 |
| Coverage | 6 | 7 |
| Ease of Use | 5 | 6 |
| Overall | 3.3 | 5.9 |
Service Comparison
How CorrLinks and Securus Technologies compare across every major communication service.
Messaging
CorrLinks is the exclusive, mandatory electronic messaging platform for all federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, with the inmate initiating contact from a TRULINCS terminal.
Securus offers e-messaging at some county jail facilities as a secondary feature alongside its phone and video services.
Within its narrow federal-only scope, CorrLinks is the more essential and exclusive messaging service.
Video Visits
CorrLinks does not offer video visitation in any form.
Securus offers video visitation as one of its core services at county jails and some state prisons.
Video is not available on CorrLinks at all, making Securus the clear choice where video visitation matters.
Photo Sharing
CorrLinks does not support photo attachments to messages as of 2025; physical photos must be mailed directly to the federal facility.
Securus offers limited digital image sharing through features like Snap n Send at some facilities.
Securus offers at least some photo functionality, while CorrLinks offers none.
Phone Calls
CorrLinks does not handle phone calls; federal inmate phone calls go through the separate ConnectNetwork platform by GTL.
Securus is a leading phone call provider with deep calling infrastructure at its contracted county jails and state prisons.
Families of federal inmates need a separate ConnectNetwork account for calls since CorrLinks does not offer this service at all.
Money Transfer
CorrLinks does not process money transfers or commissary deposits; federal deposits go through ConnectNetwork or by money order.
Securus offers money transfer services to inmate trust and phone accounts at its contracted facilities.
CorrLinks is messaging-only and has no money transfer function of its own.
Pros and Cons
An honest look at the strengths and limitations of both CorrLinks and Securus Technologies.
CorrLinks
- Only approved messaging platform for all 120 federal BOP facilities.
- Free to create an outside contact account.
- Legally compliant and fully integrated with Bureau of Prisons systems.
- Messaging only. No video, photos, phone, or money transfer.
- Inmate must initiate contact before messaging can begin.
- No mobile app. Browser-based only.
- Does not serve county jails or state prisons.
Securus Technologies
- Leading phone call provider with deep infrastructure.
- Strong video visitation product.
- Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
- Serves over 1,200 county jails and state prisons.
- Does not serve federal Bureau of Prisons facilities.
- Photo sharing is limited compared to dedicated photo services.
- Low overall consumer ratings tied to billing and technical issues.
Which Is Better For...
Choosing the right platform depends on your specific situation.
Messaging someone in a federal Bureau of Prisons facility
CorrLinks is the only approved electronic messaging platform for federal inmates; there is no alternative.
Calling or video visiting someone at a county jail
Securus provides established phone and video infrastructure at county jails, which CorrLinks does not offer at all.
Sending money to an inmate's account
CorrLinks has no money transfer function at all, while Securus offers deposits to trust and phone accounts at its contracted facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from families comparing CorrLinks and Securus Technologies.
My loved one is in a federal prison. Do I use CorrLinks or Securus?
Is CorrLinks or Securus free to set up?
How do I know if my loved one is in a federal or county facility?
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County JailsGettingOut vs Securus Technologies
GettingOut and Securus serve overlapping county jail markets with different strengths — GettingOut on video, Securus on breadth of services — so the facility contract determines which one applies.
Same Parent CompanyJPay vs Securus Technologies
JPay and Securus serve complementary roles — JPay for messaging and money transfers, Securus for phone calls — so most families need both rather than choosing one.
Ready to Get Started?
Review both provider pages for full details on features, facility coverage, and pricing before creating your account.