Comparison

TextShield vs DeskOrbit

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

Head to head
About

TextShield

Features
Read full description

Tired of spam texts? TextShield quietly sorts them out β€” the decision is made on your device, and your messages never leave your phone. HOW IT WORKS Texts from unknown senders pass through three checkpoints: 1. Your allow list (always wins, important texts are never lost) 2. Your block list (keywords, regex, sender prefixes) 3. Built-in rule packs for Chinese (170 rules) and Japanese (101 rules) spam patterns (loan scams, fake invoices, gambling, delivery & bank phishing) Anything unmatched is delivered normally β€” when in doubt, let it through. EVERYTHING IS FREE Unlimited rules, regex and sender-prefix rules, both built-in rule packs and the filter test bench are open to everyone. No paywall, no subscription. ABOUT THE ADS A single banner sits at the bottom of the home screen, served by Google AdMob. Fetching it is the app's only network activity. On first launch iOS asks for tracking permission; if you decline, only non-personalized ads are requested. The banner never reads your messages or your rules. A one-time purchase removes the banner for good β€” it removes the banner only, nothing gets unlocked. NO ADS IN THE FILTER EXTENSION The extension that actually classifies your texts contains no ad code and no networking code at all. NOTE iOS only routes texts from unknown senders to filters. Messages from your contacts and iMessage are never filtered β€” that's a system privacy guarantee, not a limitation of this app.

About

DeskOrbit

Features
Read full description

Control a compatible electric sit-stand desk from iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. DeskOrbit keeps the current height and Stop control close at hand, with held Up and Down controls, a tactile target-height slider and named positions. The free version controls one desk with two named positions. DeskOrbit Pro adds unlimited desks and positions, automations, optional iCloud sync, interactive widgets, Live Activities, Siri and Shortcuts actions, Action Button support and direct Apple Watch control. A one-time 14-day trial unlocks every Pro feature before you decide on the Lifetime purchase. DeskOrbit includes a safe Demo mode that needs no desk. Real movement is protected by explicit Stop controls, range validation, timeout and stall handling. iOS never starts unattended desk movement from a suspended background process. No account, advertising, tracking or analytics. DeskOrbit is independent software and is not affiliated with any desk manufacturer.

Screenshots

TextShield4 screens
DeskOrbit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DeskOrbit at none against TextShield's 1. DeskOrbit also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 1). TextShield's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price 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. TextShield sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DeskOrbit asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences Β· 2 level
TextShield versus DeskOrbit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTextShieldDeskOrbit
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyβ€”Every 3 weeks
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch β€” better
Requires iOS16.0 β€” better18.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size5 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperδΈ½δ½³ ζ–½Marco Hillger

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TextShield

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99
None

DeskOrbit

No in-app purchases

Questions

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

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