SMS Shield vs Simply Filter SMS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SMS Shield
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.
- Automatic spam filtering
- Frequent traveler mode
- Custom block list
- Offline filtering
- Multi-lingual spam detection
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SMS Shield is a Machine Learning-based SMS spam filter for iPhone. We trained it on what spam SMS looks like by showing it tens of thousands of spam SMSs beforehand. SMS Shield then learns and, to a high degree of confidence, can identify spam even it haven't seen it before. Besides spam blocking, SMS Shield includes innovative features like Frequent Traveler Mode. Features: + Automatic Spam Filtering SMS Shield will automatically block SMS spam like promotions, ads, phishing and scam attempts at stealing your sensitive information (e.g. SMSs claiming to be from your bank). + Frequent Traveler Mode Enable this innovative feature during your business travels to block the often-annoying SMSs sent by mobile operators when visiting other countries (e.g. "Welcome to country X..."). + Custom Block List With custom block list, you can block SMSes from specific phone numbers or that include specific keywords. Remember that annoying Ex who keeps SMSing you years later? Blocked! + 100% privacy guarenteed SMS Shield is an offline SMS filter. Meaning it does the filtering offline, on your device. All your texts are 100% private. + Multi-lingual spam detection SMS Shield detects spam (and is localized) in English, Portuguese (Brazil), Italian, Swedish, and Arabic. If you would like us to add a specific language email us with spam texts you receive (as many as possible). ------------------------------ Available Subscriptions: GOLD: 1 year spam filtering subscription SILVER: ½ year spam filtering subscription CLASSIC: 1 month spam filtering subscription Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. To manage subscriptions or turn off auto-renewal go to your iTunes account settings after the purchase. Any unused portion of the free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://www.taphive.com/smsshield/privacypolicy.html Terms: https://www.taphive.com/smsshield/tou.html
Simply Filter SMS
This app automatically filters unwanted text messages on your iPhone or iPad. It uses AI and customizable rules to sort messages from unknown senders into categories like Junk, Promotions, or Transactions, all processed on your device for privacy.
- AI-powered spam filtering
- Customizable keyword rules
- Automatic message categorization
- On-device processing for privacy
- Support for 10 languages
- Trusted country filtering
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Take back control of your inbox. Simply Filter SMS is a privacy-first, open-source text message filter for iPhone and iPad. Create keyword rules and smart filters to automatically move unwanted messages from unknown senders to Junk, Promotions, or Transactions - completely on-device. What's new in this version: • Export & Import Filters - Share your filter setup with a friend. Export from Filter Tools in the menu and send the file. • Test Your Filters - Redesigned with live results so you can see matches instantly. • Help - Redesigned with FAQs and a Get Started guide. • Accent Color - Pick an accent from the menu; buttons and icons follow it across the app. In case you missed, here's what was updated recently: • Regex Filters - Create powerful pattern-matching filters using regular expressions for precise control. • AI Filtering - Automatic filtering is AI-powered, smarter and more accurate, with support for 10 languages including English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and more. • Trusted Countries - Automatically allow messages from specific countries by phone prefix. • 11 Languages - The app is available in English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Simplified Chinese. • Accessibility Support - Fully usable with VoiceOver, Voice Control, Dynamic Type, and Reduce Motion. • Native iPad Support - Full iPad experience with sidebar navigation and optimized layouts for larger screens. • Tip Jar - Support the app's development with an optional tip. Simply Filter SMS is free forever. • Multiple bug fixes and performance improvements.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simply Filter SMS at 81% against SMS Shield's 18%. Simply Filter SMS also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.2) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). SMS Shield's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. SMS Shield sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Simply Filter SMS sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Simply Filter SMS holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 138 and 69 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of SMS Shield's written reviews are positive against 81% of Simply Filter SMS's.
SMS Shield ships an update fortnightly, Simply Filter SMS every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SMS Shield | Simply Filter SMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (138 ratings) | 4.4 (69 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 17.9% of reviews | 80.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 138 — better | 69 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Taphive GmbH | Adi Ben-Dahan |
Customer experience
SMS Shield
Simply Filter SMS
Bugs and requests
SMS Shield
Reported bugs
14 issues- Filters out legitimate texts
- Doesn't block known spam
- Requires manual input for blocking
- No response from support
- Doesn't block SMS from email
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Machine learning is ineffective
- App still filtering after cancellation
- App doesn't work after iOS update
- Keywords not being blocked
- False positives (blocking important messages)
- Cannot cancel subscription in-app
- App asks for sensitive permissions
- Free trial doesn't work as advertised
- Fails to modify records when classifying SMS
Requested features
6 requests- 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
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- One-time purchase option
Simply Filter SMS
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SMS Shield
- Classic7 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Silver7 Days trial$3.996 Months
- Gold7 Days trial$8.491 Year
Simply Filter SMS
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$9.99
Questions
Is SMS Shield free?
Is Simply Filter SMS free?
Which has better reviews, SMS Shield or Simply Filter SMS?
Do SMS Shield or Simply Filter SMS have ads?
Which is updated more often, SMS Shield or Simply Filter SMS?
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