# Startel Secure Messaging Plus — user reviews > 45 indexed App Store user reviews of Startel Secure Messaging Plus by Startel Coporation. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startel-secure-messaging-plus/id886055370/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startel-secure-messaging-plus/id886055370.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 0 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 2 ## Newest reviews (13 of 45) ### 2/5 — Why *2025-07-20, version 1.3.7* This was not a spectacular app to begin with. The most recent update made it look better, especially in dark mode, but now there’s no ability to copy and paste! So if I want to privately call a patient back, my only choice is to manually enter the number, which takes even longer because content is hidden when switching between apps. Tapping the phone number link only lets you use Phone app to call and doesn’t allow you to set the call from your office. I just don’t know why these basic functions aren’t available. And that’s not even getting to bugs like new message flags not going away until you delete the message. ### 2/5 — Can’t copy paste *2025-07-19, version 1.3.7* Used to be good. Had the option to copy the phone number and paste it into doximity to make the call from there. With the update, can’t copy anymore. ### 2/5 — Copy gone *2025-07-10, version 1.3.7* Pretty much a disaster. As others noted, you can no longer copy from the screen. This is extremely inconvenient since I don't return calls directly from my phone but use another app that displays my office number instead of my personal one. ### 2/5 — Needs apple watch companion app notifications *2022-03-11, version 1.3.6* Needs apple watch companion app notifications ### 1/5 — One of the worst applications in 35 years of reviewing software. *2020-09-28* I have nothing to add. Stuck with this because of answering service. Stuck with them too! Same complaint: can’t hear it and if you do you can’t read it. To make matters worse the company must be aware. Last updated for iOS 8? Hello? 14 here. Simply execrable. ### 2/5 — Messages unreadable in dark mode *2020-09-08, version 1.3.6* Messages are completely unreadable in dark mode, but there’s no way to disable dark mode in the app. That means you need to go into your phones settings each time to disable dark mode globally just to read a message, then go back afterwards to reenable it. If developer could make dark mode more readable or just disable it entirely would be much better! Also the badge notifications don’t work properly, will continue to display several unread messages even after they’ve been read, you have to refresh each time you want the unread message number to update. Otherwise, works fine. ### 1/5 — If you have a newer phone this app will not work. *2020-08-18, version 1.3.6* This app is basically useless, messages are never received. And if received they arrive hours later. It seems like the developers are independent of the on call service and hence once they produce the app they are done with support. The support is non existent. hit help and you just get the version number. If you are someone one call, not receiving messages can be devastating to your practice we patients will feel like they are being ignored. ### 1/5 — Poor app, barely does what it’s supposed to do *2020-06-13, version 1.3.6* I usually don’t review apps, but this one is so poorly done I have to complain. This “upgrade” from the prior version is a downgrade: despite multiple troubleshooting attempts, it still does not send alerts. Which is the whole point of this app. My service has to send a text, and then when I open the app the alert goes off. Near useless. Also: it has a new “feature” is that after reading the message, you need to clear the message as “read”, or your answering service will continuously call you, thinking you haven’t seen the message. A redundancy you can’t turn off. If I could give this app 0 stars, I would. 1 is the minimum. I truly hope the developers are reading this. ### 1/5 — Updated review after another year- Poor execution *2020-03-21, version 1.3.6* Further below is my original review. After using this app (meaning “compelled” by the answering service and the company I work for), I am convinced this app is horrid. It is useless in Dark Mode. Prior review: The user interface is horrible. The alert tones are about 20 years old, and you cannot use your own device tones. Some tones are too quiet and others are obnoxiously loud. Very sloppy in the way it is set up to respond to an answering service message. If the initial message is not first highlighted then a reply is sent as a separate message without the answering service knowing which prior message or page it is in response to. No way to confirm a message to the service was received. Our office answering service uses this messaging app to send a “page” to the on-call provider. This app alone is reason enough to get a different answering service. This seems like a “thrown together” effort by someone who did not speak with actual users for input or feedback for development. It looks, operates, sounds, and has the interface of an App that was written a decade ago and has not been updated. ### 2/5 — 2 majors issues iOS 13.3 *2020-02-02, version 1.3.6* 1. Does not work in Dark Mode 2. If you are viewing a message in portrait mode and happen to turn your phone to landscape the app locks up. However, you can view the messages in landscape but only if you turn your phone to landscape prior to going into the message from a user. Anotherwords ..Tuen it to landscape while viewing the screen with the list of users you are messaging. So if you happen to be viewing a message and you happen to pull your phone away from you face do do whatever, when you bring it back up to continue reading your message, you’ve inadvertently turned your phone. So now it locks up and you have to press the power button to lock the phone and reopen the app. Frustrating. ### 1/5 — Very poor app *2019-12-25, version 1.3.6* Dark background messages are unreadable. Push notifications do not work at all so I get texts that a patient has called but I do not get a notification. How hard can it be to fix these things?? ### 2/5 — Curiously incompatible with dark mode *2019-12-24, version 1.3.6* In Dark Mode messages are nearly unreadable, showing up as dark gray on gray. The list of messages is oddly organized and it’s hard to tell what’s read and new. Notifications will seemingly repeat old messages along with new ones. Could use a comprehensive interface overhaul. ### 1/5 — Pretty good to dismal *2019-11-21, version 1.3.6* The prior app did its job and was mostly intuitive. This one is so bad I may seek another answering service that does Not use this app. