Comparison

SmartFilter for SMS vs SMS Filter+

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

Head to head
About

SmartFilter for SMS

This app intelligently filters unwanted SMS messages using machine learning. It offers extensive customization options to tailor filtering rules and ensures user privacy by analyzing messages directly on the device.

Highlights
  • Machine learning spam detection
  • Customizable filtering options
  • Filter unknown sender messages
  • Filter messages with URLs
  • Filter messages from email addresses
  • On-device message analysis
Read full description

Spam texts are annoying, and sometimes dangerous. SmartFilter works with your iPhone's built-in message filtering to sort them out before they land in your inbox — turn it on once and it runs automatically from then on. Set your own rules, or install ready-made packs for toll scams, fake tax notices, gift card cons, crypto pitches, delivery scams, job and loan scams, phishing, and election spam. Two more packs route marketing texts and receipts into their own folders. Messages can go to Junk, Promotions, Transactions, or straight to your inbox — you decide. Paste in a real message and tap the words that matter, and SmartFilter writes the rule for you. Save test messages so you can check your setup any time you change something. And if you want to know why a message ended up where it did, SmartFilter shows you the exact path it took. Your rules sync across your devices with iCloud. Report junk, or tell SmartFilter it got one wrong, right from the Messages app — no extra steps. SmartFilter also catches spam that tries to sneak past filters using lookalike letters and hidden characters. Every message is analyzed on your phone. Nothing you receive is ever sent to a server — that's not a policy, it's how the app works. SmartFilter is free to use, with a limit on how many filters you can save. Subscribe monthly, yearly, or once for good to unlock unlimited filters, every premium pack, regex and case-sensitive matching, test messages, and alternate app icons. Already a supporter from an earlier version? You're covered — no need to buy again. SmartFilter is made by one independent developer. If it's working for you, a review goes a long way. For in-app purchases and subscriptions, see https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

SMS Filter+

This app provides professional SMS filtering to block spam and unwanted MMS messages. Customize filters based on phone numbers, keywords, or regular expressions to automatically sort messages. Enjoy uninterrupted focus by silencing junk messages without notifications.

Highlights
  • Automatic message classification
  • Customizable spam filters
  • Filter by phone number, text, keywords, regex
  • Block unwanted MMS messages
  • Silent junk message notifications
  • Privacy-focused processing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This is a safe, ef­fi­cient and pro­fes­sion­al SMS fil­ter. You can cus­tomize your own fil­ters to help you fil­ter spam and MMS mes­sages from un­known phone num­bers. What it does: Automatically classify your messages, filter junk messages, let you avoid being disturbed by spam during work, rest or when you are on your phone(such as gaming or reading). Privacy matters: All ver­i­fi­ca­tion ac­tiv­i­ties oc­cur in a closed and se­cured process pro­vid­ed by iOS, with­out the need to con­nect to the net­work through­out, and SMS Fil­ter+ will not read, col­lect or tag your mes­sages. Customize your filters: Filter your messages like a pro, support check phone numbers, text, containing multiple keywords, start/end with keywords, match with Regular Expression and other advanced features. How it works: When a mes­sage comes, SMS Fil­ter+ will al­ways go through your Allow, Transaction and Promotion filters. Once there is any filter made a match, messages automatically classified into the corresponding folder. If those filters can not make a match, then SMS Fil­ter+ will go through your Junk filters, mes­sage will be fil­tered if it matched as spam. Notifications & Badge If a message classified as Allow, Transaction and Promotion, you will still get notifications and unread badge on the Message app icon, if a message filtered as spam, you won’t get any notifications and there is no unread badge.

Screenshots

SmartFilter for SMS4 screens
SMS Filter+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SmartFilter for SMS at Free against SMS Filter+'s $0.99. SmartFilter for SMS also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 58%). SMS Filter+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#187 vs unranked). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SmartFilter for SMS is free to download; SMS Filter+ costs $0.99 up front. SmartFilter for SMS sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SMS Filter+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for SmartFilter for SMS against 4.2 for SMS Filter+. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 169 and 216 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of SmartFilter for SMS's written reviews are positive against 58% of SMS Filter+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmartFilter for SMS ships an update every 2 months, SMS Filter+ every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 20, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
SmartFilter for SMS versus SMS Filter+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartFilter for SMSSMS Filter+
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.3 (169 ratings) — better4.2 (216 ratings)
Positive reviews75.4% of reviews — better57.8% of reviews
Number of ratings169216 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#187 — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJacob Grant奕才 杨

Customer experience

SmartFilter for SMS

All ratings169 ratings
Positive81.1%
Neutral7.7%
Negative11.2%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral6.6%
Negative18.0%

SMS Filter+

All ratings216 ratings
Positive77.3%
Neutral7.4%
Negative15.3%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive57.8%
Neutral9.6%
Negative32.5%

Bugs and requests

SmartFilter for SMS

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Keyword blocking only sometimes works
  • Keyword function stopped working
  • Letting through texts with block words
  • Spam-detection model not working well
  • ML not working, legitimate messages filtered as spam
Show 5 more
  • Allow Words filter not working
  • Report SMS doesn't work
  • Spam still shows notification icon
  • Spam still comes in to inbox with alerts
  • False positives inevitable at the start, retraining could be easier

Requested features

8 requests
  • Sort into personalized folders
  • Ability to filter specified short numbers
  • User defined regex
  • Delete all button for junk
  • Immediately delete setting for certain words
Show 3 more
  • Report functionality directly in message app
  • Mark messages sent to junk as safe
  • Option to be blissfully unaware of junk notifications

SMS Filter+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SmartFilter for SMS

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time2
  • Leave a Tip!$4.99
  • One time$19.99
None

SMS Filter+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmartFilter for SMS free?
SmartFilter for SMS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SMS Filter+ free?
SMS Filter+ costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Filter+?
SmartFilter for SMS is rated higher. SmartFilter for SMS averages 4.3 out of 5 from 169 ratings, while SMS Filter+ averages 4.2 from 216 ratings.
Do SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Filter+ have ads?
Neither SmartFilter for SMS nor SMS Filter+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Filter+?
SmartFilter for SMS ships an update every 2 months, and SMS Filter+ every 4 weeks. Most recently, SmartFilter for SMS was updated on August 20, 2026 and SMS Filter+ on September 20, 2026.

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