Comparison

Texter vs BuzzBell

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Texter

This app provides a private, disposable phone number for sending and receiving texts and making calls globally. It offers a simple, contract-free solution for privacy without needing a separate device or cell plan. Enjoy transparent fees and full control over your number.

Highlights
  • Disposable phone numbers
  • Send and receive texts
  • Make international calls
  • No contract required
  • Transparent fee calculator
  • No advertisements
Features
Read full description

Texter is a private phone number app specifically designed for iPhone to protect the sender's privacy. It is a simple and inexpensive way for those who need a disposable number to send or receive text messages and make calls around the world. No contracts, transparent fees, absolute privacy. NO HASSLES Our numbers come without a contract. You don't need a cell phone plan or another device to use your second phone number. SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS Using your second phone number with Texter is super-simple. Purchase a number, recharge credits, and start messaging and calling. TRANSPARENT FEES Texter messaging and calling fees are as transparent as possible. By using the in-app Tariff calculator, you can check the cost per outgoing and incoming calls or messages based on a specific country. UNRESTRICTED OWNERSHIP Purchase and keep your number for as long as you need or dispose of it anytime. NO ADS The app doesn't bother you with any advertisement and never shares any of your data. No exceptions! Use Texter in everyday situations: • Buying or selling things on Craigslist, eBay, or other e-commerce platforms • Dating • Hosting apartments on Airbnb • Using Uber • Applying for a job • Working (e.g. as a second work number)
 Phone numbers available in: USA, Canada, Sweden. PRICING Texter is free to download and comes with 20 free credits. Phone numbers and additional credits are available through subscriptions and in-app purchases. Our standard Subscription Options for phone numbers are weekly, monthly and yearly. If you choose to get one of our plans then your payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. The cost of the renewal depends on your Subscription Plan. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. When canceling a subscription, your subscription will remain active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled but the current subscription will not be refunded. IMPORTANT: Messages use prepaid credits. Area code availability varies. May not work with SMS shortcode services. Not for 911 or other emergency services. Text messaging to UK and US numbers is unavailable (UK, US, PR, VI, Guam, and American Samoa). Text messaging is not available in Africa (Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Cote D’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion Island, Rwanda, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, United Republic Of Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe) and Dominican Republic. If you like Texter app, we would love if you left a great review in the App Store! Just a couple of kind words or a simple star rating helps a lot! Privacy Policy: https://legal.apptoro.support/hc/en-us/articles/4417734791057 Terms of Use: https://legal.apptoro.support/hc/en-us/articles/4417344441617

About

BuzzBell

This messaging app ensures urgent communications are received even when a phone is on silent. It offers peace of mind by allowing users to set boundaries with approved contacts and provides features like text-to-voice calls and persistent notifications for critical messages.

Highlights
  • Bypass silent mode for urgent messages
  • Text-to-voice VoIP calls
  • Persistent audible notifications
  • Approved contacts only
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Scheduled message sending
  • Mark messages as unread
Features
Read full description

