# Phoner vs BBguarder

Phoner and BBguarder both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 89% of BBguarder's written reviews are positive against 49% of Phoner's. BBguarder also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Phoner's advantage is ratings volume (35K vs 15) and chart position (#163 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phoner sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and BBguarder sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Phoner against 4.5 for BBguarder. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phoner has 35K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of Phoner's written reviews are positive against 89% of BBguarder's.

Phoner ships an update every 2 weeks, BBguarder every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phoner | BBguarder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phoner-second-phone-number/id1050267310/reviews) | **[4.5 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbguarder/id1483883043/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 49.4% of reviews | **89.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#163** | — |
| Size | 200 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Phoner Holdings LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895136973) | [东 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481445829) |

## What reviewers say

### Phoner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phoner-second-phone-number/id1050267310)

**Currently charting:** #163 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Obtain and manage multiple virtual phone numbers for private texting and calling. Protect your real number while using services like online marketplaces and dating apps. Features include call recording and anonymous caller ID lookup.

**Highlights:** Second phone numbers, Private texting and calling, Call recording, Anonymous caller ID lookup, International calling and texting, Vanity number selection

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Second Phone Number Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Alternate Number Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Plus Monthly Trial | $14.99 | per month |
| Pick your phone number | $14.99 | per month |
| Second Number Trial Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Second Line Trial Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Extra Monthly Trial | $19.99 | per month |
| Starter Credit Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bronze Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Silver Pack | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Reliable service
- 🔒 Protects privacy
- 💡 Useful features like call recording

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive credits/subscription
- 🐛 Technical issues (numbers not working, messages not delivered)
- 🔍 Lack of transparency in pricing and features
- ❌ Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Numbers not working as expected
- App crashing or becoming unresponsive
- Inconsistent credit deduction for messages

**Requested features**

- Option to earn free credits
- Ability to deactivate numbers within the app
- Clearer explanation of how the service works


### BBguarder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbguarder/id1483883043)

This app enhances personal safety by automatically sending location-based text messages to emergency contacts when activated. It works with a smart safety device or can be used independently for quick alerts. Setup is simple and contacts receive standard SMS messages.

**Highlights:** Connects to smart personal safety devices, Automatic location text messages to emergency contacts, Quick SOS functionality without a smart device, Easy setup in under a minute, Add up to 3 emergency contacts, Contacts receive standard SMS messages

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP (Basic benefits/month) | $0.99 | per month |
| VIP ( Premium Benefits/month) | $1.99 | per month |
| VIP (Basic benefits/year) | $10.99 | per year |
| VIP ( Premium Benefits/year) | $21.49 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Good for contacting friends
- 👍 Useful for arranging gatherings
- 👍 Better than most chatting apps
- 👍 Provides peace of mind

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Scam/Doesn't work
- 😞 Poor instructions
- 😞 App doesn't send code
- 😞 Unable to create account
- 😞 Subscription required for advanced benefits

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't send code for account creation
- Protection timer locked at zero
- App doesn't work after connecting
- Hackers in the app
- Cannot call on app, only web

**Requested features**

- Adjustable protection hours
- More emergency contacts
- User-to-User security features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phoner free?

Phoner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BBguarder free?

BBguarder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phoner or BBguarder?

BBguarder is rated higher. Phoner averages 4.5 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while BBguarder averages 4.5 from 15 ratings.

### Do Phoner or BBguarder have ads?

Neither Phoner nor BBguarder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phoner or BBguarder?

Phoner ships an update every 2 weeks, and BBguarder every 10 days. Most recently, Phoner was updated on November 5, 2026 and BBguarder on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*