Comparison

Text SMS Forwarder vs Retracted

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

Head to head
About

Text SMS Forwarder

Features
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Text SMS Forwarder helps you organize and forward important text messages using rules that run on your device. Create rules by sender, keywords, and message content. Preview and test each rule before using it, choose one or more forwarding numbers, and review prepared messages and delivery history from a clear control center. Key features: β€’ Smart, quick, and advanced rule builders β€’ Sender and keyword matching β€’ Optional message cleanup and text replacement β€’ Apple Shortcuts integration for incoming-message automation β€’ Review and send prepared forwards β€’ Local message history and status tracking β€’ Contact selection with optional Contacts access β€’ Light and dark appearance Privacy first: Messages, rules, contacts, and activity are processed and stored on your device. The app does not upload your SMS content to a server. Setup requires Apple’s Shortcuts app. Follow the in-app guide to install the included shortcut and connect a personal Message automation. SMS forwarding availability depends on iOS, carrier support, and device settings.

About

Retracted

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Someone deleted a message before you could read it? Retracted kept it. Retracted keeps the text of every message you receive β€” Instagram, WhatsApp, iMessage, Messenger, Telegram β€” privately on your iPhone. When a message is unsent or deleted, it's still here. β€’ See what they deleted: deleted and unsent messages stay readable in the conversation. β€’ Instant alerts on Instagram: get notified the moment a message is unsent. β€’ Every conversation, one place: search everything you've received, across apps. β€’ Private by design: no account, no server, no ads. Nothing ever leaves your iPhone. Lock it with Face ID. How it works: iOS 27 lets a shortcut react to your notifications. Retracted gives you that shortcut, ready to use β€” one switch to turn on. Good to know: Retracted keeps messages received after you set it up, as long as notification previews are on and the conversation isn't open. Text only: photos and voice messages aren't kept. When many messages arrive within seconds, iOS may skip some. Requires iOS 27. Free: everything is kept, the last 24 hours are readable, and your first unsent message is revealed. Premium unlocks your full history, every deleted message and full search. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ β€” Privacy: https://retracted.app/privacy Retracted is not affiliated with or endorsed by any messaging service.

Screenshots

Text SMS Forwarder4 screens
Retracted4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Text SMS Forwarder at none against Retracted's 3. Text SMS Forwarder also leads on iOS requirement (18 vs 27.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Retracted sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Text SMS Forwarder asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Text SMS Forwarder ships an update every 5 days, Retracted every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Text SMS Forwarder versus Retracted: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterText SMS ForwarderRetracted
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 3 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS18 β€” better27.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size19 MB2 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperVishal Dalsaniayounes beaila

In-app purchases

None

Text SMS Forwarder

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Retracted

Subscriptions2
  • Premium – Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Premium – Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium – Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Text SMS Forwarder free?
Text SMS Forwarder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Retracted free?
Retracted is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Text SMS Forwarder or Retracted have ads?
Neither Text SMS Forwarder nor Retracted shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Text SMS Forwarder or Retracted?
Text SMS Forwarder ships an update every 5 days, and Retracted every 3 days. Most recently, Text SMS Forwarder was updated on October 31, 2026 and Retracted on October 31, 2026.

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