# 2nd Text vs SMS Virtual

The clearest difference is monetization model: 2nd Text at free with in-app purchases against SMS Virtual's subscription. 2nd Text also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 20%) and device support (3 vs 1). SMS Virtual's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 2nd Text sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMS Virtual has 47 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of 2nd Text's written reviews are positive against 20% of SMS Virtual's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

2nd Text ships an update every 2 months, SMS Virtual every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 2nd Text | SMS Virtual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2nd-text/id6748060280/reviews) | **[4.3 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-virtual-code-verification/id6754453453/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **47** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 20 MB | 120 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ruslan Bogatii](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794347543) | [Volodymyr Demianchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1848337590) |

## What reviewers say

### 2nd Text

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2nd-text/id6748060280)

Instantly access temporary virtual phone numbers from various countries for secure online verifications. No sign-up is required, ensuring privacy when signing up for services or testing applications. Offers a premium plan for unlimited usage and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Temporary virtual phone numbers, Wide country selection, No sign-up required, Save favorite numbers, Dark mode, Multilingual support

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan Offers | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| SMS Activate Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |


### 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 2nd Text free?

2nd Text 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, 2nd Text or SMS Virtual?

SMS Virtual is rated higher. 2nd Text averages 4.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while SMS Virtual averages 4.3 from 47 ratings.

### Do 2nd Text or SMS Virtual have ads?

2nd Text shows ads; SMS Virtual does not.

### Which is updated more often, 2nd Text or SMS Virtual?

2nd Text ships an update every 2 months, and SMS Virtual every 5 days. Most recently, 2nd Text was updated on September 6, 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.*