Comparison

SMS Shield vs Spam Text Blocker

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

Spam Text Blocker

This app filters out unwanted spam and scam texts, keeping your inbox clean and organized. It intelligently sorts messages into categories, ensuring you only see important communications. Advanced AI detects and blocks deceptive texts, protecting you from financial loss.

Highlights
  • Spam text blocking
  • Scam detection
  • Inbox organization
  • Transaction/Promotion sorting
  • AI-powered filtering
  • Privacy-focused
Read full description

Say goodbye to annoying spam texts, cluttered inboxes, and tricky scams. Keep your inbox for those texts you actually care about. TextShield shields your text message inbox with advanced filtering and intelligent sorting that keeps your inbox clean. NO MORE SPAM TEXTS Over 350 million spam texts are sent each day. Our advanced filtering system ensures that these unwanted messages won't reach your inbox. NO MORE INBOX CLUTTER Can't find your real messages between the reminders, codes, and updates? TextShield efficiently organizes your inbox so that important messages stand out. We support filtering into Transactions, Promotions folders, as well as any of 12 subfolders such as Reminders, Orders, Coupons, etc. NO MORE SCAMS Text scams steal about $10 billion each year. TextShield uses sophisticated scam detection algorithms to ensure that only real, meaningful texts get through. Our advanced AI analysis can identify 99.6% of deceptive texts and makes sure that they don't make their way into your inbox. PRIVACY-FIRST We don't show ads or do anything with your data that you wouldn't expect. We don't ask for any personal information, nor do we want it. TEXTSHIELD PRO Put spam blocking and text sorting on auto-pilot with our auto-updating smart rules and proactive threat detection. Available for $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year, both with a 7-day free trial. These subscriptions provide access to all TextShield features and services. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your App Store account at confirmation of purchase. You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY By using TextShield, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Terms of Service: https://textshield.io/terms Privacy Policy: https://textshield.io/privacy SUPPORT & FEEDBACK If you ever need help, or have something you'd like us to add to TextShield, please send us an email at support@textshield.io. We offer dedicated support and respond personally to each and every email.

Screenshots

SMS Shield4 screens
Spam Text Blocker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Spam Text Blocker at 4.4 against SMS Shield's 3.2. Spam Text Blocker also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (50% vs 18%). SMS Shield's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, 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 Spam Text Blocker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spam Text Blocker holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 137 and 137 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of SMS Shield's written reviews are positive against 50% of Spam Text Blocker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMS Shield ships an update fortnightly, Spam Text Blocker every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SMS Shield versus Spam Text Blocker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMS ShieldSpam Text Blocker
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (137 ratings)4.4 (137 ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.9% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings137137
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTaphive GmbHFathomTel, Inc.

Customer experience

SMS Shield

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

Spam Text Blocker

All ratings119 ratings
Positive84.9%
Neutral2.5%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Spam Text Blocker

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

Spam Text Blocker

Subscriptions2
  • TextShield Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • TextShield Pro - Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is SMS Shield free?
SMS Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spam Text Blocker free?
Spam Text Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SMS Shield or Spam Text Blocker?
Spam Text Blocker is rated higher. SMS Shield averages 3.2 out of 5 from 137 ratings, while Spam Text Blocker averages 4.4 from 137 ratings.
Do SMS Shield or Spam Text Blocker have ads?
Neither SMS Shield nor Spam Text Blocker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMS Shield or Spam Text Blocker?
SMS Shield ships an update fortnightly, and Spam Text Blocker every 6 weeks. Most recently, SMS Shield was updated on October 1, 2026 and Spam Text Blocker on October 2, 2026.

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