Comparison

Black SMS vs iSecure

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

Head to head
About

Black SMS

Securely protect your private conversations with a fingerprint or passcode. This app encrypts messages, including those within iMessage, ensuring only authorized individuals can access them. It's ideal for safeguarding sensitive work, medical, or personal communications.

Highlights
  • Fingerprint lock for messages
  • Passcode protection
  • iMessage integration
  • Military-grade encryption
  • Securely encrypt all messages
Read full description

Keep messages private by protecting them with your fingerprint or a passcode (now built directly into iMessage!). 170,000 people already use Black SMS for confidential work-material, private medical communication, photos, group chats, and relationship advice. Download now to protect your messages with Touch ID fingerprint lock, so only the intended people can read, even if someone else has their phone. Black SMS uses military grade 256-bit encryption Download now to securely encrypt all your messages. Compatible with iOS 10 software on iMessage

About

iSecure

Encrypt your messages with a custom password before sending. Recipients need the correct password to decrypt and read sensitive or confidential information.

Highlights
  • Password-protected messages
  • Message encryption
  • Customizable passwords
  • Secure communication
  • Enhanced privacy for sensitive data
Features
Read full description

iSecure seals your messages so only someone who knows the key can read them. Write a secret, pick a key and tap Seal. Send it in iMessage, share it as a QR code, or paste it into any chat, email or note. Your friend opens it with the same key — nobody in between can read it, and your messages are never stored on a server. SEAL AND SEND • Seal right inside iMessage — the live bubble shows your hint and turns to "Opened" • Share as a QR code or as text to WhatsApp, Telegram, Mail or anywhere • Add a hint so your friend knows which key to use OPEN WITHOUT COPY-PASTE • Long-press a secret in any app → Share → Open in iSecure • Scan an iSecure QR code with the iPhone Camera or inside the app • You always choose the key — nothing opens by itself REVEAL SAFELY • Hold to reveal; the text hides again automatically • Revealed secrets are hidden from screenshots and screen recording • Face ID or your passcode before any saved key is used STRONG KEYS • Generate a 5-word passphrase or a random key in one tap • A strength meter warns you about weak keys • Keys live in the secure iOS Keychain on your device only ISECURE PRO Free: 2 saved keys, 30-second auto-hide, ads. Pro: unlimited keys, seal with a one-time password, choose when secrets hide (10 s to never), burn after reading, and no ads. Pro Yearly with a 1-week free trial, Pro Monthly, or Pro Lifetime. Earlier "Pro" and "No Ads" purchases are honoured. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Your messages and keys never leave your device unencrypted • AES-256-GCM encryption with a unique salt for every message • The app locks with Face ID or your device passcode Messages sealed with earlier versions of iSecure still open. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage them in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://aghajanyan.me/isecure/privacy.html

Screenshots

Black SMS4 screens
iSecure4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: iSecure at 5.0 against Black SMS's 3.1. iSecure also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). Black SMS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iSecure sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Black SMS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iSecure holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Black SMS has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Black SMS ships an update every 2 weeks, iSecure every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Black SMS versus iSecure: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlack SMSiSecure
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (11 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHadar Weitzman Group Inc.Hovik Aghajanyan

Customer experience

Black SMS

All ratings11 ratings
Positive45.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative45.5%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive51.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative45.8%

iSecure

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Black SMS

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Messages sometimes empty
  • App becomes unresponsive
  • Recipient needs to open message twice
  • Password not working
  • Cannot send pics from library
Show 5 more
  • Message expires right when sent
  • App crashes on startup
  • Lemon text feature not working
  • Cannot decrypt messages
  • Photo stays displayed after leaving app

Requested features

7 requests
  • Support for sending videos
  • Update for newer phones/iOS
  • Dark mode
  • Option to black out recipient name
  • Add texting capabilities within the app
Show 2 more
  • Encrypt photos
  • Improve UI and fix blurry text

iSecure

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Black SMS

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

iSecure

One-time3
  • Pro Version$3.99
  • Remove Ads$4.99
  • PRO without Ads$7.99

Questions

Is Black SMS free?
Black SMS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is iSecure free?
iSecure is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Black SMS or iSecure?
iSecure is rated higher. Black SMS averages 3.1 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while iSecure averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Black SMS or iSecure have ads?
iSecure shows ads; Black SMS does not.
Which is updated more often, Black SMS or iSecure?
Black SMS ships an update every 2 weeks, and iSecure every 2 days. Most recently, Black SMS was updated on October 6, 2026 and iSecure on October 3, 2026.

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