Comparison

GV Connect vs Ring4

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

Head to head
About

GV Connect

Manage your Google Voice account with a feature-rich app. Send texts, make calls, listen to voicemails with transcriptions, and organize your conversations. Offers advanced settings and offline access.

Highlights
  • Place calls using Google Voice number
  • Send and receive SMS/MMS
  • Listen to voicemails with transcription
  • Manage messages (archive, star, note)
  • Search message history
  • Offline message access
  • Change Google Voice account settings
Read full description

GV Connect is the most feature-complete Google Voice application available for your iPhone or iPad — text, call, and interact with your existing GV accounts using a beautiful and streamlined interface that gives you full control over your account settings: • Place calls using your Google Voice number rather than your mobile number - enter number directly, select a contact from your device's contacts, or call back any number in your history. The application supports direct call (iPhone only), callback (Click2Call), and offline calling (see application website for a description of these calling modes) • Send and receive text messages (SMS) from your Google Voice number - including support for long SMS, group messages, picture messages (MMS – available as In-App purchase), and support for non-English messages. Supports in-line replies with an iMessage-like interface • Automatically check for new messages and voicemails - even when the application is in the background • Listen to voicemails and recorded conversations right on your device (allowing you to pause, rewind, or fast forward to any point within the message) - voicemails will show the transcription of the message when available • Un/-archive messages, mark them as un-/read or starred, attach notes to conversations, block/unblock senders, trash or delete conversations • Easily search in your history by contact, message, or note text - supports continuing searches online for messages that have not yet been cached locally • Messages are stored on your device for offline access • Quickly change various Google Voice account settings (call forwarding, do-not-disturb — including the option to have DND automatically expire at a specified time, message notifications, …) • Add, verify, and remove forwarding phone numbers • Quick Settings allow saving and restoring complete account settings (DND, forwarding, …) for easy switching between different profiles • Support for automatic selection of Quick Settings based on current location (available as In-App Purchase) • Direct access to your device's contacts without needing to synchronize them with Google • Quick access to favorite phone numbers for calls and SMS • Universal application which runs optimized on iPhone (including iPhone X), iPod Touch, and iPad (including split-screen multi-tasking on supported devices running iOS 12.0 or later) • Optional application passcode lock (with TouchID/FaceID option on supported devices) • Supports gesture navigation when typing text for easier placement of the cursor: swipe left/right with one or two fingers to move the caret position backwards/forward by character or word. Swipe left/right with three fingers to go to the beginning/end of the existing text * Recipient of an honorable mention in the 2010 Best App Ever Awards * NOTE: An existing Google Voice account with a GV phone number is required to use this application - signup for new Google Voice accounts is currently limited to residents of the US. Please note that GV Connect is NOT a VoIP application and will not allow making or receiving calls from an iPad/iPod Touch without a separate VoIP application. GV Connect stores your account password securely in your device's Keychain for faster login when launching the application. All communication is done exclusively via secure connections (SSL) to the Google Voice servers owned and operated by Google and no contact information (other than the contact's phone number which is required to place a call or send a message) is sent to Google or any other party. All operations are fully synchronized with your Google Voice account. Please read the FAQ section on the application website if you encounter any issues or use the feedback email link in its about screen to ask for support.

About

Ring4

Create a private second phone line for texting and calling without using your personal number. Ideal for online selling, dating, or business, it offers features like call recording and local area codes. Avoid roaming charges by calling over Wi-Fi.

Highlights
  • Multiple private phone lines
  • Call recording
  • Local area codes
  • Private video calling
  • Voicemail
  • Block unwanted calls
Features
Read full description

