# Virtual SIM vs SMS Virtual

The clearest difference is rating: SMS Virtual at 4.3 against Virtual SIM's 3.6. SMS Virtual also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (20% vs 0%). Virtual SIM's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Virtual SIM sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and SMS Virtual sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SMS Virtual holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 47 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Virtual SIM's written reviews are positive against 20% of SMS Virtual's.

Virtual SIM ships an update every 5 weeks, SMS Virtual every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Virtual SIM | SMS Virtual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-sim-sms-activate/id6745871744/reviews) | **[4.3 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-code-verification/id6754453453/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **47** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **20.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 49 MB | 120 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mansur Kuziaev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1760094539) | [Volodymyr Demianchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1848337590) |

## What reviewers say

### Virtual SIM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-sim-sms-activate/id6745871744)

Obtain temporary virtual phone numbers for SMS verification and online sign-ups. Protect your personal number from spam and unwanted exposure while ensuring privacy and security during online activities.

**Highlights:** Disposable virtual numbers, SMS reception without a SIM, Privacy protection, Clear pricing, Supports various services, Instant number activation

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Few tokens | $2.99 | one-time |
| Several tokens | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lot's of tokens | $22.99 | one-time |
| Huge amount of tokens | $33.99 | one-time |


### SMS Virtual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-code-verification/id6754453453)

This app allows users to receive, organize, and securely store SMS messages. It offers a clean interface for managing multiple accounts and ensuring no message is missed. Designed for both personal and professional use, it prioritizes privacy by keeping data on the device.

**Highlights:** Receive and view SMS messages instantly, Secure log of all text messages, Organize messages by sender or time, Clean and intuitive user interface, Lightweight and fast performance, Manage multiple SMS accounts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $19.99 | per year |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $24.99 | per year |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $29.99 | per year |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $39.99 | per year |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $3.99 | one-time |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $6.99 | one-time |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $9.99 | one-time |
| Smart SMS Receiver | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Virtual SIM free?

Virtual SIM 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, Virtual SIM or SMS Virtual?

SMS Virtual is rated higher. Virtual SIM averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while SMS Virtual averages 4.3 from 47 ratings.

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

Neither Virtual SIM nor SMS Virtual shows ads.

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

Virtual SIM ships an update every 5 weeks, and SMS Virtual every 5 days. Most recently, Virtual SIM was updated on September 11, 2026 and SMS Virtual on September 12, 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.*