# i vs SMS io

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: i at none against SMS io's 20. i also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS io sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. i asks for nothing beyond the download.

i ships an update every 9 days, SMS io weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | i | SMS io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (78 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-io-virtual-verification/id6756608507/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **78** |
| Positive reviews | — | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Foxconn Precision Electronics(Taiyuan) Co.,Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1090793056) | [APPLOX](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843634912) |

## What reviewers say

### i

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-datapilot/id6748902530)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SMS io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-io-virtual-verification/id6756608507)

This app provides temporary virtual phone numbers to receive SMS verification codes online. It's useful for sign-ups, protecting your personal number, and verifying accounts on various internet platforms without using your real SIM card.

**Highlights:** Receive SMS verification codes online, Temporary virtual phone numbers, Protect personal number privacy, Supports over 160 countries, Coin-based pay-as-you-use system, Fast and secure SMS delivery

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

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly 4 Credits | $3.99 | per month |
| SMS Verification - Weekly Lite | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly 5 Credits | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly 7 Credits | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly 8 Credits | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly 9 Credits | $8.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription for 10 Coins | $9.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription for 10 Coins | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Virtual Number - Weekly 15 Credits | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly 25 Credits | $24.99 | per month |
| Get 1 SMS Verification Coin | $0.99 | one-time |
| Receive SMS Code: 3 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Get 4 Verification Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| 5 Coins: SMS Number Code | $4.99 | one-time |
| Get 6 Virtual SMS Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Receive SMS Number: 7 Coins | $6.99 | one-time |
| 8 Coins to Verify Code | $7.99 | one-time |
| 9 Virtual Verification Coins | $8.99 | one-time |
| Get 10 SMS Code Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 25 Credits | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is i free?

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

### Is SMS io free?

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

### Do i or SMS io have ads?

SMS io shows ads; i does not.

### Which is updated more often, i or SMS io?

i ships an update every 9 days, and SMS io weekly. Most recently, i was updated on October 4, 2026 and SMS io on October 14, 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.*