JPay 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.
Quick Verdict: JPay vs Securus Technologies
A quick summary to help you decide before reading the full comparison.
- JPay and Securus serve complementary roles in the prison communication system.
- JPay dominates messaging and money transfers at state prisons.
- Securus dominates phone calls and video at county jails.
- Many families need both.
- Neither is better overall because the facility contract determines which you must use.
Comparison Snapshot
A high-level summary across the four most important categories.
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JPay vs Securus Technologies: Full Comparison
JPay and Securus are both owned by Aventiv Technologies but serve different purposes. JPay focuses on messaging, tablets, and money transfers at state prisons. Securus focuses on phone calls and video visits at county jails and some state prisons. Most families dealing with state prison inmates use JPay for messaging and Securus for calls at the same time.
JPay and Securus Technologies are both subsidiaries of Aventiv Technologies, making them sister companies under the same corporate parent. JPay was founded in 2002 as a payments company and later expanded into messaging and tablets. Securus was founded in 2004 and focuses on phone calls, video visits, and facility technology. Despite shared ownership, they operate as separate platforms with separate accounts.
JPay serves over 35 state Departments of Corrections for messaging, money transfers, and tablet services. Securus serves over 1,200 facilities primarily county jails and some state prisons for phone calls and video visits. At many state prisons, both companies serve the same facility simultaneously. JPay handles messaging and money while Securus handles calls. Families at these facilities need separate accounts on both platforms.
Feature Scores
Scores are based on service availability, quality, and user experience across both platforms.
| Category | JPay | Securus Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging | 9 | 5 |
| Video Visits | 6 | 7 |
| Photo Sharing | 8 | 2 |
| Phone Calls | 2 | 8 |
| Money Transfer | 8 | 5 |
| Coverage | 6 | 7 |
| Ease of Use | 7 | 6 |
| Overall | 6.6 | 5.7 |
Service Comparison
How JPay and Securus Technologies compare across every major communication service.
Messaging
JPay is the dominant messaging platform for state prisons, using a stamp-based system with messages reviewed by staff before delivery.
Securus offers e-messaging at some facilities as a secondary service, but JPay is more widely used and established for this purpose.
JPay's messaging network at state prisons is significantly larger than Securus's e-messaging footprint.
Video Visits
JPay offers video visits at participating facilities, often through a GTL partnership rather than its own infrastructure.
Securus provides video visitation as one of its core services at county jails and state prisons where it holds the contract.
Video is a more central part of the Securus product than the JPay product.
Photo Sharing
JPay supports digital photo delivery directly through its app and website, reviewed for compliance before reaching the inmate.
Securus does not offer a comparable digital photo messaging feature at most facilities.
Digital photo sharing is one of JPay's clearest advantages over Securus.
Phone Calls
JPay does not primarily handle phone calls. Where JPay serves a facility, phone service is often handled separately by another provider.
Securus is a leading phone call provider with AdvancePay and Securus Debit account options and deep calling infrastructure at its contracted facilities.
Phone calls are a core Securus strength and a weak point for JPay.
Money Transfer
JPay is the dominant money transfer platform for state prison trust accounts, with deposits available online, by phone, at kiosks, and through MoneyGram.
Securus also offers money transfer services at some of its contracted facilities, though it is not the primary focus of the platform.
Money transfer is a bigger part of the JPay product than the Securus product.
Pros and Cons
An honest look at the strengths and limitations of both JPay and Securus Technologies.
JPay
- Dominant messaging platform at 35+ state Departments of Corrections.
- Digital photo sharing built directly into the app.
- Strong money transfer integration for trust account deposits.
- Well-reviewed mobile app for iOS and Android.
- Does not primarily handle phone calls.
- Owned by the same parent company as Securus, which can cause account confusion for families.
- Video visitation is less central than on Securus.
Securus Technologies
- Leading phone call provider with deep calling infrastructure.
- Strong video visitation product used at many county jails.
- Serves over 1,200 facilities across 45 states.
- Does not offer digital photo messaging at most facilities.
- Messaging is a secondary feature compared to JPay.
- Owned by the same parent company as JPay, which can cause account confusion for families.
Which Is Better For...
Choosing the right platform depends on your specific situation.
Messaging and sending photos to a state prison inmate
JPay is the dominant messaging and photo-sharing platform for state Departments of Corrections.
Receiving regular phone calls from an incarcerated loved one
Securus has deeper phone infrastructure and is the primary calling provider at many of its contracted facilities.
Sending money to a trust account at a state prison
JPay's money transfer service is the standard option at most state prisons it serves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from families comparing JPay and Securus Technologies.
Are JPay and Securus the same company?
Do I need both JPay and Securus?
Which is cheaper, JPay or Securus?
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Securus and ConnectNetwork offer functionally similar phone, video, and messaging services; which one you use is determined entirely by the facility's exclusive contract, not by product quality.
Federal vs CountyCorrLinks 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.
Ready to Get Started?
Review both provider pages for full details on features, facility coverage, and pricing before creating your account.