SmartFilter for SMS vs Spam Text Blocker
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/
Spam Text Blocker
This app filters out unwanted spam and scam texts, keeping your inbox clean and organized. It intelligently sorts messages into categories, ensuring you only see important communications. Advanced AI detects and blocks deceptive texts, protecting you from financial loss.
- Spam text blocking
- Scam detection
- Inbox organization
- Transaction/Promotion sorting
- AI-powered filtering
- Privacy-focused
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Say goodbye to annoying spam texts, cluttered inboxes, and tricky scams. Keep your inbox for those texts you actually care about. TextShield shields your text message inbox with advanced filtering and intelligent sorting that keeps your inbox clean. NO MORE SPAM TEXTS Over 350 million spam texts are sent each day. Our advanced filtering system ensures that these unwanted messages won't reach your inbox. NO MORE INBOX CLUTTER Can't find your real messages between the reminders, codes, and updates? TextShield efficiently organizes your inbox so that important messages stand out. We support filtering into Transactions, Promotions folders, as well as any of 12 subfolders such as Reminders, Orders, Coupons, etc. NO MORE SCAMS Text scams steal about $10 billion each year. TextShield uses sophisticated scam detection algorithms to ensure that only real, meaningful texts get through. Our advanced AI analysis can identify 99.6% of deceptive texts and makes sure that they don't make their way into your inbox. PRIVACY-FIRST We don't show ads or do anything with your data that you wouldn't expect. We don't ask for any personal information, nor do we want it. TEXTSHIELD PRO Put spam blocking and text sorting on auto-pilot with our auto-updating smart rules and proactive threat detection. Available for $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year, both with a 7-day free trial. These subscriptions provide access to all TextShield features and services. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your App Store account at confirmation of purchase. You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your 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. TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY By using TextShield, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Terms of Service: https://textshield.io/terms Privacy Policy: https://textshield.io/privacy SUPPORT & FEEDBACK If you ever need help, or have something you'd like us to add to TextShield, please send us an email at support@textshield.io. We offer dedicated support and respond personally to each and every email.
Screenshots
Verdict
SmartFilter for SMS and Spam Text Blocker both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of SmartFilter for SMS's written reviews are positive against 50% of Spam Text Blocker's. Spam Text Blocker's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Spam Text Blocker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. 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 Spam Text Blocker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 169 and 137 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of SmartFilter for SMS's written reviews are positive against 50% of Spam Text Blocker's.
SmartFilter for SMS ships an update every 2 months, Spam Text Blocker every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartFilter for SMS | Spam Text Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (169 ratings) | 4.4 (137 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.4% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 169 — better | 137 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 25 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jacob Grant | FathomTel, Inc. |
Customer experience
SmartFilter for SMS
Spam Text Blocker
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
Spam Text Blocker
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
Spam Text Blocker
- TextShield Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- TextShield Pro - Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Questions
Is SmartFilter for SMS free?
Is Spam Text Blocker free?
Which has better reviews, SmartFilter for SMS or Spam Text Blocker?
Do SmartFilter for SMS or Spam Text Blocker have ads?
Which is updated more often, SmartFilter for SMS or Spam Text Blocker?
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