# textPlus vs SMS client

The clearest difference is rating: textPlus at 4.6 against SMS client's 2.0. textPlus also leads on ratings volume (272K vs 2) and review sentiment (41% vs 17%). SMS client's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. textPlus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SMS client asks for nothing beyond the download.

textPlus holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: textPlus has 272K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of textPlus's written reviews are positive against 17% of SMS client's.

textPlus ships an update monthly, SMS client every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | textPlus | SMS client |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (272K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textplus-text-message-plus-call/id314487667/reviews)** | [2.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-client/id379141837/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **272K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **40.8% of reviews** | 16.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#91** | — |
| Size | 201 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **8.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [textPlus, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/306523812) | [MacMedia](https://appshunter.io/developer/322441361) |

## What reviewers say

### textPlus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textplus-text-message-plus-call/id314487667)

**Currently charting:** #91 Top Free · Utilities, #139 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Get a free US phone number for unlimited texting and calling over WiFi or data. Save money on mobile plans by using this app to connect with friends and family globally. Offers inexpensive outbound calls and can turn tablets into phones.

**Highlights:** Free US phone number, Unlimited free texting (SMS, MMS, group chat), Free inbound calls, Inexpensive outbound calls, Works over WiFi, Turn tablets into phones

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Bundle Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Keep Phone Number | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Number Bundle Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Number - 1 Year | $0.99 | one-time |
| 40 Minutes | $0.99 | one-time |
| $0.99 in Calling Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 99¢ in textPlus Credit | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 Minutes | $1.99 | one-time |
| $1.99 in Calling Credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| $5.49 in Calling Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| $4.99 in textPlus Credit | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Game-changing app
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Fast and reliable texting and calling
- 💡 Useful additional features
- 👍 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🔋 Frequent ads interrupting usage
- 🐛 Inconsistent call and messaging functionality
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
- 🐛 Frequent glitches and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to get new phone numbers
- Randomly logging users out of accounts
- Delayed or undelivered messages
- Calls not connecting properly
- Incompatibility with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Upgrade options for better features
- Improved notification system
- Reduce intrusive ads
- Expand international support
- Add more customization options


### SMS client

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-client/id379141837)

Compose and send SMS messages from your Mac using your iPhone. This app connects to a companion Mac application, allowing you to manage contacts, send to individuals or groups, and utilize message templates. Confirmation on your iPhone is required for security.

**Highlights:** Send SMS from Mac, Utilize iPhone for sending, Access Apple Contacts, Send to individuals or groups, Import groups from CSV, Create message templates, View sending history

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⌨️ Easier typing on Mac keyboard
- ⏱️ Saves time for long messages
- ✅ Works as advertised (for some)
- 💡 Good idea for an app

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Must press send on iPhone
- 🔌 Connection drops frequently
- ⏳ Cumbersome setup and reconnection
- 📱 No incoming message display on Mac
- 💸 Waste of money/time

**Reported bugs**

- Send button not clickable
- Recipients overlayed on message
- Connection failed
- App crashes frequently
- Doesn't connect to iPhone

**Requested features**

- Enable automatic sending from Mac
- Allow iPhone app to run in background
- Display incoming messages on Mac
- Improve connection stability
- Simplify setup process


## Frequently asked questions

### Is textPlus free?

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

### Is SMS client free?

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

### Which has better reviews, textPlus or SMS client?

textPlus is rated higher. textPlus averages 4.6 out of 5 from 272K ratings, while SMS client averages 2.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do textPlus or SMS client have ads?

textPlus shows ads; SMS client does not.

### Which is updated more often, textPlus or SMS client?

textPlus ships an update monthly, and SMS client every 5 months. Most recently, textPlus was updated on October 14, 2026 and SMS client on October 8, 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.*