Comparison

SMS Forwarder vs Backup & Restore App

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

Backup & Restore App

Easily export and archive your iPhone conversations and contacts into readable files. Securely back up your address book and manage your data privately on your device.

Highlights
  • Export conversations as PDF, text, CSV, JSON, XML, web page, or image
  • Rebuild conversations from screenshots
  • Save contacts to vCard, JSON, or CSV files
  • Restore contacts from saved files
  • Print clean contact lists as PDF
  • Private by default, no account or servers needed
Features
Read full description

Two everyday jobs, handled entirely on your iPhone: turning conversations into files you can read, print or store, and keeping a safe copy of your address book. CONVERSATIONS - Add chat screenshots and the conversation is rebuilt on device - Fix who said what with a tap, hide anything private before it leaves - Export as PDF, plain text, CSV, JSON, XML, a web page or one long image - Keep an archive of your conversations and bring it back later CONTACTS - Save every contact to a vCard, JSON or CSV file - Put contacts back from a saved file — nothing on your phone is deleted or overwritten - Skip entries you already have while restoring - Spot likely duplicates and contacts missing a number - Print a clean contact list as a PDF EVERYDAY DETAILS - Light, dark or system appearance - Optional reminders so a fresh copy is never far away - Backups sit in the app and show up in the Files app whenever you need them PRIVATE BY DEFAULT No account, no sign-in, no servers. Text recognition uses Apple's on-device framework and every file is written on your phone. Contacts permission is the only permission requested, and nothing is ever uploaded. GOOD TO KNOW Conversations are built from screenshots you choose yourself. Apps cannot read the iPhone message database, cannot recover deleted texts, and cannot write messages back into a messaging app. Restoring brings conversations back into this app's own library. – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase (After free trial period if offered). – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. – Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Term Of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/lnathien/home/term-of-use Privacy: https://sites.google.com/view/lnathien/home/privacy-policy

Screenshots

SMS Forwarder4 screens
Backup & Restore App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Backup & Restore App at 100% against SMS Forwarder's 30%. Backup & Restore App also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). SMS Forwarder's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (45 vs 12). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Backup & Restore App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SMS Forwarder holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 12 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 30% of SMS Forwarder's written reviews are positive against 100% of Backup & Restore App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMS Forwarder ships an update every 2 weeks, Backup & Restore App daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SMS Forwarder versus Backup & Restore App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMS ForwarderBackup & Restore App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (45 ratings) — better4.1 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings45 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexey SakharovThien Le Nguyen Anh

Customer experience

SMS Forwarder

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

Backup & Restore App

All ratings11 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%
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
3 purchases

Backup & Restore App

Subscriptions3
  • Premium Access Weekly$8.997 Days
  • Premium Access Monthly3 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Premium Access Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is SMS Forwarder free?
SMS Forwarder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Backup & Restore App free?
Backup & Restore App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SMS Forwarder or Backup & Restore App?
SMS Forwarder is rated higher. SMS Forwarder averages 4.4 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Backup & Restore App averages 4.1 from 12 ratings.
Do SMS Forwarder or Backup & Restore App have ads?
Neither SMS Forwarder nor Backup & Restore App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMS Forwarder or Backup & Restore App?
SMS Forwarder ships an update every 2 weeks, and Backup & Restore App daily. Most recently, SMS Forwarder was updated on October 30, 2026 and Backup & Restore App on October 31, 2026.

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