# BNI SMS Banking vs Permata ME

The clearest difference is monetization model: BNI SMS Banking at free against Permata ME's free with in-app purchases. BNI SMS Banking also leads on rating (3.4 vs 3.1) and review sentiment (27% vs 19%). Permata ME's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (77 vs 7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BNI SMS Banking holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Permata ME has 77 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of BNI SMS Banking's written reviews are positive against 19% of Permata ME's.

BNI SMS Banking ships an update every 3 months, Permata ME every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BNI SMS Banking | Permata ME |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bni-sms-banking/id623228784/reviews)** | [3.1 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/permata-me/id1323973644/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **77** |
| Positive reviews | **27.0% of reviews** | 18.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 133 MB | 264 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PT. BANK NEGARA INDONESIA (PERSERO) TBK.](https://appshunter.io/developer/623228787) | [PT. Bank Permata, Tbk](https://appshunter.io/developer/514474576) |

## What reviewers say

### BNI SMS Banking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bni-sms-banking/id623228784)

Easily manage your bank accounts and perform various transactions directly from your smartphone via SMS. Offers both non-financial inquiries and financial transactions like transfers and bill payments for registered users.

**Highlights:** Balance inquiry, Transaction history, Bill payments, Fund transfers, Mobile reloads, PIN management

**In-app purchases:** none


### Permata ME

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/permata-me/id1323973644)

This mobile banking app offers a comprehensive suite of digital banking services. It simplifies transactions with features like free transfers, rewards, international payments, and QR code payments. Manage accounts, apply for loans, and access statements all from your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Free transfers with BI-FAST, Collect and redeem PermataPoin rewards, International transfers and forex, QRIS payments, Account opening for foreigners, Loan applications, Transaction history and statements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BNI SMS Banking free?

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

### Is Permata ME free?

Permata ME is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BNI SMS Banking or Permata ME?

BNI SMS Banking is rated higher. BNI SMS Banking averages 3.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Permata ME averages 3.1 from 77 ratings.

### Do BNI SMS Banking or Permata ME have ads?

Neither BNI SMS Banking nor Permata ME shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BNI SMS Banking or Permata ME?

BNI SMS Banking ships an update every 3 months, and Permata ME every 2 weeks. Most recently, BNI SMS Banking was updated on October 23, 2026 and Permata ME 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.*