Black SMS vs iSecure
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Fingerprint lock for messages
- Passcode protection
- iMessage integration
- Military-grade encryption
- Securely encrypt all messages
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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
iSecure
Encrypt your messages with a custom password before sending. Recipients need the correct password to decrypt and read sensitive or confidential information.
- Password-protected messages
- Message encryption
- Customizable passwords
- Secure communication
- Enhanced privacy for sensitive data
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. iSecure sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Black SMS asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Black SMS | iSecure |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (11 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hadar Weitzman Group Inc. | Hovik Aghajanyan |
Customer experience
Black SMS
iSecure
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
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- 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
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- Encrypt photos
- Improve UI and fix blurry text
iSecure
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Black SMS
No in-app purchases
iSecure
- Pro Version$3.99
- Remove Ads$4.99
- PRO without Ads$7.99
Questions
Is Black SMS free?
Is iSecure free?
Which has better reviews, Black SMS or iSecure?
Do Black SMS or iSecure have ads?
Which is updated more often, Black SMS or iSecure?
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