# SMS Spam Stopper vs Startpage

The clearest difference is price: Startpage at Free against SMS Spam Stopper's $3.99. Startpage also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (7.4K vs 38). SMS Spam Stopper's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Startpage is free to download; SMS Spam Stopper costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Startpage holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Startpage has 7.4K ratings behind it against 38, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of SMS Spam Stopper's written reviews are positive against 71% of Startpage's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SMS Spam Stopper ships an update every 6 months, Startpage monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS Spam Stopper | Startpage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.2 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-spam-stopper/id1451769591/reviews) | **[4.8 (7.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 38 | **7.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **73.0% of reviews** | 70.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 71 MB | 240 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Ruchira Ramesh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1060129321) | [Startpage BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/632832985) |

## What reviewers say

### SMS Spam Stopper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-spam-stopper/id1451769591)

Automatically block unwanted spam messages using AI and heuristic detection. Customize blocked words, numbers, and filter unknown senders to keep your inbox clean. Protects against abusive language and allows whitelisting of important messages like OTPs.

**Highlights:** Automatic spam SMS blocking, Heuristic and AI detection, Custom blocked words list, Blocked numbers list, Filter unknown senders, Abuse detection, Allowed words list for whitelisting

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Startpage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430)

Browse the web and search privately with a built-in search engine that protects your data. It clears your history and tabs with one tap, masks your location and IP address, and provides unprofiled search results. Enjoy a secure and private online experience.

**Highlights:** Private search engine, Clear tabs and history, Anonymous website visits, Private tabs and maps, Unprofiled search results, Avoid targeted ads

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Lightning-fast and responsive
- 🔒 Robust privacy and security features
- 👍 Clean and user-friendly interface
- 🔍 Accurate and relevant search results
- 🕊️ Preserves user privacy and anonymity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Limited search customization options
- 🔌 Lack of built-in ad blocker
- 🔍 Inconsistent search engine behavior across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Pages not loading properly
- Inconsistent behavior when searching from iOS home screen
- Anonymous view failing to load images/thumbnails

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to export bookmarks and reading lists
- One-tap history/data clearing
- Option to set default private browsing mode
- StartMail app integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS Spam Stopper free?

SMS Spam Stopper costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Startpage free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SMS Spam Stopper or Startpage?

Startpage is rated higher. SMS Spam Stopper averages 4.2 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Startpage averages 4.8 from 7.4K ratings.

### Do SMS Spam Stopper or Startpage have ads?

Neither SMS Spam Stopper nor Startpage shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMS Spam Stopper or Startpage?

SMS Spam Stopper ships an update every 6 months, and Startpage monthly. Most recently, SMS Spam Stopper was updated on October 26, 2026 and Startpage on October 29, 2026.

---

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