# VIVA vs SMS Expert

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VIVA at none against SMS Expert's 1. VIVA also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (15 vs 3). SMS Expert's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS Expert sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. VIVA asks for nothing beyond the download.

SMS Expert holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VIVA has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

VIVA ships an update monthly, SMS Expert every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VIVA | SMS Expert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viva/id654979024/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-expert/id1584179189/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 173 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Telepaty Holding](https://appshunter.io/developer/622583584) | [LTCG, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1583963628) |

## What reviewers say

### VIVA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viva/id654979024)

This application offers a free messaging service for sharing instant messages, videos, and pictures with friends and family. It also provides various financial and telecom services, such as bill payments, money transfers, and mobile top-ups, accessible through a linked wallet.

**Highlights:** Instant messaging, Multimedia sharing, Profile personalization, Location sharing, Telecom services, Bill payments, Money transfer

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### SMS Expert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-expert/id1584179189)

This app helps professionals manage customer communications via SMS while protecting personal privacy. It offers features like contact grouping, automated replies, and anonymous group messaging for secure client interactions.

**Highlights:** Contact grouping, Automated replies, Anonymous group send, Saved replies (Favorites), Customized auto-replies, Conversation printing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VIVA free?

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

### Is SMS Expert free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VIVA or SMS Expert?

SMS Expert is rated higher. VIVA averages 4.7 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while SMS Expert averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do VIVA or SMS Expert have ads?

Neither VIVA nor SMS Expert shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VIVA or SMS Expert?

VIVA ships an update monthly, and SMS Expert every 4 months. Most recently, VIVA was updated on October 22, 2026 and SMS Expert on October 6, 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.*