Comparison

SmartFilter for SMS vs SMS Management

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 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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

SmartFilter for SMS4 screens
SMS Management4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for SmartFilter for SMS against 4.4 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SmartFilter for SMS versus SMS Management: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartFilter for SMSSMS Management
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (169 ratings)4.4 (37 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.4% of reviews90.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings169 — better37
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJacob GrantTarik Nasuhoglu

Customer experience

SmartFilter for SMS

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

SMS Management

All ratings36 ratings
Positive86.1%
Neutral5.6%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral1.7%
Negative8.3%

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 Management

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SmartFilter for SMS

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.491 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time2
  • Leave a Tip!$4.99
  • One time$19.99
1 purchases

SMS Management

One-time1
  • Support to me for buy a coffee$4.99

Questions

Is SmartFilter for SMS free?
SmartFilter for SMS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SMS Management free?
SMS Management is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Management?
SMS Management is rated higher. SmartFilter for SMS averages 4.3 out of 5 from 169 ratings, while SMS Management averages 4.4 from 37 ratings.
Do SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Management have ads?
Neither SmartFilter for SMS nor SMS Management shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmartFilter for SMS or SMS Management?
SmartFilter for SMS ships an update every 2 months, and SMS Management fortnightly. Most recently, SmartFilter for SMS was updated on October 23, 2026 and SMS Management on October 20, 2026.

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