# #Phone vs SMS Virtual

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SMS Virtual at 43% against #Phone's 0%. SMS Virtual also leads on iOS requirement (14.3 vs 17.0). #Phone's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. #Phone sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and SMS Virtual sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

#Phone holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: #Phone has 188 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of #Phone's written reviews are positive against 43% of SMS Virtual's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

#Phone ships an update every 3 weeks, SMS Virtual every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | #Phone | SMS Virtual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (188 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phone-second-number/id6504142697/reviews)** | [3.1 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-temp-phone-number/id6741067963/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **188** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **43.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CurrentBlack LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508642995) | [Basel Al Jafari](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838981803) |

## What reviewers say

### #Phone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phone-second-number/id6504142697)

Obtain a dedicated second phone number for calls and SMS directly from your device. This app allows you to separate personal and work communications, protect your privacy, and manage your contacts with ease. Enjoy HD voice quality and a smart dialer without needing an extra SIM card.

**Highlights:** Dedicated second phone number, Make calls and send SMS, HD voice quality, Smart dialer, Private and secure communication, No extra SIM card needed

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month | $6.99 | per month |
| 1 Week | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Year | $24.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Change Phone Number | $2.99 | one-time |


### SMS Virtual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-temp-phone-number/id6741067963)

This app offers temporary virtual phone numbers to receive SMS verification codes. It's designed for users who need to register on online platforms without revealing their personal number, enhancing privacy and simplifying account verification.

**Highlights:** Virtual numbers for SMS reception, Privacy protection, Easy account verification, Global reach for international platforms, Receive codes within the app

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50 credits | $0.49 | one-time |
| 100 credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000 credits | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is #Phone free?

#Phone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SMS Virtual free?

SMS Virtual is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, #Phone or SMS Virtual?

#Phone is rated higher. #Phone averages 4.5 out of 5 from 188 ratings, while SMS Virtual averages 3.1 from 34 ratings.

### Do #Phone or SMS Virtual have ads?

SMS Virtual shows ads; #Phone does not.

### Which is updated more often, #Phone or SMS Virtual?

#Phone ships an update every 3 weeks, and SMS Virtual every 5 months. Most recently, #Phone was updated on November 4, 2026 and SMS Virtual on November 8, 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.*