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — No copy paste *2025-07-31, version 1.3.7* Agree with other reviewers. I’ve always copied and pasted the number into a dialer to conceal my number. Now I can’t with the latest version. I’ll be following up with our answering service on finding an alternative. ### 1/5 — Buggy and unuqdated app used by medical professionals for urgent matters. Unacceptable. *2025-04-27, version 1.3.6* This app is used by answering services to notify physicians of urgent overnight matters for ER or hospitalized patients. It FAILS at several points: 1. It FAILS with dark mode implementation. If you have dark mode on your system, you will be unable to read any messages or settings. The only solution is to change your phone to light mode. Suggested workaround: set up a shortcut to change to light mode when the app is opened, revert to dark mode when it is closed. 2. This app FAILS to notify you. It is buggy at sending notifications when a call comes in. This can occur when your watch is set up to mirror notifications. But this is not documented anywhere and can take FOREVER to identify with support. Meanwhile ER doctors and patients are waiting with no response from the doctor on call. When this app works, it is nice that it works as a secure 2-way SMS meaning you can respond to your answering service. But that is not a technical marvel. The fact it fails to do its job and notify you is a HUGE problem. Especially for something that is time-sensitive and can literally be life and death in some situtaitons. ### 1/5 — Does not work with dark mode on iPhone. *2024-12-17, version 1.3.6* Does not work with dark mode on iPhone. Doesn’t seem like they care. There’s no updates unlike other apps. ### 1/5 — Buggiest app ever *2024-12-04, version 1.3.6* Goes into dark mode and you cannot even read the message. Fails at its one job of sending you notifications unless you have your phone open (unsure if this only on the iPhone). ### 1/5 — Terrible app that is malpractice waiting to happen *2024-04-06, version 1.3.6* Despite having the phone not in any kind of focus or silent modes this app only alerts you to a call about 50% of the time despite being open in the background on IOS. So many calls are missed because of this and communication with patients and hospitals and EDs are delayed. I have bring the app into the main screen then the dumb alarm will go off despite being received 30-60 minutes earlier. This is medicine it needs to work every time. I hope some defense lawyer is reading this and takes action. ### 1/5 — WORST APP EVER *2023-04-24, version 1.3.6* This app is reason enough to consider changing answering service companies. IT DOES NOT WORK IN DARK MODE! Really hard to read the messages in dark mode. The tones are awful! Make sure your phone is not on silent when you are on call. Notifications are a little iffy so now I constantly check the app for fear of missing a page. This app looks and acts like it was made in 2010. ### 1/5 — Poorly designed *2021-11-20, version 1.3.6* This app is terrible. I am bombarded by notifications that come without need. The app has to be refreshed every single time any messages are sent. Don’t use this app. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2021-07-11, version 1.3.6* This app is terrible. I’m a physician, so I use it professionally. None of the alerts sound professional. The app isn’t nearly as easy to use as others I have used. The most unfortunate thing is that the app continues to alert me after I’ve looked at a message if I don’t get back out of the message after I’ve reviewed it. There’s really no reason for that. I unfortunately have no choice but to use this program, otherwise I would chose another. ### 1/5 — Awful *2021-05-16, version 1.3.6* I rely on this app for my job and it is awful. Half the time I can’t access my messages, and other times the app freezes up. I wish my job would use a different app. I do not recommend this app at all. ### 1/5 — Dark mode is horrible *2020-12-22, version 1.3.6* Dark mode is horrible. Unless you don’t want to see the message and don’t want to call anyone back. The most ludicrous setting. Impossible to see anything. The rest of my bedroom with lights off are more visible than words in Dark Mode ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — New release solves previous issues *2026-01-19, version 1.3.8* We have several hundred providers using the app. Very pleased to report Startel has solved the issues that were reported by other users. ### 5/5 — Great app *2023-07-30* Works on wifi so even with bad cell reception or if I go overseas I can get my messages. Also great that my service can see if I have read the message so if I miss something I get a phone call as a backup. Definitely recommended. ### 5/5 — Great App *2020-10-16, version 1.3.6* Have been using this app for 3 months now and it works great. HIPAA compliancy is the best feature of this app ### 5/5 — Great app *2019-11-04, version 1.3.5* The improvement to this app has been great. Better than the previous one we had ### 5/5 — HIPAA-compliant Secure Messaging *2018-07-16, version 1.3.1* This application offers a secure way to safely exchange sensitive information via text with peers and offices. It allows users to send audio and image attachments, forward messages and reply to groups. You can also track the status of all messages. This app is ideal for healthcare providers and/or anyone exchanging sensitive information! ### 5/5 — Does what it is supposed to do and keeps us safe *2015-08-14, version 1.1.0* Who wants to pay $1.5 million for every lost cell phone? Love that Startel is HIPAA and HITECH compliant. Ring tones are not controlled by the application, but rather the cell phone device and Apple's technology. ### 5/5 — Great App *2015-08-14, version 1.1.0* This app provides a great HIPAA compliant link between my after hours service and my iphone. ### 3/5 — Physician Review *2026-07-12, version 1.3.8* App works fine, weird that the file action slide is a non intuitive swipe (you can swipe both left and right on a message to reveal different options, however most apps people use do not have this as an option and is not intuitive as an end user), also the app developers should request “Critical Alerts Entitlement” from Apple so I can allow pages to bypass any silence options (I leave me phone on silent so I don’t have to hear a million notifications daily, but would love if I could just receive critical notifications) ### 3/5 — Pretty update, lost ability to copy and paste *2025-06-21* We’ve been using this app for over five years and has worked fairly well. It can be inconsistent with notifications at times. It recently got an aesthetic update but seems to have lost the ability to copy and paste text. I like to copy the message I received into our EMR. Startel, please add this functionality back soon! ### 3/5 — Copy & Paste *2023-10-15, version 1.3.6* With new iOS systems, when I try to copy a phone number to paste it to a different program like Doximity, the app shuts down completely. It used to not do that. --- *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 2026-08-23.*