** Best Invention 2021** - TIME Welcome to the future of messaging. BuzzBell is the only messaging app that can break through Silent Mode with urgent messages and calls to ensure they are read and answered immediately. Enjoy the unique peace of mind created by stepping away from your phone knowing you can still be reached by your trusted contacts when it matters. HOW IT WORKS BuzzBell empowers you to set boundaries. Only your approved contacts can communicate with you on BuzzBell. After creating an account, invite your contacts to BuzzBell to start the conversation. BuzzBell can be used for all conversations, but when it’s urgent, use the BUZZ or BELL feature to amplify your message or call so that it’s noticed immediately, even if the recipient’s phone is switched to Silent Mode. First, we convert the text message to a text-to-voice VoIP internet call that allows them to receive the message even when not otherwise capable of launching the app (ie, when driving). If the VoIP text-to-voice call is unanswered, then a unique and continuous BUZZ (audible vibration) or BELL (ringtone) notification is sent to their phone ensuring that you get their attention. Both the BUZZ vibration and the BELL tone continuously plays until the receiver opens the App. When it's not time-sensitive and you don’t use the BUZZ or BELL feature, they’ll simply receive the message or call with a standard notification. WHY CHOOSE BUZZBELL BuzzBell is the only messaging platform that offers you peace of mind. It’s not always easy to relax and switch to Silent Mode – sometimes it feels like you’ll miss something important, whether that be good news or bad, if you’re not always available online. With BuzzBell, you can trust that you’ll still get the message or call when it really matters, and that your urgent calls and messages will stand out in return. Share photos, videos, GIFs and hyperlinks. Enjoy sending voice messages with playback speed controls. Mark your messages as unread to give yourself a reminder to respond later and schedule messages to send in the future while the message is top of mind. NOTIFICATION CONTROLS When you want to completely disconnect, toggle off BUZZBELL notifications in your Settings located under the Menu Tab. While toggled off, BUZZ and BELL bypass alerts will not audibly play to protect your quiet time. When you’re ready to receive audible bypass alerts again, simply toggle BUZZBELL notifications back on. You can also toggle off standard and BUZZBELL notifications on a chat by chat basis. With BuzzBell, you are in control. BuzzBell follows all iOS guidelines. Therefore, we do not affect Do Not Disturb Mode. If you have Do Not Disturb enabled, BUZZBELL alerts will not play. PRIVATE & SECURE We value your privacy. All messages are protected with a double layer of end-to-end encryption ensuring your conversations will never be accessed by anyone else. Also, your personal data and information will never be shared with any advertisers. When you share your location with a contact on BuzzBell, they’re the only ones who can see it. PRICING Enjoy BuzzBell for FREE or upgrade to Premium for the best user experience. Select from 20 exclusive BELL tones for your overall sound and set BELL tones per chat. Plus, enjoy an ad-free experience, unlimited amount of pinned chats and future customizations. Improve your peace of mind and reduce messaging anxiety. Download BuzzBell today!

Screenshots

Texter4 screens
BuzzBell4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BuzzBell at 88% against Texter's 21%. BuzzBell also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Texter's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Texter sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and BuzzBell sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Texter holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Texter has 1.2K ratings behind it against 166, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 21% of Texter's written reviews are positive against 88% of BuzzBell's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Texter ships an update monthly, BuzzBell every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Texter versus BuzzBell: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTexterBuzzBell
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.2K ratings) — better4.3 (166 ratings)
Positive reviews20.7% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.2K — better166
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperApp ToroIn-telligent Properties LLC

Customer experience

Texter

All ratings1,164 ratings
Positive89.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive20.7%
Neutral1.2%
Negative78.0%

BuzzBell

All ratings166 ratings
Positive83.7%
Neutral0.6%
Negative15.7%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

User reviews

Texter

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Efficient way for secret communication
  • 🚀 Simple and straightforward to use

Room to improve

  • 🚫 Unable to call or text US numbers
  • 💰 Expensive and requires purchasing credits
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
  • ⚠️ Unreliable service, messages may or may not be delivered

BuzzBell

From 166 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reaches contacts urgently
  • 👍 Cuts through silent mode
  • 💡 Smart idea for communication
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • ❤️ Peace of mind

Room to improve

  • 😞 Harassing ambassadors
  • 😞 Sexual subjective comments
  • 😞 Pressured into downloading
  • 😞 Annoying ambassadors

Bugs and requests

Texter

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Inconsistent behavior, sometimes works, sometimes doesn't

Requested features

2 requests
  • Free trial option
  • Ability to use app in more countries

BuzzBell

No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Texter

Subscriptions5
  • Texting Number (weekly)$3.997 Days
  • 2nd Texting Number (weekly)$4.997 Days
  • Texting Number (monthly)$7.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • 2nd Texting Number (monthly)$9.991 Month
  • 2nd Texting Number (yearly)$69.991 Year
One-time5
  • 100 Credits$2.99
  • Change Phone Number$4.99
  • 300 Credits$6.99
Show 2 more
  • Change Phone Number$9.99
  • 900 Credits$17.99
2 purchases

BuzzBell

Subscriptions2
  • Premium (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Premium (Yearly)$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Texter free?
Texter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BuzzBell free?
BuzzBell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Texter or BuzzBell?
Texter is rated higher. Texter averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while BuzzBell averages 4.3 from 166 ratings.
Do Texter or BuzzBell have ads?
BuzzBell shows ads; Texter does not.
Which is updated more often, Texter or BuzzBell?
Texter ships an update monthly, and BuzzBell every 8 days. Most recently, Texter was updated on October 13, 2026 and BuzzBell on October 17, 2026.

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