# Special Text Tones Lite vs Text Message Sounds

The clearest difference is rating: Text Message Sounds at 3.8 against Special Text Tones Lite's 2.5. Text Message Sounds also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (45% vs 17%). Special Text Tones Lite's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, update cadence, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Special Text Tones Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Text Message Sounds asks for nothing beyond the download.

Text Message Sounds holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Text Message Sounds has 99 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Special Text Tones Lite's written reviews are positive against 45% of Text Message Sounds's.

Special Text Tones Lite ships an update every 30 months, Text Message Sounds every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Special Text Tones Lite | Text Message Sounds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/special-text-tones-lite/id477573141/reviews) | **[3.8 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-message-sounds/id981537091/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **99** |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **45.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 30 months | **Every 19 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Oliver Schneewind](https://appshunter.io/developer/331767521) | [Catherine Lopez](https://appshunter.io/developer/981528267) |

## What reviewers say

### Special Text Tones Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/special-text-tones-lite/id477573141)

Customize your phone's text message alerts with a variety of sound effects, voice alerts, and musical tones. Set custom sounds as ringtones as well. No internet connection or email required to install tones.

**Highlights:** Custom text alert sounds, Set tones as ringtones, Offline tone installation, Variety of sound effects, Voice alerts, Musical tones

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads now ! | $0.99 | one-time |


### Text Message Sounds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-message-sounds/id981537091)

Discover a wide variety of sound effects and ringtones specifically designed for text message alerts. Easily preview and save your favorite sounds to personalize your notifications. Enjoy a collection of loud, funny, and popular alert tones.

**Highlights:** Popular sound effects for alerts, Customizable text message ringtones, Save favorite sounds, Loud ringtones, Funny sound effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Special Text Tones Lite free?

Special Text Tones Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Text Message Sounds free?

Text Message Sounds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Special Text Tones Lite or Text Message Sounds?

Text Message Sounds is rated higher. Special Text Tones Lite averages 2.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Text Message Sounds averages 3.8 from 99 ratings.

### Do Special Text Tones Lite or Text Message Sounds have ads?

Text Message Sounds shows ads; Special Text Tones Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, Special Text Tones Lite or Text Message Sounds?

Special Text Tones Lite ships an update every 30 months, and Text Message Sounds every 19 months. Most recently, Special Text Tones Lite was updated on October 17, 2026 and Text Message Sounds on October 24, 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.*