# SmartFilter for SMS vs Spam Text Blocker

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartFilter for SMS | Spam Text Blocker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (169 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartfilter-for-sms/id1271258894/reviews) | **[4.4 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spam-text-blocker-textshield/id6448859008/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **169** | 137 |
| Positive reviews | **75.4% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jacob Grant](https://appshunter.io/developer/1271258893) | [FathomTel, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482732721) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartFilter for SMS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartfilter-for-sms/id1271258894)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Yearly | $8.99 | per year |
| Leave a Tip! | $4.99 | one-time |
| One time | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Filters spam effectively
- 👍 Stops unwanted texts
- 👍 Life-improving quiet
- 👍 Set it and forget it
- 👍 Filters by keywords

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Keyword filter not working
- 🐛 Abandoned, old updates
- 🐛 Keyword function stopped
- 🐛 Letting through block words
- 🐛 Keyword filter does not work

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Sort into personalized folders
- Ability to filter specified short numbers
- User defined regex
- Delete all button for junk
- Immediately delete setting for certain words


### Spam Text Blocker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spam-text-blocker-textshield/id6448859008)

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.

**Highlights:** Spam text blocking, Scam detection, Inbox organization, Transaction/Promotion sorting, AI-powered filtering, Privacy-focused

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TextShield Pro - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| TextShield Pro - Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartFilter for SMS free?

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

### Is Spam Text Blocker free?

Spam Text Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SmartFilter for SMS or Spam Text Blocker?

Spam Text Blocker is rated higher. SmartFilter for SMS averages 4.3 out of 5 from 169 ratings, while Spam Text Blocker averages 4.4 from 137 ratings.

### Do SmartFilter for SMS or Spam Text Blocker have ads?

Neither SmartFilter for SMS nor Spam Text Blocker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartFilter for SMS or Spam Text Blocker?

SmartFilter for SMS ships an update every 2 months, and Spam Text Blocker every 6 weeks. Most recently, SmartFilter for SMS was updated on October 12, 2026 and Spam Text Blocker on October 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*