# SMS Virtual vs Authenticator app

The clearest difference is update cadence: Authenticator app at weekly against SMS Virtual's monthly. SMS Virtual's advantage is chart position (#191 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Authenticator app sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SMS Virtual ships an update monthly, Authenticator app weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS Virtual | Authenticator app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#191** | — |
| Size | 59 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tecrow LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823713456) | [AttestNet](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896768336) |

## What reviewers say

### SMS Virtual

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

**Currently charting:** #191 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


### Authenticator app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/authenticator-app-2fa-mfa/id6781687744)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CardVault Weekly 3 days Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS Virtual free?

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

### Is Authenticator app free?

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

### Do SMS Virtual or Authenticator app have ads?

Neither SMS Virtual nor Authenticator app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMS Virtual or Authenticator app?

SMS Virtual ships an update monthly, and Authenticator app weekly. Most recently, SMS Virtual was updated on November 9, 2026 and Authenticator app on November 5, 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.*