Comparison

Savvy Shield vs PhoneCheck

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

Head to head
About

Savvy Shield

This app reveals and blocks background data connections to trackers and data brokers. It provides a clear, plain-English explanation of company data practices and assigns a privacy score based on your device's activity. Take back control of your personal information.

Highlights
  • Reveals device contacts with trackers
  • Blocks known trackers and ad networks
  • Explains company data practices
  • Provides a privacy score
  • Shows blocked connections
  • On-device VPN configuration
Features
Read full description

Savvy Shield shows you where your iPhone's data actually goes, then stops it. Every day, your apps quietly connect to trackers, ad networks, and data brokers in the background. Savvy Shield turns that hidden activity into a clear, plain-English view, so you can see which companies your phone is talking to and take back control. WHAT SAVVY SHIELD DOES • Reveals the trackers and destinations your device contacts • Blocks known trackers and ad networks before they load • Explains, in plain English, what each company takes and what its terms allow • Gives you a privacy score based on real evidence from your device • Shows you exactly what was blocked, so you can check the number yourself HOW IT WORKS On iPhone and iPad, Savvy Shield installs a small on-device VPN configuration built on Apple's Network Extension framework. It carries only your device's DNS lookups, the name-to-address requests, to Savvy's encrypted resolver. It does not route your web traffic through Savvy's servers, and it is not a general-purpose VPN. Because it uses Apple's VPN framework, iOS shows a VPN icon in the status bar while it is on. You allow it with one tap and can turn it off anytime in the app. Savvy Shield never reads the content of your messages or browsing. When a tracker is blocked, no connection is opened and nothing is uploaded. Some ads are not affected. Services that deliver ads from the same place as their own content, like video and social feeds, will still show them. We would rather tell you that than promise otherwise. BUILT BY A PRIVACY COMPANY We don't sell your data. We don't run ads. No hidden tracking. No account or sign-in is needed. SAVVY SHIELD SUBSCRIPTION • Savvy Shield Monthly, $4.99 per month, auto-renewable • Savvy Shield Yearly, $49.99 per year, auto-renewable • Prices shown in US dollars; your App Store storefront sets the local price • Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase • Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings Terms of Use (EULA): https://savvysignals.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://savvysignals.com/privacy

About

PhoneCheck

Features
Read full description

PhoneCheck helps you inspect a used phone before you buy it. Buying a second-hand device from a marketplace, reseller, or another person? Run a guided hardware inspection and check the most important functions before handing over your money. PhoneCheck walks you through practical tests and creates a clear inspection result based on the checks you actually perform. COMPLETE DEVICE INSPECTION Test important parts of the device through a simple guided process. Screen Tests • Touchscreen grid test • Multi-touch test • Dead pixel check • OLED and image retention check • Display brightness check Audio Tests • Main speaker • Earpiece • Microphone recording and playback Camera Tests • Rear camera • Front camera • Focus test • Flash and torch test Sensor Tests • Accelerometer • Gyroscope • Compass • Proximity sensor • Haptics and vibration Connectivity Tests • Wi-Fi and network connectivity • Bluetooth • GPS and location • Cellular connectivity PHYSICAL INSPECTION PhoneCheck also guides you through important checks that require visual or manual inspection, including: • Side and volume buttons • Charging port • Face ID or Touch ID • Screen condition • Back glass condition • Front and rear cameras • Speaker and microphone condition DEVICE INFORMATION View useful information available from the device, including: • Device model • Operating system version • Storage capacity • Available storage • Battery percentage • Charging status • Display information • Sensor and camera capabilities PhoneCheck uses public system APIs and does not claim access to restricted information that third-party applications cannot reliably obtain. CLEAR INSPECTION RESULTS After completing the inspection, PhoneCheck summarizes the results using easy-to-understand statuses: . Passed . Needs Attention . Failed . Skipped or Unavailable You can quickly see which areas performed correctly and which ones deserve a closer look before purchasing the device. RETEST PROBLEMS Found something suspicious? Run failed or questionable tests again without repeating the entire inspection. SAVE YOUR INSPECTIONS Keep previous inspection results on your device so you can review and compare devices later. BUILT FOR SECOND-HAND BUYERS PhoneCheck is useful when checking a device from: • Facebook Marketplace • eBay • Local marketplaces • Used-device stores • Refurbished-device sellers • Private sellers PhoneCheck reports only the results of tests performed using the app and user-confirmed inspection items. It does not guarantee a device's authenticity, ownership status, repair history, future performance, or overall condition.

Screenshots

Savvy Shield3 screens
PhoneCheck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PhoneCheck at none against Savvy Shield's 2. Savvy Shield's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support 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. Savvy Shield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PhoneCheck asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Savvy Shield versus PhoneCheck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSavvy ShieldPhoneCheck
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSavvy Signals LLCfadma OUBLOUCH

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Savvy Shield

Subscriptions2
  • Savvy Shield Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Savvy Shield Yearly$49.991 Year
None

PhoneCheck

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Savvy Shield free?
Savvy Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PhoneCheck free?
PhoneCheck is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Savvy Shield or PhoneCheck have ads?
PhoneCheck shows ads; Savvy Shield does not.

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