# SmartFilter for SMS — a smart SMS spam filter

> Machine learning SMS spam filter with customizable rules and on-device analysis. (iPhone/iPad app by Jacob Grant.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartfilter-for-sms/id1271258894 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jacob Grant](https://appshunter.io/developer/1271258893)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 169 App Store ratings · 61 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 23 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-09-19
- Data updated: 2026-08-20
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartfilter-for-sms/id1271258894/reviews.md

## What is SmartFilter for SMS?

Spam texts are annoying, and sometimes dangerous. SmartFilter works with your iPhone's built-in message filtering to sort them out before they land in your inbox — turn it on once and it runs automatically from then on.

Set your own rules, or install ready-made packs for toll scams, fake tax notices, gift card cons, crypto pitches, delivery scams, job and loan scams, phishing, and election spam. Two more packs route marketing texts and receipts into their own folders. Messages can go to Junk, Promotions, Transactions, or straight to your inbox — you decide.

Paste in a real message and tap the words that matter, and SmartFilter writes the rule for you. Save test messages so you can check your setup any time you change something. And if you want to know why a message ended up where it did, SmartFilter shows you the exact path it took.

Your rules sync across your devices with iCloud. Report junk, or tell SmartFilter it got one wrong, right from the Messages app — no extra steps.

SmartFilter also catches spam that tries to sneak past filters using lookalike letters and hidden characters.

Every message is analyzed on your phone. Nothing you receive is ever sent to a server — that's not a policy, it's how the app works.

SmartFilter is free to use, with a limit on how many filters you can save. Subscribe monthly, yearly, or once for good to unlock unlimited filters, every premium pack, regex and case-sensitive matching, test messages, and alternate app icons. Already a supporter from an earlier version? You're covered — no need to buy again.

SmartFilter is made by one independent developer. If it's working for you, a review goes a long way.

For in-app purchases and subscriptions, see https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Machine learning spam detection
- Customizable filtering options
- Filter unknown sender messages
- Filter messages with URLs
- Filter messages from email addresses
- On-device message analysis

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly | $8.99 | per year |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One time | $19.99 | one-time |
| Leave a Tip! | $4.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of SmartFilter for SMS?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Filters spam effectively
- 👍 Stops unwanted texts
- 👍 Life-improving quiet
- 👍 Set it and forget it
- 👍 Filters by keywords
- 👍 Works great
- 👍 Life saver
- 👍 Stops junk text
- 👍 Best app tried
- 👍 Works fantastic
- 👍 Best message filter
- 👍 Best and easiest
- 👍 Great app, easy to use
- 👍 Free and customizable
- 👍 Works beautifully
- 👍 Simple and useful
- 👍 Changed my life
- 👍 Best app, free
- 👍 Works great, advanced options
- 👍 Filters SMS email gateway
- 👍 Amazing, filters life
- 👍 Works perfectly
- 👍 Finally found something
- 👍 Stops unsolicited links
- 👍 Filters political texts
- 👍 Relief at last
- 👍 Works like it claims
- 👍 Catches spam texts
- 👍 Unique spam filter
- 👍 Does exactly what I need
- 👍 Only app that worked
- 👍 Love love love
- 👍 Exactly what I wanted
- 👍 Best thing ever
- 👍 Wonderful app
- 👍 Seems to work well
- 👍 Great spam filter
- 👍 Excellent
- 👍 Working fine now
- 👍 Just what I needed
- 👍 Love the customization

**Cons**

- 🐛 Keyword filter not working
- 🐛 Abandoned, old updates
- 🐛 Keyword function stopped
- 🐛 Letting through block words
- 🐛 Keyword filter does not work
- 🐛 Spam detection model not working
- 🐛 Spam still shows notification
- 🐛 ML not working
- 🐛 Report SMS doesn't work
- 🐛 Allow words filter not working
- 🐛 Does not work at all
- 🐛 Most likely selling number
- 🐛 SmartFilter does not filter anything
- 🐛 Broken in iOS 14.4?
- 🐛 Spam still comes in

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Keyword blocking only sometimes works
- Keyword function stopped working
- Letting through texts with block words
- Spam-detection model not working well
- ML not working, legitimate messages filtered as spam
- Allow Words filter not working
- Report SMS doesn't work
- Spam still shows notification icon
- Spam still comes in to inbox with alerts
- False positives inevitable at the start, retraining could be easier

