# SMS Filter vs Junkman

The clearest difference is rating: Junkman at 4.3 against SMS Filter's 3.7. Junkman also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 27%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). SMS Filter's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS Filter sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per year and Junkman sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Junkman holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Junkman has 122 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of SMS Filter's written reviews are positive against 60% of Junkman's.

SMS Filter ships an update every 8 months, Junkman every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS Filter | Junkman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-filter/id1271159042/reviews) | **[4.3 (122 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/junkman-ai-spam-sms-blocker/id1591815272/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **122** |
| Positive reviews | 26.7% of reviews | **59.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 58 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Iurii Mozharovskyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/411678880) | [Kerem Erkan](https://appshunter.io/developer/416098703) |

## What reviewers say

### SMS Filter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-filter/id1271159042)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spam Protection | $2.99 | per year |


### Junkman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/junkman-ai-spam-sms-blocker/id1591815272)

This app intelligently filters incoming text messages, categorizing them as normal, junk, transaction, or promotional. It utilizes advanced machine learning and a dedicated spam database to block unwanted messages, operating entirely offline for enhanced privacy. Users can also create custom rules for precise control over message filtering.

**Highlights:** AI-powered message classification, Spam and threat database, Customizable rule lists with Regex support, Offline operation, Reporting extension for incorrect classifications, Time schedules for filtering

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Pack | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro Pack | $24.99 | per year |
| Small cup of tea | $0.99 | one-time |
| Large cup of tea | $1.99 | one-time |
| Teapot! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Samovar!! | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro Pack - Lifetime | $124.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Effectively filters spam and junk messages
- 🎯 Customizable filtering rules with regex support
- 🚀 Works locally on-device without data collection
- 💰 Affordable pricing compared to competitors
- 🤖 Smart AI filter catches political and scam texts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Stops working after iOS updates without warning
- ⚠️ False positives filter legitimate messages
- 🔐 Apple's privacy warning misleads users
- 🔄 Frequent updates cause intermittent failures
- 📝 Multi-step process to report spam is tedious

**Reported bugs**

- App stops filtering after iOS updates without user notification
- Filtering fails silently with no indication to user
- Unread message count shows incorrectly
- Rule checker feature was removed in recent updates
- Transaction filter overrides junk filter incorrectly

**Requested features**

- Ability to move or recover misclassified messages from junk folder
- Automatic local notifications when filtering stops working
- Whitelist/allowlist feature for trusted contacts
- Option to automatically delete spam instead of just filtering
- Simplified one-click spam reporting process


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS Filter free?

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

### Is Junkman free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SMS Filter or Junkman?

Junkman is rated higher. SMS Filter averages 3.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Junkman averages 4.3 from 122 ratings.

### Do SMS Filter or Junkman have ads?

Neither SMS Filter nor Junkman shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMS Filter or Junkman?

SMS Filter ships an update every 8 months, and Junkman every 3 weeks. Most recently, SMS Filter was updated on November 3, 2026 and Junkman on November 7, 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.*