# Fext vs Forward SMS

The clearest difference is rating: Fext at 4.0 against Forward SMS's 3.4. Fext also leads on ratings volume (551 vs 20). Forward SMS's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (38% vs 24%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fext sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Forward SMS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fext holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fext has 551 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of Fext's written reviews are positive against 38% of Forward SMS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Fext ships an update every 5 days, Forward SMS weekly. The most recent releases landed on August 12, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fext | Forward SMS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (551 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fext-group-text-messaging/id1518706313/reviews)** | [3.4 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forward-sms-sms-forwarder/id6740165005/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **551** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 23.6% of reviews | **37.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 82 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pericarp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1518706312) | [Parveen Kapoor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788674375) |

## What reviewers say

### Fext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fext-group-text-messaging/id1518706313)

Send a single message to multiple recipients, with each person receiving it as a private, one-on-one SMS. This app offers a simple, fast, and organized way to conduct group texting without the clutter of traditional group chats. It's designed for personal outreach and clear communication.

**Highlights:** Private one-on-one SMS delivery, No noisy group threads, Create flexible groups, Reuse message templates, Attach photos, video, or audio

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fext Plus | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Fext Plus | $3.99 | per month |
| Fext Gold | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Fext Plus | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Unlimited | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Personal Phone Number | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Fext Platinum | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Personal Phone Number | $19.99 | per month |
| Unlimited | $29.99 | per month |
| Personal Phone Number | $49.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Promotion | $49.99 | per year |
| Unlimited | $69.99 | per year |
| 100 SMS Credits | $9.99 | one-time |
| 250 SMS Credits | $19.99 | one-time |
| 2000 SMS Credits | $119.99 | one-time |
| 25000 SMS Credits | $999.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Great messaging app
- 🚀 Amazing text app
- 🔒 Privacy settings provide peace of mind
- 📢 Frequent updates add new features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Not user friendly at all
- 🤔 Can't use own phone number
- 💰 Expensive and obtrusive
- 🤖 Everything locked behind paywall
- 🤨 Misleading and only cares about money

**Reported bugs**

- Verification process fails
- Can't log in or sign up
- Scheduled texts not sent
- Glitches and crashes

**Requested features**

- Allow scheduling texts from own number
- Integrate with iPhone Messages app
- Add auto-search function for Pro numbers
- Provide better customer support and communication


### Forward SMS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forward-sms-sms-forwarder/id6740165005)

Automatically forward your SMS messages to various platforms like email, Slack, or WhatsApp. Set custom rules, filters, and schedules for precise control over message delivery. Ensures privacy by processing messages locally on your device.

**Highlights:** Automatic SMS forwarding, Forward to Email, Slack, WhatsApp, etc., Custom forwarding rules, Message filtering by sender/content, Scheduled forwarding options, Real-time message alerts, Local processing for privacy

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fext free?

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

### Is Forward SMS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Fext or Forward SMS?

Fext is rated higher. Fext averages 4.0 out of 5 from 551 ratings, while Forward SMS averages 3.4 from 20 ratings.

### Do Fext or Forward SMS have ads?

Neither Fext nor Forward SMS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fext or Forward SMS?

Fext ships an update every 5 days, and Forward SMS weekly. Most recently, Fext was updated on August 12, 2026 and Forward SMS on September 21, 2026.

---

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