**Most requested features**

- Sort into personalized folders
- Ability to filter specified short numbers
- User defined regex
- Delete all button for junk
- Immediately delete setting for certain words
- Report functionality directly in message app
- Mark messages sent to junk as safe
- Option to be blissfully unaware of junk notifications

## Recent user reviews (10 of 61)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartfilter-for-sms/id1271258894/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Life altering

*2025-10-29*

I’ve always been so careful about not giving out my number but the political fundraisers found me anyway.  Happy to give money to democrats but not happy to receive 10 or more texts a day.  Deleting and reporting junk did nothing.  Smart filter made it stop.  The quiet is awesome. The most life improving app I’ve ever had.

### 5/5 — Honestly…it’s great, and how often can you say that

*2025-05-26, version 1.8.1*

Wish it could sort into personalized folders but otherwise this is one of the best set it and forget it apps on here

### 1/5 — Abandoned

*2025-05-09, version 1.8.1*

Last update was from 4 years ago, blocking emails doesn’t work, keyword blocking only sometimes works

### 5/5 — Works great!

*2025-03-31, version 1.8.1*

With this app, I’m easily able to filter out spam text messages from unknown numbers that contain specific keywords. Great app!

### 5/5 — Life saver

*2024-03-31, version 1.8.1*

This app is great no more spam text!

### 2/5 — Keyword Filter No Longer Working

*2024-01-28*

I used to be a big fan of this app, but the Keyword function (user-specified words to always allow or always classify as Junk) stopped working months ago. That was the most important feature for me, so I’ve moved on to an alternate app. The reasons I am giving two stars instead of one are:  (1) The less-important-to-me automatic (ie. NON-keyword based filtering) may still be functioning; and (2) in appreciation of prior usefulness and support.

### 5/5 — You’ll need nothing else!

*2024-01-02*

I was looking for something to help stop all the junk text I was getting everyday! Downloaded lots of apps that claim to stop them from getting through! After a few weeks of trying all the apps, I ran across this one! Figured I’d give it a try and just as soon as I set it up, 100% of the junk text completely stopped reaching my inbox! 
It’s been over a year now and I’m still waiting for a junk text to get through! 
This app is by far the best one I’ve tried yet!

### 4/5 — Seems to be working again? Hope so.

*2023-12-21*

Came here intending to do a second update on my review, where I had recently lowered my previous, years-old 5-star rating to 2 for the reasons I gave. But apparently you can only update a review once, as the App Store is asking me to write a new one. Anyway, for whatever reason I have been pleased to again start seeing texts containing words in my filter-words list properly sent to the junk folder.  So maybe something’s been fixed, and I’m upping my rating to 4-stars.  Perhaps the issue was unique to my phone or settings, IDK.  But on the minus side the fact remains that the developer never responded to my email, as he used to.  OTOH, can’t say I paid a lot for the app LOL.

### 2/5 — UPDATED - STOPPED WORKING? Simple but powerful — and effective

*2023-12-15*

UPDATE DECEMBER 2023:  Sadly, this once-great app is now letting though texts with block words. Either it stopped working completely; is only working intermittently; or has reached some sort of capacity limitation. The fact that the developer never responded to my inquiry about this — despite being very responsive in the past — supports my impression that this app no longer works properly.   Will have to look for a replacement. 

Great app! Has cut WAY back on the annoying situation where my phone sounds an alert for what turns out to be a spam sms. And keeps the “caught” messages in a separate folder where I can easily delete them. A few weeks back, when a message that should have been caught (had several of my block terms) did slip through, I emailed support and they responded promptly, identifying and fixing the issue. Great! Going to leave a tip as soon as I submit this review. A nice enhancement would be the ability to have any texts from *specified* short numbers filtered out (regardless of content), rather than the current *all* short numbers option.

### 5/5 — I can’t believe it… all the political sms have stopped

*2023-09-28*

I’m so happy to have found this app. I went through the gazillion sms I’ve received from political campaigns and extracted the root domains like “winred”, and “red23”. After adding a dozen of these filter words I waited. By the next day 3 have already been filtered to junk. What a blessing. Thank you so much Jake. Sent a tip right away.

