Comparison

SMS 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

Automatically forward SMS messages based on keywords to your email. This app processes all rules locally for enhanced privacy and security, offering offline operation. It's ideal for backing up important messages, verification codes, and separating work and personal communications.

Highlights
  • Keyword matching for SMS forwarding
  • Auto email forwarding
  • Local device processing
  • Secure and reliable forwarding
  • Offline operation
  • Verification code forwarding
Features
Read full description

SMS Forwarder - Auto Forward SMS, OTP & 2FA Codes to Email, Telegram & Webhook! Core Features: - Keyword Matching - Support multiple keywords, accurately match SMS to forward - OTP & 2FA Forwarding - Automatically forward verification codes and two-factor auth SMS - Multi-Channel Forwarding - Forward to Email, Telegram or custom Webhook - Webhook Templates - Built-in formats for DingTalk, Feishu, WeCom, Slack, Discord and more - Failure Alerts - Get a local notification when forwarding fails - Local Device Processing - All forwarding rules are stored locally, SMS goes straight to your own email or channels - Secure and Reliable - Built on iOS Shortcuts, no SMS content leakage Perfect For: * Auto-forward Verification Codes - Automatically forward various verification codes to email for archiving * Important Notification Monitoring - Auto-forward important SMS from banks, logistics, etc. * Separate Work and Life - Forward work-related SMS to work email, keep life SMS on phone * Multi-device Sync - View SMS on multiple devices via email * Information Backup - Auto-backup important SMS to email, prevent phone loss * Group Notification Sync - Forward important SMS to DingTalk, Feishu or Telegram groups via Webhook Privacy Promise: No personal data • No SMS uploads • No registration Premium Plans: Lifetime Membership - Unlock all features permanently - Pay once, use forever - No subscription needed, incredible value Annual Subscription - Auto-renewable yearly subscription - Full access to all premium features - Flexible, cancel anytime Free Trial - 3-day free trial with full features Terms & Policies - User Agreement: http://rule.linkfun.top/25A6/user-agreement.html?lang=en - Privacy Policy: http://rule.linkfun.top/25A6/privacy-policy.html?lang=en - Disclaimer: http://rule.linkfun.top/25A6/disclaimer.html?lang=en - End User License Agreement (EULA): http://rule.linkfun.top/25A6/eula.html?lang=en

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

SMS3 screens
PhoneLeash4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PhoneLeash at 4.5 against SMS's 1.0. PhoneLeash also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, 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 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year 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

PhoneLeash holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMS ships an update every 2 months, PhoneLeash every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SMS versus PhoneLeash: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMSPhoneLeash
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer慧君 李GEARANDROID LLC

Customer experience

SMS

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

PhoneLeash

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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SMS

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Subscription$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$7.99
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 free?
SMS 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 or PhoneLeash?
PhoneLeash is rated higher. SMS averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while PhoneLeash averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do SMS or PhoneLeash have ads?
Neither SMS nor PhoneLeash shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMS or PhoneLeash?
SMS ships an update every 2 months, and PhoneLeash every 6 days. Most recently, SMS was updated on November 5, 2026 and PhoneLeash on October 31, 2026.

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