# SMS Arrow vs vNu

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMS Arrow at none against vNu's 1. SMS Arrow also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.0). vNu's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 74 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. vNu sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SMS Arrow asks for nothing beyond the download.

SMS Arrow ships an update every 74 months, vNu every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS Arrow | vNu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.2 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vnu-virtual-phone-number/id1576545203/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 18.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 74 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Essentially Precise](https://appshunter.io/developer/1228034013) | [Ayoub El Omrani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1326480886) |

## What reviewers say

### SMS Arrow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-arrow/id1228034014)

**In-app purchases:** none


### vNu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vnu-virtual-phone-number/id1576545203)

Get free virtual phone numbers from various locations to receive SMS verification codes online. Protect your personal number from spam and unwanted sharing when signing up for services. Access online platforms securely without revealing your real contact details.

**Highlights:** Free virtual phone numbers, Receive online SMS, Hide personal phone number, OTP verification codes, Fake identity generator, SSN validator

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| vNu Premium | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 💡 Useful for verification
- 🚀 Switching numbers is easy

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Numbers don't receive SMS
- 🔍 Shared phone numbers
- 💸 Paid subscription required
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Numbers are blocked from receiving codes
- Verification codes don't work
- App crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Option to remove old verification codes
- Ability to contact customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS Arrow free?

SMS Arrow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is vNu free?

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

### Do SMS Arrow or vNu have ads?

vNu shows ads; SMS Arrow does not.

### Which is updated more often, SMS Arrow or vNu?

SMS Arrow ships an update every 74 months, and vNu every 5 weeks. Most recently, SMS Arrow was updated on October 26, 2026 and vNu 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.*