# Securus Mobile vs Pay Tel

The clearest difference is rating: Securus Mobile at 4.6 against Pay Tel's 1.6. Securus Mobile also leads on ratings volume (50K vs 126) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). Pay Tel's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Securus Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Securus Mobile has 50K ratings behind it against 126, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of Securus Mobile's written reviews are positive against 4% of Pay Tel's.

Securus Mobile ships an update every 5 weeks, Pay Tel every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Securus Mobile | Pay Tel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (50K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/securus-mobile/id1059629706/reviews)** | [1.6 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **50K** | 126 |
| Positive reviews | **12.4% of reviews** | 3.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#41** | #191 |
| Size | 101 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1059629705) | [Pay Tel Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/1593243822) |

## What reviewers say

### Securus Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/securus-mobile/id1059629706)

**Currently charting:** #41 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Stay connected with incarcerated loved ones through video calls, messaging, and photo sharing. Manage your account, send money for purchases, and receive balance alerts. Services may vary by location.

**Highlights:** Video calling, Digital messaging, Photo/video/eCard sharing, Prepaid calling, Account management, Fund incarcerated accounts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient video visits
- 💡 Helpful for staying connected with incarcerated loved ones
- 👍 Appreciate the service despite issues

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent technical issues and app crashes
- 💰 Expensive fees and charges
- 🤖 Poor customer service and lack of support
- 🔌 Unreliable connectivity and call quality
- 📤 Difficulty sending messages and photos

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account problems
- Scheduled video visits not working
- Messages and photos not being delivered
- Frequent app crashes and technical difficulties

**Requested features**

- Improve video call quality and reliability
- Provide better customer support and communication
- Reduce fees and make service more affordable
- Add notification features for messages
- Improve app stability and reduce bugs


### Pay Tel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820)

**Currently charting:** #191 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Stay connected with loved ones. Receive instant alerts for messages and notifications. Easily view your balance and add funds, or send photos to inmates in eligible correctional facilities.

**Highlights:** Instant message alerts, Unread message count, Current balance visibility, Add funds link, Send photos to inmates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Enables communication with incarcerated loved ones
- 📹 Video calling functionality available
- 💬 Messaging feature when working properly
- ✅ App works smoothly after recent updates (per some users)
- 🎯 Easy to add funds/make payments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Messages fail to send or display
- 🔌 Constant login errors and authentication failures
- ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times
- 🔄 App randomly logs users out mid-session

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during use
- Login authentication errors persist across sessions
- Messages fail to send despite payment being deducted
- Messages don't appear in inbox despite being sent
- App logs out randomly while actively in use

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and performance optimization
- Better customer service responsiveness (live chat, phone support)
- Reduced pricing for calls and messages
- Same-day video visit scheduling
- Better message persistence (don't delete on app exit)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Securus Mobile free?

Securus Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pay Tel free?

Pay Tel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Securus Mobile or Pay Tel?

Securus Mobile is rated higher. Securus Mobile averages 4.6 out of 5 from 50K ratings, while Pay Tel averages 1.6 from 126 ratings.

### Do Securus Mobile or Pay Tel have ads?

Neither Securus Mobile nor Pay Tel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Securus Mobile or Pay Tel?

Securus Mobile ships an update every 5 weeks, and Pay Tel every 4 months. Most recently, Securus Mobile was updated on September 25, 2026 and Pay Tel on September 22, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Securus Mobile or Pay Tel?

Securus Mobile currently peaks at #41 in the App Store charts, and Pay Tel at #191. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*