SmartFilter for SMS vs SMS Management
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Machine learning spam detection
- Customizable filtering options
- Filter unknown sender messages
- Filter messages with URLs
- Filter messages from email addresses
- On-device message analysis
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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/
SMS Management
Take control of your inbox by filtering unwanted text messages. Create custom rules to block spam, junk, and messages containing specific keywords, senders, or links. Filtered messages are stored in a junk folder without notifications.
- Create custom filtering rules
- Filter by text patterns, keywords, and sender
- Blacklist and whitelist messages
- Filter unknown senders
- Filter messages containing links
- Test rules on sample messages
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SMS Management only on appStore since 22 June 2020. Thank you to thousands of our active users in worldwide ! ! take Back control of your inbox via SMS Management Stop being distracted with spam, junk or other unwanted text messages, including SMS and MMS. With SMS Management, 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, sender, or regexp - blacklist and whitelist messages that match particular rule - Easily filter the message sender unknowns as not added to your contact list. - Easily filter the message containing the link. - Easily filter the message containing the BXXX codes like B001, B002, ... B999. - test your rules on test message. The filtered messages are collected in the junk folder in messages. So you will not receive notifications about unwanted messages. Messages must be private. So, no data is collected from this application ! ! ! No Ads, No Paid Subscription requirement..!!! We are moving forward only with your voluntary donation.. If you wish, you can support via click buy me coffee option. Please don't forget to rate the app on appStore and share it with your friends. ------- If you have any questions about whether my messages can be read by someone else, please read in this section; Someone asked to me on twitter as can you read my messages as developer? That's why I felt the need to add it here as well; This is not possible. Apple does not allow any kind of data retrieval. Source: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sms_and_call_reporting/sms_and_mms_message_filtering Someone ask same question too in stackoverflow 3 years ago (in 2018) thats answered; https://stackoverflow.com/questions/52494997/how-to-get-data-from-the-message-filter-extension If you want to test it your self, you can use this source by developing an app yourself; we can decide only its is junk or allow by keyword in codeside https://medium.com/@payalmaniyar/create-message-spam-filter-extension-for-ios-11-df554908d776 -------
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: SMS Management at free against SmartFilter for SMS's free with in-app purchases. SMS Management also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (90% vs 75%). SmartFilter for SMS's advantage is ratings volume (169 vs 37). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. SmartFilter for SMS sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and SMS Management sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for SmartFilter for SMS against 4.4 for SMS Management. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 169 and 37 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of SmartFilter for SMS's written reviews are positive against 90% of SMS Management's.
SmartFilter for SMS ships an update every 2 months, SMS Management fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartFilter for SMS | SMS Management |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (169 ratings) | 4.4 (37 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.4% of reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 169 — better | 37 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 25 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jacob Grant | Tarik Nasuhoglu |
Customer experience
SmartFilter for SMS
SMS Management
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 moreShow fewer
- 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 moreShow fewer
- Report functionality directly in message app
- Mark messages sent to junk as safe
- Option to be blissfully unaware of junk notifications
SMS Management
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SmartFilter for SMS
- Monthly$1.491 Month
- Yearly7 Days trial$8.991 Year
- Leave a Tip!$4.99
- One time$19.99
SMS Management
- Support to me for buy a coffee$4.99
Questions
Is SmartFilter for SMS free?
Is SMS Management free?
Which has better reviews, SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Management?
Do SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Management have ads?
Which is updated more often, SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Management?
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