# String vs Riser

The clearest difference is rating: Riser at 4.4 against String's 3.5. Riser also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Riser holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 62 and 150 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of String's written reviews are positive against 84% of Riser's.

String ships an update every 2 months, Riser fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | String | Riser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/string-modern-phone-inbox/id1445655431/reviews) | **[4.4 (150 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riser-small-business-crm/id1484656561/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 62 | **150** |
| Positive reviews | 68.6% of reviews | **83.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 68 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NumberBarn, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031383867) | [Tutorwyse.com, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484656560) |

## What reviewers say

### String

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/string-modern-phone-inbox/id1445655431)

Enhance customer engagement with a business SMS and voice platform. Organize your inbox, automate responses, and manage contacts efficiently. Send personalized messages to individuals or groups, and access your workflow from any device.

**Highlights:** Use existing or new phone numbers, Organize inbox with sales funnel view, Automated responses and auto-replies, Contact management and CRM integrations, 1-1, group, and mass messaging, Templates and voicemail transcription, Browser and mobile app access

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Organizes texts like email
- 🚀 Efficient for business communication
- 💡 Automates common questions
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 👍 Great for small businesses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Mobile app is buggy
- 🐛 Website loads to white screen
- 🐛 App loads messages out of order
- 🐛 Threads don't load
- 🐛 Incorrect contact loading

**Reported bugs**

- Calls drop within seconds
- Line cuts out completely
- Website loads to a white screen
- App loads message threads out of order
- Tapping into a thread does not load any part of the conversation

**Requested features**

- Improve mobile app stability
- Fix website loading issues
- Ensure message threads load correctly
- Improve contact loading accuracy
- Fix push notification badge issues


### Riser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riser-small-business-crm/id1484656561)

This app provides small business owners with tools to manage proposals, contracts, invoices, and payments. It also offers a second business phone number for calls and texts, shared inbox, task management, and call recording to boost productivity and client communication.

**Highlights:** Create and send proposals, Generate and send invoices, Accept credit card payments, Second business phone number, Shared team inbox, Task management, Call recording and transcription

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 💼 Great for small business management
- 📞 Affordable toll-free number service
- 📧 All-in-one CRM with invoicing and texting
- ⚡ Quick setup process

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Fake and unvetted leads
- 💳 Unauthorized charges and billing issues
- 🚫 Account bans without clear explanation
- 📵 Poor customer service responsiveness
- 🔐 Unauthorized account preference changes

**Reported bugs**

- App stops working after phone updates
- Notification and reminder system limitations
- Service suspension for inactivity
- Inconsistent lead quality and accuracy
- Contact information errors in leads

**Requested features**

- Desktop version for call data management
- Increased reminder limits in free version
- Contact sync functionality
- Desktop dialing capability
- Enhanced user interface learning resources


## Frequently asked questions

### Is String free?

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

### Is Riser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, String or Riser?

Riser is rated higher. String averages 3.5 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Riser averages 4.4 from 150 ratings.

### Do String or Riser have ads?

Neither String nor Riser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, String or Riser?

String ships an update every 2 months, and Riser fortnightly. Most recently, String was updated on November 2, 2026 and Riser on November 3, 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.*