# SMSNode vs Relay

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMSNode at none against Relay's 3. SMSNode also leads on ads (none vs shown). Relay's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Relay sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. SMSNode asks for nothing beyond the download.

SMSNode ships an update monthly, Relay weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMSNode | Relay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Size | 37 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Vasilii Marfin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1795281996) | [North Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896510509) |

## What reviewers say

### SMSNode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smsnode/id6760977645)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Relay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relay-sms-forwarding/id6767809269)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Relay Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Relay Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Relay Pro Annual | $89.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMSNode free?

SMSNode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Relay free?

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

### Do SMSNode or Relay have ads?

Relay shows ads; SMSNode does not.

### Which is updated more often, SMSNode or Relay?

SMSNode ships an update monthly, and Relay weekly. Most recently, SMSNode was updated on October 25, 2026 and Relay on October 28, 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.*