# Black SMS vs Private Message Box

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Black SMS at 52% against Private Message Box's 7%. Black SMS also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Message Box sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Black SMS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Black SMS holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Black SMS's written reviews are positive against 7% of Private Message Box's.

Black SMS ships an update every 2 weeks, Private Message Box monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Black SMS | Private Message Box |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.1 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-sms-protected-texts/id448049263/reviews)** | [2.9 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-message-box/id907028613/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | **51.8% of reviews** | 6.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Hadar Weitzman Group Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/335541424) | [Vartit Technology Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/907028616) |

## What reviewers say

### Black SMS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-sms-protected-texts/id448049263)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Good for privacy
- 💡 Cool concept/idea
- 👍 Easy to use (for some)
- 🚀 Works well (for some)
- ✨ Unique functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Requires recipient to have app
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- ⏳ Time-consuming process
- 💰 Waste of money (for some)
- 🤔 Confusing interface

**Reported bugs**

- Messages sometimes empty
- App becomes unresponsive
- Recipient needs to open message twice
- Password not working
- Cannot send pics from library

**Requested features**

- Support for sending videos
- Update for newer phones/iOS
- Dark mode
- Option to black out recipient name
- Add texting capabilities within the app


### Private Message Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-message-box/id907028613)

Secure your private conversations with password protection. Send unlimited texts, photos, and location details to other users for free. Enhance your privacy with a virtual number option.

**Highlights:** Password protected conversations, Free texting between users, Send unlimited text, photo, and location, Full emoji support, Virtual number for hidden communication, Privacy Guard

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proversion | $4.99 | per year |
| Buy Number - Zone1 Yearly | $21.99 | per year |
| Buy Number - Zone2 Yearly | $58.99 | per year |
| Buy Number - Zone3 Yearly | $102.99 | per year |
| Get SMS Balance | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Black SMS free?

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

### Is Private Message Box free?

Private Message Box is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Black SMS or Private Message Box?

Black SMS is rated higher. Black SMS averages 3.1 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Private Message Box averages 2.9 from 20 ratings.

### Do Black SMS or Private Message Box have ads?

Private Message Box shows ads; Black SMS does not.

### Which is updated more often, Black SMS or Private Message Box?

Black SMS ships an update every 2 weeks, and Private Message Box monthly. Most recently, Black SMS was updated on September 21, 2026 and Private Message Box on September 23, 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.*