# SMS vs Forward Message

The clearest difference is rating: Forward Message at 5.0 against SMS's 1.0. Forward Message also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SMS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year and Forward Message sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Forward Message holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

SMS ships an update every 2 months, Forward Message every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 1, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMS | Forward Message |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-forwarder/id6755705891/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forward-message-autofwd/id6762553680/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [慧君 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831145253) | [Foshan Qizhizhu Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787171342) |

## What reviewers say

### SMS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-forwarder/id6755705891)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $6.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $7.99 | one-time |


### Forward Message

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forward-message-autofwd/id6762553680)

Automatically forward important SMS messages to various channels like email, WeChat, DingTalk, and more. Set up custom rules for precise message routing and even receive external messages or control your phone remotely. Ideal for managing multiple SIM cards or ensuring critical alerts reach you.

**Highlights:** Automatic SMS forwarding, Keyword-based rules, Multiple forwarding channels, External message push, Remote phone control, Message shielding in groups

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 购买100次转发 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 月度普通会员 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 年度普通会员 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 2年普通会员 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 年度高级会员 | $89.99 | one-time |
| 2年高级会员 | $149.99 | one-time |
| 年度超级会员 | $179.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMS free?

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

### Is Forward Message free?

Forward Message is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SMS or Forward Message?

Forward Message is rated higher. SMS averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Forward Message averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SMS or Forward Message have ads?

Neither SMS nor Forward Message shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMS or Forward Message?

SMS ships an update every 2 months, and Forward Message every 5 days. Most recently, SMS was updated on September 1, 2026 and Forward Message on September 23, 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.*