Comparison

SMS Filter vs BlackList Messages

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

Head to head
About

SMS Filter

Take control of your incoming text messages by filtering out spam, junk, and unwanted SMS/MMS. Create custom rules based on keywords, patterns, or regular expressions to blacklist or whitelist messages. An optional yearly subscription offers advanced spam protection with a spammers database and statistical analysis.

Highlights
  • Customizable filtering rules
  • Filter by text patterns, keywords, regexp
  • Blacklist/Whitelist messages
  • Test rules on sample messages
  • Spam Protection subscription
  • Spammer database
  • Statistical spam analysis
Read full description

Stop being distracted with spam, junk or other unwanted text messages, including SMS and MMS. With SMS Filter, you now at last have a control of incoming text messages. Features: - create your own list of rules to filter your incoming text messages - filter incoming text messages by text patterns, keywords, or regexp - blacklist or whitelist messages that match particular rule - test your rules on test message Pro feature: Spam Protection subscription. Stay protected from massive spam attacks, let you messages be checked with our spammer database - for only $2.99 yearly (price varies by country). Spam Protection works following way: - when several users receive the same SMS from same sender during short period of time - that looks like a massive spam mailing. Once we detect that mailing, we treat next messages from that sender as a spam, and sender - as spammer. - once sender is marked as spammer, new messages from this sender to subscribers are filtered. A list of such senders is our spammer database. - once message is marked as spam, we use statistical algorithms to analyze text in it. In case new SMS message is sent from unknown phone number to subscriber, and it is similar to known spam messages, we filter it either. Support: support@deftapps.com Privacy & Terms of Service - We highly respect your privacy. You can find our Privacy Policy here http://deftapps.com/SMSFilter/privacy_policy.html - You can view our Terms of Service here http://deftapps.com/SMSFilter/terms_and_conditions.html Note about Spam Protection subscription: - 14-day trial - Spam Protection is provided to you on a subscription basis for the yearly term. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at the end of trial period. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's 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.

About

BlackList Messages

Block unwanted SMS messages by customizing your blacklist with various criteria. Create a whitelist to exempt specific contacts from being blocked. Never worry about SMS spam again with this productivity tool.

Highlights
  • Block unwanted SMS messages
  • Customize blacklist criteria
  • Create a whitelist for exceptions
  • Prevent SMS spam
  • Supports iPhone and iPod
Read full description

Block unwanted SMS text messages with this app! Customize your blacklist as you see fit. You can block unwanted messages with various selection criteria that you choose. This app also supports a whitelist where you can enter exceptions to messages that you don't want to be blocked. Never worry about SMS spam again!

Screenshots

SMS Filter3 screens
BlackList Messages3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SMS Filter at 3.7 against BlackList Messages's 2.6. SMS Filter also leads on ads (none vs shown). BlackList Messages's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (40% vs 27%). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement 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 Filter sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per year. BlackList Messages asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SMS Filter holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 5 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 27% of SMS Filter's written reviews are positive against 40% of BlackList Messages's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMS Filter ships an update every 8 months, BlackList Messages every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SMS Filter versus BlackList Messages: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMS FilterBlackList Messages
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (14 ratings) — better2.6 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews26.7% of reviews40.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIurii MozharovskyiEmanuele Floris

Customer experience

SMS Filter

All ratings14 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral7.1%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive26.7%
Neutral13.3%
Negative60.0%

BlackList Messages

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SMS Filter

Subscriptions1
  • Spam Protection14 Days trial$2.991 Year
None

BlackList Messages

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SMS Filter free?
SMS Filter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BlackList Messages free?
BlackList Messages is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SMS Filter or BlackList Messages?
SMS Filter is rated higher. SMS Filter averages 3.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while BlackList Messages averages 2.6 from 5 ratings.
Do SMS Filter or BlackList Messages have ads?
BlackList Messages shows ads; SMS Filter does not.
Which is updated more often, SMS Filter or BlackList Messages?
SMS Filter ships an update every 8 months, and BlackList Messages every 4 months. Most recently, SMS Filter was updated on September 18, 2026 and BlackList Messages on September 13, 2026.

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