Comparison

SMS Forwarder vs PhoneLeash

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SMS Forwarder

Automatically forward SMS messages to various platforms like email, Telegram, Slack, and more. This app ensures you never miss important texts, including OTPs and 2FA codes, with on-device processing for complete privacy. Set up custom rules to filter and route messages to any device or service.

Highlights
  • Forward SMS to Email
  • Forward OTP & 2FA codes
  • Business SMS forwarding
  • Forward SMS while traveling
  • Remote work & multi-device support
  • Forward to 8 platforms
  • Smart SMS filtering & rules
Features
Read full description

SMS Forwarder is the easiest text message forwarding app for iPhone. Automatically forward SMS to Email, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, another phone number, or any custom webhook. Set up once and receive text messages on any device, anywhere. 100% PRIVATE — ON-DEVICE SMS FORWARDING Your messages never leave your iPhone. SMS Forwarder processes everything on-device with zero data stored on external servers. No tracking, no analytics — you stay in full control of your data. WHY CHOOSE SMS FORWARDER? - Forward SMS to Email Automatically forward text messages to your inbox. Perfect for keeping records of bank notifications, order confirmations, and important texts. - Forward OTP & 2FA Verification Codes Receive one-time passwords and 2FA verification codes on your laptop or work computer. Never miss time-sensitive SMS codes again. - Business SMS Forwarding Forward client messages to Slack, Discord, or Microsoft Teams instantly. Keep your team in the loop without sharing your personal phone number. - Forward SMS While Traveling Access text messages from your second phone or local SIM card while abroad. Stay connected to important SMS notifications globally. - Remote Work & Multi-Device Forward text messages to any device. Receive important SMS notifications on your computer, tablet, or another phone wherever you are. FORWARD SMS TO 8 PLATFORMS Email • Telegram • Slack • Discord • Microsoft Teams • WhatsApp • Another Phone • Custom API/Webhook SMART SMS FILTERING & FORWARDING RULES • Create unlimited text message forwarding rules • Filter SMS by sender name, phone number, or message content • Schedule forwarding for specific days and time ranges • Test SMS forwarding before activating POPULAR SMS FORWARDING USE CASES • Forward bank SMS notifications to email for record-keeping • Receive 2FA verification codes on your work computer • Auto forward delivery and order updates to Telegram • Route customer text messages to your Slack workspace • Forward OTP codes to another device while traveling abroad • Share appointment reminders with family via WhatsApp • Integrate SMS into business automation via webhooks and API HOW SMS FORWARDING WORKS 1. Create a forwarding rule — choose which text messages to forward and where 2. Set filters — filter by sender, message content, or schedule (optional) 3. Set up iOS Shortcuts — follow our simple video guide, and you're done PRICING Free: Try SMS forwarding with a limited number of messages Premium: Unlimited text message forwarding to all platforms Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled 24+ hours before the period ends. Manage in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Download SMS Forwarder now and stop missing important text messages. Video tutorials and support available in-app. Privacy Policy: https://smsforwardingapp.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://smsforwardingapp.com/terms

About

PhoneLeash

Automatically forward incoming text messages from your iPhone to your email. Access texts from anywhere, receive alerts at work, or keep an archive of conversations. Your messages are encrypted and never sold.

Highlights
  • Automatic SMS forwarding to email
  • Access texts remotely
  • Receive alerts at work
  • International text access
  • Email archive of conversations
  • Encrypted message transit
Read full description

PhoneLeash automatically forwards texts that arrive on your iPhone to the email address of your choice—perfect for when your phone is in another room, or another country! See your texts in your email inbox, whether at work or just away from your iPhone. OTP-ONLY FORWARDING (NEW) Want just your verification codes? PhoneLeash can forward ONLY your one-time passcodes (OTP / 2FA codes) and skip all your regular texts. Perfect for keeping your login codes flowing to a second phone, a work device, or your email while you travel—without forwarding personal messages. Most SMS forwarders can't do this. Available as affordable OTP-only plans. SETUP (follow the step-by-step instructions in the app) 1. Install PhoneLeash 2. Enter your destination email 3. Install the packaged Shortcut (no need for any config, just Save and done!) 4. Create the Automation: "When I get a message containing [your keyword]" → run the PhoneLeash Shortcut. 5. Send yourself a test message, "Allow" the Shortcut. Done! WHAT YOU CAN DO • Access your texts when your phone is across the room • Get delivery, shipping, and appointment alerts at your work inbox • Get your texts while traveling internationally • Forward ONLY your 2FA / verification codes with OTP-only mode • Build an email archive of important conversations PRIVACY • Messages only transit through PhoneLeash's secure servers, while staying encrypted the whole way. They are not stored once processed. • PhoneLeash asks for Contacts permission to label your texts with both name and number. But this is optional, you can safely decline it without affecting functionality. • Your data is never sold, there are no ads. LIMITATIONS PhoneLeash is based on iOS Shortcuts and Automation, and that limits the feature set. Here are a few key limitations. • Attachments (photos, videos, audio) are not forwarded — only message text. • For group messages, the list of participants is not forwarded. Only the sender of the message and its content. • In high-traffic situations Shortcuts may not fire reliably, and some messages could be lost --- Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SMS Forwarder4 screens
PhoneLeash4 screens

Verdict

The call

SMS Forwarder and PhoneLeash both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of PhoneLeash's written reviews are positive against 30% of SMS Forwarder's. PhoneLeash also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 weeks). SMS Forwarder's advantage is ratings volume (45 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SMS Forwarder sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and PhoneLeash sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for SMS Forwarder against 4.5 for PhoneLeash. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMS Forwarder has 45 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of SMS Forwarder's written reviews are positive against 100% of PhoneLeash's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMS Forwarder ships an update every 2 weeks, PhoneLeash every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SMS Forwarder versus PhoneLeash: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMS ForwarderPhoneLeash
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (45 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings45 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexey SakharovGEARANDROID LLC

Customer experience

SMS Forwarder

All ratings36 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral2.8%
Negative13.9%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative40.0%

PhoneLeash

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SMS Forwarder

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Version3 Days trial2 variants$7.997 Days
  • Pro Version7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Pro Version7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Version7 Days trial$69.991 Year
7 purchases

PhoneLeash

Subscriptions7
  • Personal OTP — Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Commercial OTP — Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Personal - Monthly$8.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Commercial Monthly$25.991 Month
  • Personal Semi-Annual$38.996 Months
  • Personal Annual$69.991 Year
  • Commercial — Semi-Annual$116.996 Months

Questions

Is SMS Forwarder free?
SMS Forwarder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PhoneLeash free?
PhoneLeash is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SMS Forwarder or PhoneLeash?
PhoneLeash is rated higher. SMS Forwarder averages 4.4 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while PhoneLeash averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do SMS Forwarder or PhoneLeash have ads?
Neither SMS Forwarder nor PhoneLeash shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMS Forwarder or PhoneLeash?
SMS Forwarder ships an update every 2 weeks, and PhoneLeash every 6 days. Most recently, SMS Forwarder was updated on October 30, 2026 and PhoneLeash on October 31, 2026.

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