# SIMless vs eMates

The clearest difference is rating: SIMless at 4.4 against eMates's 2.0. SIMless also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 1) and review sentiment (18% vs 4%). eMates's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SIMless sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. eMates asks for nothing beyond the download.

SIMless holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SIMless has 3.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of SIMless's written reviews are positive against 4% of eMates's.

SIMless ships an update every 2 months, eMates fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SIMless | eMates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simless-2nd-phone-number/id1441621515/reviews)** | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emates/id1573352170/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **18.1% of reviews** | 4.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 63 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DreamTeam Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1271407617) | [Unilink Technology Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253866276) |

## What reviewers say

### SIMless

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simless-2nd-phone-number/id1441621515)

Obtain a secondary phone number for private calls and texts without revealing your personal information or using a physical SIM card. This app provides a global communication solution requiring only an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Get a second phone number, Make private calls, Send private texts, No SIM card required, Global communication, Anonymous communication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Line Inside (Weekly) | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Line with Trial (Weekly) | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Second Phone Number Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Line Inside (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| 2nd Phone Number Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| 2 Lines (Weekly) | $13.99 | per 7 days |
| 3 Lines (Weekly) | $16.99 | per 7 days |
| Starter 1000 Credits Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Change Number | $2.99 | one-time |
| Starter 2700 Credits Pack | $5.99 | one-time |


### eMates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emates/id1573352170)

Facilitates easy and frequent communication between prisoners and their loved ones. Aims to reduce self-harm by fostering connections and aids in prisoner rehabilitation for release.

**Highlights:** Easy prisoner communication, Secure messaging, Reduced self-harm, Release preparation assistance, Frequent and varied communication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Essential service for communication
- 👍 Better than nothing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Messages not sending or receiving
- 🐛 Login issues and account problems
- 🐛 Payment issues and money lost
- 🐛 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Messages fail to send or are lost
- Messages fail to receive
- Login screen freezes or doesn't respond
- Cannot log in even with correct credentials

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Fix message sending and receiving issues
- Resolve login and account access problems
- Address payment and credit issues
- Enhance customer support responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SIMless free?

SIMless is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is eMates free?

eMates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SIMless or eMates?

SIMless is rated higher. SIMless averages 4.4 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while eMates averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SIMless or eMates have ads?

SIMless shows ads; eMates does not.

### Which is updated more often, SIMless or eMates?

SIMless ships an update every 2 months, and eMates fortnightly. Most recently, SIMless was updated on October 27, 2026 and eMates on October 27, 2026.

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