Start texting and calling on your new private line. Built for people looking for privacy, a local number, and separation between personal and public life. No carrier plan needed. Ring4 can be used like a prepaid phone card. Text, picture message, and call anywhere in the US, Canada, and UK. Avoid using your Cell phone minutes like other apps. Call and text over Wi-Fi to eliminate roaming charges when travelling. Connect a local eSIM and use your Ring4 number anywhere you have cellular data service. Add private video calling, call recording, voicemail, local area codes, and much more – MULTIPLE PHONE LINES: Set up a number for personal, business, and online selling. CALL RECORDING: Start recording on any line and RARE AREA CODES: San Francisco (415), New York (212), Los Angeles (310). What’s the best way to look like a local? Get a rare number that others can’t. Shhhh… VIDEO CALLS: Start video calls when selling online with a one-time link. Great for online selling or sharing a real estate property tour. PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY: Do you trust loyalty programs to not sell your number? You shouldn’t. Receive verification codes (2FA) and promotional messages for your favorite brands with a private second line. BLOCK CALLS: If you're done with your temporary line, or someone is bothering you, simply delete it and grab a new one. No trip to the store, questions from the salesperson, one click, and you're done. VOICEMAIL: Stay professional with a greeting that matches your private second line's purpose. SAVE CELL MINUTES & DATA: Ring4 does *NOT* use your cell phone minutes for calling, like some other apps. Connect to WiFi to make VoIP calls wherever you are. – WHY USE a 2nd PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER? -- ONLINE DATING: Use a second number to text and call without sharing your real cell phone. RENTING: Message tenants, renters, and landlords. Share a room for rent online using a private number, keeping your personal cell phone number confidential. SELLING ONLINE: Keep your cell phone off public listings by texting buyers from a second line you can silence or replace. MARKETPLACE LISTING: Never give your real cell phone number out online. LOYALTY PROGRAMS: Stop loyalty programs from selling your personal cell phone. Signup for online services with your new 2nd line. BUSINESS: Rule #1 of starting a business. Never give out your personal cell phone, and definitely do not put it on your website. This can never be undone, get a 2nd number today for your new idea, your new business before it’s too late. – NO CONTRACTS: Start with a new US or UK temporary number for 7-days. Add a monthly subscription to keep the number forever. (fair use limits apply) FREE INBOUND TEXTS & CALLING: Inbound calls and texts are always free. TRANSPARENT PRICING: Subscriptions unlock 3,000 text messages and calls a month. (counted daily) • 5 credits to start calling in the US or internationally • 5 credits to start a video meeting • 1 credit to send a text message – IMPORTANT: Emergency calls and texts to 911 are not supported. Texts to/from short codes might not always be supported. The trial may include free usage and is intended for one-time use. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS: Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled 24 hours in advance and may be managed by the user in Account Settings after purchase. THE FINE PRINT: Terms of use: https://www.ring4.com/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.ring4.com/privacy-policy – Looking for more than 3 numbers or higher text and calling plans, visit ring4.com/business to learn about our team plans.

Screenshots

GV Connect4 screens
Ring44 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ring4 at Free against GV Connect's $2.99. Ring4 also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (57% vs 42%). On update cadence, ads, 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

Ring4 is free to download; GV Connect costs $2.99 up front. GV Connect sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Ring4 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ring4 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ring4 has 2.9K ratings behind it against 272, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of GV Connect's written reviews are positive against 57% of Ring4's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GV Connect ships an update every 6 weeks, Ring4 every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
GV Connect versus Ring4: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGV ConnectRing4
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (272 ratings)4.4 (2.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.6% of reviews56.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2722.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB105 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndreas AmannRing4, LLC

Customer experience

GV Connect

All ratings273 ratings
Positive74.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative22.0%
Written reviews166 reviews
Positive41.6%
Neutral3.0%
Negative55.4%

Ring4

All ratings2,913 ratings
Positive82.9%
Neutral4.6%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews519 reviews
Positive56.8%
Neutral5.8%
Negative37.4%

User reviews

GV Connect

From 272 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great app for Google Voice management
  • 🚀 Supports Google Voice better than official app
  • 💡 Useful features like location-based profiles
  • 🔒 Secure with password lock option
  • 🙌 Responsive and dedicated developer

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Notifications don't work in real-time
  • 🐛 MMS/picture sharing issues
  • 🐛 Login and connection problems
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🔋 Delayed message notifications

Ring4

From 2.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great service
  • 🚀 Cheap and affordable
  • 🚀 Efficient connectivity
  • 👍 Excellent app for business and staying in touch

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Accounts suspended under false terms
  • 🐛 Unreliable service, unable to make calls or send texts
  • 🐛 Deceptive pricing and hidden fees
  • 🐛 Poor customer support and unresponsive

Bugs and requests

GV Connect

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatibility with newer devices
  • Inability to send/receive MMS

Requested features

4 requests
  • Push notification improvements
  • Direct call option without callback
  • Contact name display in app
  • Subscription model for enhanced features

Ring4

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Accounts being limited or disabled for no reason
  • Credits not being properly credited
  • Inability to generate new numbers
  • Frequent app crashes and service interruptions

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to port numbers away from the app
  • Improve text messaging functionality
  • Provide a free trial period

In-app purchases

5 purchases

GV Connect

One-time5
  • Location Awareness$0.99
  • MMS Support$0.99
  • Generous Tip$0.99
Show 2 more
  • Massive Tip$1.99
  • Amazing Tip$4.99
10 purchases

Ring4

Subscriptions6
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for French Mobile Phone Number - Line #1$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for English Mobile Phone Number - Line #1$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Number - Line #1$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Number - Line #2$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Number - Line #3$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Selected Number - Line #1$14.991 Month
One-time4
  • Package of 10 credits$0.99
  • Package of 40 credits$3.99
  • Package of 100 credits$8.99
Show 1 more
  • Package of 250 credits$19.99

Questions

Is GV Connect free?
GV Connect costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Ring4 free?
Ring4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GV Connect or Ring4?
Ring4 is rated higher. GV Connect averages 3.9 out of 5 from 272 ratings, while Ring4 averages 4.4 from 2.9K ratings.
Do GV Connect or Ring4 have ads?
Neither GV Connect nor Ring4 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GV Connect or Ring4?
GV Connect ships an update every 6 weeks, and Ring4 every 5 weeks. Most recently, GV Connect was updated on October 21, 2026 and Ring4 on October 21, 2026.

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