# SMS activate | Virtual SIM vs Virtual Number

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Virtual Number at 82% against SMS activate | Virtual SIM's 25%. Virtual Number also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.1). SMS activate | Virtual SIM's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS activate | Virtual SIM sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Virtual Number sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Virtual Number holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of SMS activate | Virtual SIM's written reviews are positive against 82% of Virtual Number's.

SMS activate | Virtual SIM ships an update every 3 weeks, Virtual Number every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS activate | Virtual SIM | Virtual Number |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-activate-virtual-sim/id6661027967/reviews) | **[4.5 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-number-receive-sms/id6743655247/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **39** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **81.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 21 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aleksandr Nesterov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1404263700) | [Hakan YILMAZ](https://appshunter.io/developer/1799950361) |

## What reviewers say

### SMS activate | Virtual SIM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-activate-virtual-sim/id6661027967)

This app provides virtual phone numbers for receiving SMS messages, enhancing online privacy and security. It simplifies account creation on various services by offering disposable second numbers for quick and easy verification without exposing your real phone number.

**Highlights:** Disposable virtual numbers, Receive SMS online, Account verification, Privacy protection, Transparent pricing, Instant number assignment

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tokens | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tokens | $2.49 | one-time |
| Tokens | $6.99 | one-time |
| Tokens | $12.99 | one-time |


### Virtual Number

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-number-receive-sms/id6743655247)

This app provides a temporary, private phone number for verifying online accounts. Receive SMS messages without sharing your personal number, ensuring security and anonymity on various platforms.

**Highlights:** Instant virtual numbers, Secure SMS reception, Easy account verification, Privacy protection, Unlimited SMS reception, Transparent pricing

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Token for Virtual Number | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Token for Virtual Number | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Token for Virtual Number | $12.99 | per 7 days |
| Token for Virtual Number | $17.99 | per month |
| Token for Virtual Number | $6.99 | one-time |
| Token for Virtual Number | $9.99 | one-time |
| Token for Virtual Number | $14.99 | one-time |
| Token for Virtual Number | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS activate | Virtual SIM free?

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

### Is Virtual Number free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SMS activate | Virtual SIM or Virtual Number?

Virtual Number is rated higher. SMS activate | Virtual SIM averages 3.1 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Virtual Number averages 4.5 from 39 ratings.

### Do SMS activate | Virtual SIM or Virtual Number have ads?

Neither SMS activate | Virtual SIM nor Virtual Number shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMS activate | Virtual SIM or Virtual Number?

SMS activate | Virtual SIM ships an update every 3 weeks, and Virtual Number every 8 months. Most recently, SMS activate | Virtual SIM was updated on October 22, 2026 and Virtual Number on October 21, 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.*