## Frequently asked questions about SmartFilter for SMS

### What does SmartFilter for SMS do?

SmartFilter for SMS is designed to protect you from unwanted SMS spam. It uses machine learning to identify and filter spam messages, and offers a wide range of customization options to control how messages are filtered.

### How does the machine learning work?

The app utilizes machine learning to recognize spam. This system becomes smarter over time as users report spam, improving its accuracy in identifying unwanted messages.

### Is my message data private?

Yes, your privacy is a priority. Incoming messages are analyzed directly on your phone, and they are never sent to a server for analysis, ensuring your data remains private.

### What customization options are available?

You can customize filtering extensively. Options include filtering unknown senders, short codes, messages with URLs, messages from email addresses, and messages containing specific words. You can also allow messages with certain words and filter messages from specific numbers.

### How can I support future development?

If you find SmartFilter for SMS useful, you can support future development by leaving a review. For those who wish to contribute further, there is an option to leave a tip through an in-app purchase.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0 — 2026-08-18

SmartFilter 2.0 is a complete rebuild — new design, new filtering engine, and a lot of new ways to keep junk out of your inbox.

NEW

• Filter Packs — install curated rule sets for toll, tax, gift card, crypto, delivery, job, and loan scams, phishing, and election spam. Two more packs sort marketing and receipts into their own folders.
• Route messages four ways — send them to Junk, Promotions, Transactions, or straight to your inbox.
• Build a rule from a real message — paste one in, tap the words that matter, and SmartFilter writes the rule.
• Test Messages — save example messages with the result you expect, then check them any time you change a rule or setting.
• How Filtering Works — a visual map of every check a message passes through, using your own rules.
• iCloud Sync — your rules follow you to every device, privately.
• Report spam without leaving Messages — mark a message as junk or not junk right from the report sheet.
• Filter Disguised Text — catches spam hiding behind lookalike letters and invisible characters.
• A guided setup wizard walks you through turning SmartFilter on, and you can run it again any time from Help.
• Supporters get unlimited filters, every premium pack, regex and case-sensitive matching, test messages, and alternate app icons.

IMPROVED

• Retrained on-device spam detection — nothing you receive ever leaves your iPhone.
• Rewrote pack rules to stop false matches like "election" catching "electricity".
• Reported messages are stripped of links, phone numbers, email addresses, verification codes, and dollar amounts on your device before anything is sent.
• Full accessibility pass, including large text sizes throughout.
• Every filter option now explains what it does, right where you turn it on.

FIXED

• Fixed messages occasionally not being filtered at all.
• Fixed SmartFilter being skipped even when it was switched on.
• Fixed the Report SMS shortcut not opening from the Home Screen.
• Fixed text that was unreadable in dark mode.
• Fixed filter rules that could go missing when updating from an older version.

Already tipped in a previous version? You keep every supporter feature — no repurchase needed. Thank you.

### 1.8.1 — 2020-07-21

- Bug fixes. Shoutout to Rick!
- Updated SmartFilter model.

### 1.8 — 2020-07-08

Added option to filter messages where the sender is an email address.
Improved word filtering.
Updated spam detection. Thank you for sending in spam reports!

### 1.7.1 — 2019-09-25

Compatibility fixes for iOS 13

### 1.7 — 2019-09-19

Updated SmartFilter spam detection.
Bug fixes and improvements.

## Apps similar to SmartFilter for SMS

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [SMS Filter+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-filter-plus/id1314415052) | 4.2 (216) | $0.99 | Utilities |
| [Elek: Spam Call & SMS Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elek-spam-call-and-sms-blocker/id1530539939) | 3.7 (12) | Free | Utilities |
| [Bouncer: Spam Text Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bouncer-spam-text-blocker/id1457476313) | 4.5 (490) | $4.99 | Utilities |
| [Simply Filter SMS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-filter-sms/id1603222959) | 4.4 (63) | Free | Utilities |
| [AI Spam Shield Text Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-spam-shield-text-blocker/id1519453300) | 3.0 (4) | Free | Utilities |
| [SMS Spam Filter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-spam-filter/id1601620245) | 3.0 (2) | Free | Utilities |

## More apps by Jacob Grant

- [Smart Choices](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-choices/id6504941113)

All apps by Jacob Grant: https://appshunter.io/developer/1271258893

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-20.*