# Short links maker vs SMS Virtual

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Short links maker at none against SMS Virtual's 7. Short links maker also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). SMS Virtual's advantage is chart position (#153 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS Virtual sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Short links maker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Short links maker | SMS Virtual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-receive-sms/id1558276033/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **30K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 89.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#153** |
| Size | 22 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [itCraft s.c. Karol Wegner Bartosz Pieslak](https://appshunter.io/developer/802205887) | [Tecrow LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823713456) |

## What reviewers say

### Short links maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/short-links-maker/id1549528769)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SMS Virtual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-receive-sms/id1558276033)

**Currently charting:** #153 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Get disposable virtual phone numbers to receive SMS messages online. Ideal for account verification and protecting your privacy without needing a physical SIM card. Enjoy transparent pricing and a simple process for temporary number use.

**Highlights:** Disposable virtual numbers, Receive SMS online, Account verification, Privacy protection, Transparent pricing, Temporary number use

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Number | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Number | $39.99 | per year |
| 1 Activation | $0.29 | one-time |
| 5 Activations | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Activations | $1.99 | one-time |
| 15 activations | $2.99 | one-time |
| Number Change | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable and consistent
- 💰 Very affordable
- 🚀 Fast SMS delivery
- 🔒 Maintains privacy
- 🔥 Excellent customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Time limits on phone numbers
- 🔢 Limited number of SMS per number
- 🚫 Some numbers not compatible with certain services
- 📵 Occasional issues with number availability

**Reported bugs**

- Numbers sometimes already registered
- Activation credits not always received

**Requested features**

- Expand number selection for more services
- Increase number of SMS per number
- Extend time limits on phone numbers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Short links maker free?

Short links maker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SMS Virtual free?

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

### Do Short links maker or SMS Virtual have ads?

Neither Short links maker nor SMS Virtual shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Short links maker or SMS Virtual?

Short links maker ships an update monthly, and SMS Virtual monthly. Most recently, Short links maker was updated on October 29, 2026 and SMS Virtual on November 12, 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.*