# SMS Virtual vs Lan Chat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lan Chat at 100% against SMS Virtual's 43%. Lan Chat also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). SMS Virtual's advantage is ratings volume (33 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.3 vs 16.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Lan Chat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMS Virtual has 33 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of SMS Virtual's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lan Chat's.

SMS Virtual ships an update every 5 months, Lan Chat every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS Virtual | Lan Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-temp-phone-number/id6741067963/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lan-chat/id6787370929/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **33** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 43.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 36 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.3** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Basel Al Jafari](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838981803) | [Nasser Al Thani](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787370931) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Lan Chat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lan-chat/id6787370929)

Connect with friends, family, and colleagues through instant messaging, high-quality voice/video calls, and seamless media sharing. Offers ultimate privacy and security with smart notifications for important updates.

**Highlights:** Instant messaging, High-quality voice & video calls, Media & file sharing, Location sharing, Group chats, Ultimate privacy & security, Smart notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS Virtual free?

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

### Is Lan Chat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SMS Virtual or Lan Chat?

Lan Chat is rated higher. SMS Virtual averages 3.1 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Lan Chat averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SMS Virtual or Lan Chat have ads?

SMS Virtual shows ads; Lan Chat does not.

### Which is updated more often, SMS Virtual or Lan Chat?

SMS Virtual ships an update every 5 months, and Lan Chat every 4 days. Most recently, SMS Virtual was updated on November 4, 2026 and Lan Chat on October 31, 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.*