SMS client vs magicApp Calling & Messaging
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SMS client
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.
- 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
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Type SMS messages on your Mac computer and send them via your iPhone. This iPhone client application requires Mac version of SMS sender, which can be downloaded from the App Store. Your iPhone and the Mac computer must be on the same network. Other features of SMS client and SMS sender: - auto connecting to iPhone SMS client - reading recipients directly from Apple Contacts - sending messages to an individual recipient or to a group - import a group from a csv file - creating message templates - history of sending - recent recipients list Sending the SMS message must be confirmed on the iPhone due to security reasons - this confirmation is a feature of the Apple developing environment, in which the "SMS client" application is written. It is not possible to send a message without such a confirmation. !!! Important connection information !!! Both your Mac and your iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network. SMS sender and SMS client use a standard Apple Bonjour service for discovering devices on the network, applications use an arbitrary port number between 49152 and 65535 (as any other third-party application). If SMS sender is not able to find your iPhone on the network, it seems that ports 49152-65535 are blocked in your computer or in the router. Then, restart the router, the computer and relaunch the application on your iPhone.
magicApp Calling & Messaging
Get a second phone number for personal or business use without needing a new SIM card. Enjoy unlimited calling and texting to the U.S. and Canada, even while traveling abroad over Wi-Fi. Manage calls with features like caller ID, voicemail, and call blocking.
- Second phone number
- Unlimited U.S. & Canada calling
- Unlimited U.S. & Canada texting
- Wi-Fi calling for travel
- Caller ID, voicemail, call blocking
- Choose U.S. area code
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magicApp is the most affordable & simple way to get a second phone number on your mobile phone. You can use your magicApp second line for your personal or business needs and enjoy unlimited calling and texting to the U.S. and Canada. magicApp makes it possible to have different phone numbers without having to switch out your SIM and at an affordable monthly. You can easily AND quickly switch from your magicApp phone number to your actual phone number. MAGICAPP FEATURES * Choose a U.S. phone number from any available area code * Unlimited calling to the U.S and Canada* * Send or receive unlimited text messages to U.S. and Canadian numbers** * Traveling? Make calls over Wi-Fi so you never have to worry about roaming charges when abroad! * Unlimited calling to other magicJack customer worldwide * Caller ID, voicemail, call blocking, block anonymous callers and call forwarding * Caller ID pulled from your mobile phone contact list, so you always know who is calling * Cheaper than the rest of the apps out there AND AD FREE! EXISITNG MAGICJACK DEVICE CUSTOMER? magicJack customers can enjoy texting to any U.S. or Canadian number** using magicApp - your friends & family don't have to download the app to text! Calls to your magicJack number rings on your smartphone at the same time so you never miss a call. Download now and login to magicApp with your existing magicJack email and password to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi. NEW: Now available to magicJack device customers with Canadian numbers, you can add the option to text with your Canadian phone number for a small annual fee through the app store. TURN YOUR IPAD INTO A PHONE Connect your tablet to the internet, download magicApp and start making calls from your iPad. Use magicApp on devices running iOS14 or higher. Find out more on www.magicJack.com *Texting to international numbers is not available and texts to some US mobile numbers may not be delivered. Unlimited calling to numbers within the United States and Canada, and unlimited texting and other services provided by magicJack®, are based on normal, non-excessive use. A combination of factors is used to determine excessive use, including but not limited to the relative use when compared to the average magicJack® user, the number of unique numbers called, calls forwarded, minutes used, texts sent/received and other factors. Unlimited calling does not include calls to Alaska or the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada or calls to non-8YY calling card, platform, conference, or chat lines, for which additional fees will apply. Subject to our Subscriber Agreement located here: http://www.magicjack.com/action/saps/. **Canadian magicJack numbers require a separate subscription for texting.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: magicApp Calling & Messaging at 4.7 against SMS client's 2.0. magicApp Calling & Messaging also leads on review sentiment (49% vs 17%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). SMS client's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. magicApp Calling & Messaging sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. SMS client asks for nothing beyond the download.
magicApp Calling & Messaging holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: magicApp Calling & Messaging has 26K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of SMS client's written reviews are positive against 49% of magicApp Calling & Messaging's.
SMS client ships an update every 5 months, magicApp Calling & Messaging fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SMS client | magicApp Calling & Messaging |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (2 ratings) | 4.7 (26K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.8% of reviews | 49.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 26K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MacMedia | MAGICJACK VOIP SERVICES LLC |
Customer experience
SMS client
magicApp Calling & Messaging
User reviews
SMS client
From 2 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ⌨️ Easier typing on Mac keyboard
- ⏱️ Saves time for long messages
- ✅ Works as advertised (for some)
- 💡 Good idea for an app
Room to improve
- ⚠️ Must press send on iPhone
- 🔌 Connection drops frequently
- ⏳ Cumbersome setup and reconnection
- 📱 No incoming message display on Mac
- 💸 Waste of money/time
magicApp Calling & Messaging
From 26K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💯 Excellent call quality
- 💰 Affordable pricing
- 🌍 Works internationally
- 🔍 Useful for maintaining a US number
- 🤖 Reliable service for over 15 years
Room to improve
- 🤖 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 🤖 Unreliable connectivity issues
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🤖 Deactivation of accounts without notice
- 🤖 Inability to transfer or port out numbers
Bugs and requests
SMS client
Reported bugs
7 issues- Send button not clickable
- Recipients overlayed on message
- Connection failed
- App crashes frequently
- Doesn't connect to iPhone
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- Disconnects when phone goes to sleep
- Disconnects when app is in background
Requested features
10 requests- Enable automatic sending from Mac
- Allow iPhone app to run in background
- Display incoming messages on Mac
- Improve connection stability
- Simplify setup process
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- Enable USB connection option
- Allow sending without unlocking iPhone
- Improve computer UI
- Allow sending messages without touching the phone
- Import message folders
magicApp Calling & Messaging
Reported bugs
5 issues- App freezes phone when answering calls
- Missed calls not showing up in the app
- Text messages getting deleted or out of order
- Inability to log in or access account
- Subscription issues and billing problems
Requested features
5 requests- Add support for MMS and texts from short codes
- Implement two-factor authentication for security
- Allow users to sign in on multiple devices
- Provide more ringtone options
- Improve integration with native iOS features
In-app purchases
SMS client
No in-app purchases
magicApp Calling & Messaging
- Incoming-only calls + texting$3.491 Month
- Outgoing-only calls + texting$3.491 Month
- Incoming and Outgoing calls$3.991 Month
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- magicJack Premium$4.991 Month
- magicJack Canadian$5.991 Month
- $4.99 magicJack International minutes credit$4.99
- SMS for Canadian Numbers$4.99
- Texting and SMS upgrade$9.99
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- $9.99 magicJack International minutes credit$9.99
- $20.00 magicJack International minutes credit$19.99
- $19.99 magicJack International minutes credit$19.99
- $40.00 magicJack International minutes credit$39.99
Questions
Is SMS client free?
Is magicApp Calling & Messaging free?
Which has better reviews, SMS client or magicApp Calling & Messaging?
Do SMS client or magicApp Calling & Messaging have ads?
Which is updated more often, SMS client or magicApp Calling & Messaging?
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