Comparison

SMS Virtual vs FactorCat

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

Head to head
About

SMS Virtual

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
Read full description

Stay connected and manage your incoming messages effortlessly with our app. Designed for convenience and privacy, it helps you receive, organize, and store SMS messages in one easy-to-use app. Main Features: • Receive and view SMS messages instantly • Keep a secure log of all text messages • Organize messages by sender or time • Clean and intuitive user interface • Lightweight and fast performance Why You’ll Love It: • Perfect for managing multiple SMS accounts • Helps you stay organized and never miss a message • Safe and private — your data stays on your device • Ideal for both personal and professional use Subscription Details: Stay connected and manage your incoming messages effortlessly with SMS Receiver. Designed for convenience and privacy, it helps you receive, organize, and store SMS messages in one easy-to-use app. Main Features: • Receive and view SMS messages instantly • Keep a secure log of all text messages • Organize messages by sender or time • Clean and intuitive user interface • Lightweight and fast performance Why You’ll Love It: • Perfect for managing multiple SMS accounts • Helps you stay organized and never miss a message • Safe and private — your data stays on your device • Ideal for both personal and professional use Subscription Details: • Yearly Plan: $19.99/year • Weekly Plan: $6.99/week Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the subscription ends. Manage or cancel your subscription anytime in iTunes Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited when a subscription is purchased. Privacy Policy - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wW1f0rrzSrBP__bahaJG-5Nl_vf2SX7sdfVglg6AcM8/edit?usp=sharing Terms of Use - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x2Pp_jPjiDf1154sM5GtvObzjL1aydDB4IriACzEHXs/edit?usp=sharing

About

FactorCat

This app streamlines multi-factor authentication by replacing manual code entry with a single tap approval via push notification. It offers secure, encrypted storage of your authentication secrets and supports two vault types for flexible recovery and enhanced security.

Highlights
  • One-tap MFA approval
  • Automatic code filling via browser extension
  • Encrypted TOTP secrets storage
  • Cloud Vault for easy recovery
  • Locked Vault with zero-trust encryption
  • Standalone authenticator functionality
Features
Read full description

FactorCat is a modern authenticator that replaces the code-copying ritual with a single tap. How it works: Install the browser extension on your computer. When you hit a login page that needs a code, FactorCat sends a push notification to your phone. Tap approve, confirm with Face ID or fingerprint, and the code fills in automatically. No switching apps. No squinting at timers. No mistyped digits. Security you can trust: Your TOTP secrets are stored on your device, encrypted and protected by biometrics. FactorCat never holds your passwords — MFA and passwords stay separate by design, so there's no single point of failure for your online identity. Two vault types: • Cloud Vault — cloud-managed keys for easy recovery. Great for getting started with MFA or for low-risk accounts. FactorCat can generate codes on your behalf when your phone is offline. • Locked Vault — zero-trust encryption using a model trusted by leading security products. You hold the keys. FactorCat cannot read your secrets. Backup via encrypted cloud blobs recoverable only with your emergency kit. Getting started takes 2 minutes: 1. Download FactorCat 2. Add your first token (scan a QR or let the browser extension capture it) 3. Pair with the extension via one QR scan 4. Done — your next login fills itself in Also works standalone. Use FactorCat as a regular authenticator with no account or extension required. When you're ready for auto-fill, pair up anytime. Free to use. No ads. No tracking. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.factorcat.com/privacy/

Screenshots

SMS Virtual3 screens
FactorCat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FactorCat at 5.0 against SMS Virtual's 4.3. FactorCat also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and device support (3 vs 1). SMS Virtual's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (121 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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 Virtual sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and FactorCat sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FactorCat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMS Virtual has 121 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMS Virtual ships an update every 5 days, FactorCat every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SMS Virtual versus FactorCat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMS VirtualFactorCat
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (121 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings121 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVolodymyr DemianchukCapital F

Customer experience

SMS Virtual

All ratings121 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral5.0%
Negative13.2%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.9%

FactorCat

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

SMS Virtual

Subscriptions6
  • Smart SMS Receiver$4.997 Days
  • Smart SMS Receiver$6.997 Days
  • Smart SMS Receiver$19.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Smart SMS Receiver$24.991 Year
  • Smart SMS Receiver$29.991 Year
  • Smart SMS Receiver$39.991 Year
One-time4
  • Smart SMS Receiver$3.99
  • Smart SMS Receiver$6.99
  • Smart SMS Receiver$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Smart SMS Receiver$14.99
2 purchases

FactorCat

Subscriptions2
  • FactorCat Supporter$12.991 Year
  • FactorCat Pro$24.991 Year

Questions

Is SMS Virtual free?
SMS Virtual is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FactorCat free?
FactorCat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SMS Virtual or FactorCat?
FactorCat is rated higher. SMS Virtual averages 4.3 out of 5 from 121 ratings, while FactorCat averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SMS Virtual or FactorCat have ads?
Neither SMS Virtual nor FactorCat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMS Virtual or FactorCat?
SMS Virtual ships an update every 5 days, and FactorCat every 3 months. Most recently, SMS Virtual was updated on October 5, 2026 and FactorCat on September 18, 2026.

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