Comparison

SMS Shield vs SMSProxy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Automatic spam filtering
  • Frequent traveler mode
  • Custom block list
  • Offline filtering
  • Multi-lingual spam detection
Features
Read full description

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

About

SMSProxy

Get temporary phone numbers to receive SMS codes for online sign-ups and promotions. Protect your real number by using burner numbers on various websites and apps. No account creation is needed.

Highlights
  • Temporary/burner phone numbers
  • Receive SMS codes
  • Sign up for online services
  • No account required
  • Supports 100+ numbers
  • No tracking or analytics
Read full description

Receive SMS codes on 100+ temporary/burner phone number using SMSProxy! This allows you to sign up to online services/promotions without giving out your real phone number. Works on almost any website/app/service. The app does not contain any tracking or analytics whatsoever. If you experience any issue, please get in touch using the in-app options. *No account or sign-up necessary. A paid subscription (free trial available) may be required to access all features of the app. **Terms and Conditions apply: https://ios.reol.ch/notifications/terms.html

Screenshots

SMS Shield4 screens
SMSProxy3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: SMSProxy at free with in-app purchases against SMS Shield's subscription. SMSProxy also leads on rating (3.7 vs 3.2) and device support (4 vs 2). SMS Shield's advantage is ratings volume (137 vs 6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SMS Shield sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and SMSProxy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SMSProxy holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMS Shield has 137 ratings behind it against 6, 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 20% of SMSProxy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMS Shield ships an update fortnightly, SMSProxy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SMS Shield versus SMSProxy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMS ShieldSMSProxy
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (137 ratings)3.7 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.9% of reviews20.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings137 — better6
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTaphive GmbHAlexandre Reol

Customer experience

SMS Shield

All ratings137 ratings
Positive49.6%
Neutral7.3%
Negative43.1%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive17.9%
Neutral3.6%
Negative78.6%

SMSProxy

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

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 more
  • 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 more
  • One-time purchase option

SMSProxy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SMS Shield

Subscriptions3
  • Classic7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Silver7 Days trial$3.996 Months
  • Gold7 Days trial$8.491 Year
2 purchases

SMSProxy

Subscriptions2
  • SMS Proxy Pro3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • SMS Proxy Pro3 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is SMS Shield free?
SMS Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SMSProxy free?
SMSProxy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SMS Shield or SMSProxy?
SMSProxy is rated higher. SMS Shield averages 3.2 out of 5 from 137 ratings, while SMSProxy averages 3.7 from 6 ratings.
Do SMS Shield or SMSProxy have ads?
Neither SMS Shield nor SMSProxy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMS Shield or SMSProxy?
SMS Shield ships an update fortnightly, and SMSProxy monthly. Most recently, SMS Shield was updated on October 1, 2026 and SMSProxy on September 18, 2026.

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