# SMS Shield vs Textkiller

The clearest difference is rating: Textkiller at 4.3 against SMS Shield's 3.2. Textkiller also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (13K vs 137). SMS Shield's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS Shield sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Textkiller sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Textkiller holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Textkiller has 13K ratings behind it against 137, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of SMS Shield's written reviews are positive against 37% of Textkiller's.

SMS Shield ships an update fortnightly, Textkiller every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS Shield | Textkiller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-shield/id1248198400/reviews) | **[4.3 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textkiller-spam-text-blocker/id1514005355/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 137 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 17.9% of reviews | **36.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 15 MB | 108 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Taphive GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/466416247) | [Mosaic S.r.l.](https://appshunter.io/developer/570748343) |

## What reviewers say

### SMS Shield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-shield/id1248198400)

This app uses machine learning to automatically filter unwanted SMS messages, including promotions, phishing attempts, and scam texts. It offers features like a frequent traveler mode to block international carrier messages and a custom block list for specific numbers or keywords. All filtering is done offline, ensuring 100% privacy.

**Highlights:** Automatic spam filtering, Frequent traveler mode, Custom block list, Offline filtering, Multi-lingual spam detection

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Classic | $0.99 | per month |
| Silver | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| Gold | $8.49 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well for some users
- 👍 Filters spam effectively for some
- 👍 Good for blocking specific keywords for some
- 👍 Worth the price for some users
- 👍 Privacy-focused (messages stay on device)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work for many users
- 🐛 Fails to filter obvious scams
- 🐛 Still receives spam texts
- 🐛 Sends legitimate texts to junk
- 🐛 Requires manual spam addition

**Reported bugs**

- Filters out legitimate texts
- Doesn't block known spam
- Requires manual input for blocking
- No response from support
- Doesn't block SMS from email

**Requested features**

- More blocking of SMS scams
- Option to mark SMS as spam or not spam
- Ability to whitelist keywords
- Better machine learning/training
- Improved support responsiveness


### Textkiller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textkiller-spam-text-blocker/id1514005355)

This app automatically blocks unwanted spam text messages, protecting you from scams and telemarketing. It offers customizable filtering options, a constantly updated global block list, and a privacy-first approach to keep your inbox clean and your personal information secure.

**Highlights:** Automatic spam text elimination, Global block list updated constantly, Predictive SMS blocking algorithm, Customizable blocking (keywords, email, number ranges), Block and Allow lists, Report spam to train algorithm, Privacy-first algorithm

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Textkiller Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TextKiller Pro with Free Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Protection | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Protection | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Protection | $7.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Protection | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Protection | $69.99 | per year |
| Textkiller Pro | $69.99 | per year |
| Textkiller Pro with Free Trial | $69.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Protection | $79.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium Protection | $79.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Protection | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Stops spam texts
- 👍 Filters messages effectively
- 💡 Keyword blocking
- 🚀 Works well when functioning
- 👍 Useful for reducing spam

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App not working after updates
- 🐛 Issues with premium features
- 🔍 Concerns about privacy and data access
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during setup
- Keyword blocking not working as expected
- Junk messages still getting through
- Issues contacting support

**Requested features**

- Sync blocked list across devices
- Automatically delete junk messages
- Better integration with Apple Watch
- More transparency on how filtering works


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS Shield free?

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

### Is Textkiller free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SMS Shield or Textkiller?

Textkiller is rated higher. SMS Shield averages 3.2 out of 5 from 137 ratings, while Textkiller averages 4.3 from 13K ratings.

### Do SMS Shield or Textkiller have ads?

Neither SMS Shield nor Textkiller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMS Shield or Textkiller?

SMS Shield ships an update fortnightly, and Textkiller every 2 weeks. Most recently, SMS Shield was updated on October 5, 2026 and Textkiller on October 19, 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.*