# InstaThought vs SMS Virtual

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: InstaThought at none against SMS Virtual's 4. InstaThought also leads on ads (none vs shown). SMS Virtual's advantage is iOS requirement (14.3 vs 17.2). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS Virtual sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. InstaThought asks for nothing beyond the download.

InstaThought ships an update every 6 months, SMS Virtual every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | InstaThought | SMS Virtual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.1 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-temp-phone-number/id6741067963/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **32** |
| Positive reviews | — | 43.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **14.3** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joe Crozier Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/493092478) | [Basel Al Jafari](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838981803) |

## What reviewers say

### InstaThought

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instathought/id6675138509)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 InstaThought free?

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

### Is SMS Virtual free?

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

### Do InstaThought or SMS Virtual have ads?

SMS Virtual shows ads; InstaThought does not.

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

InstaThought ships an update every 6 months, and SMS Virtual every 5 months. Most recently, InstaThought was updated on October 27, 2026 and SMS Virtual 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.*