Best SMS Forwarding Apps for iPhone in 2026

The best iPhone SMS forwarding app depends on where you want to read messages. Fwrd is a fit if you want to send selected new texts from your iPhone to Slack, Discord, or Telegram through Shortcuts. Other apps list more destinations, support older iOS versions, or offer Android versions.

What you need: An iPhone, the destination you want to use, and a rule for which new messages should be forwarded. Check the App Store listing for the iOS version and current price in your region before installing.

Quick comparison of iPhone SMS forwarding apps

These are US App Store ratings and minimum iOS versions checked on October 8, 2026. Ratings show what customers have submitted to Apple; the number of ratings matters as much as the average. Destination lists below come from each app's current store description.

App	US App Store rating	Minimum iOS	Destinations listed
Fwrd	Not enough ratings	26.2	Slack, Discord, Telegram
SMS Forwarder: Forward SMS	4.3 from 380 ratings	17.0	Email, chat, webhooks, another phone
Forward SMS: SMS Forwarder	3.2 from 21 ratings	16.0	Email, phone number, chat, REST API
SMS Forwarder - Forward SMS	4.6 from 32 ratings	17.0	Email, chat, SMS, webhook
SMS Forwarder	4.3 from 45 ratings	16.6	Email, chat, another phone, custom API or webhook
autoforward	4.7 from 20 ratings	18.4	Email
SMS Forwarder — Re Text	4.3 from 50 ratings	17.0	Email, phone, chat, webhook or API
PhoneLeash	5.0 from 1 rating	16.0	Email

App Store prices and features can change. Some apps also list several in-app purchase offers, so compare the purchase screen and the destination list in your own storefront. Ratings are not a controlled test and do not prove that an app will work for your phone, carrier, or destination.

Which app fits your setup?

Choose Fwrd for Slack, Discord, or Telegram. Fwrd is an iPhone app that adds a forwarding action to an Apple Shortcuts Message automation. You create the automation and choose which texts match. Fwrd does not need an account, and it offers 15 free forwards each calendar month. The current App Store description lists three destinations, so use that list when choosing the app.

Compare other apps if you need a wider destination list. The store descriptions for Re Text, Forward SMS, SMS Forwarder by MOV Digital, and SMS Forwarder by Alexey Sakharov list email, phone, webhook, API, or additional chat services. Check the individual listing to confirm the exact route and whether it meets your needs.

Consider supported iOS and devices. Fwrd requires iOS 26.2 or later. Several alternatives list lower minimum iOS versions, and some are designed for iPad or also have Android apps. If you need to set up the app on an older iPhone, check this requirement before you install.

Check where a message goes before choosing an app. Apps can send directly from the iPhone, use a service operated by the developer, or offer both routes. Read the app's privacy policy and setup guide for the destination you plan to use. A label such as “on-device” in an app description is the developer's claim; this comparison does not inspect network traffic.

Set up and test the route

1. Choose the receiving service first. Confirm that the app supports that exact service in its current App Store description.
2. Install the app on the iPhone that receives the original messages. Check its minimum iOS version and the terms shown before purchase.
3. Create a Message automation in Shortcuts. Choose a sender or a phrase that appears in the texts you want to send.
4. Add the forwarding action or destination the app requires. The app does not choose which incoming messages match; the Shortcuts rule does.
5. Set the automation to run without asking, using the option shown on your iOS version.
6. Send a safe test message. Check that it reaches only the destination you intended, then review the app's setup guide for any limits.

Fwrd's Shortcuts automation guide shows the iOS setup. The Slack guide, Discord guide, and Telegram guide include destination-specific steps and setup videos.

Limits to check before you install

An iPhone automation acts on new messages that meet its rule. It does not copy old conversations. A keyword rule can miss a message when its wording changes. Sender matching can be unsuitable for a short code that is not in Contacts.

The receiving iPhone must be on and connected when the message arrives. Chat and email destinations also need an internet connection. Forwarded text may contain private details, so choose a private destination and test with a harmless message. A successful test confirms that the route worked once; it does not guarantee later delivery.

Fwrd forwards message text to the three destinations in its current App Store description. It does not forward photos, and a reply in Slack, Discord, or Telegram does not come from the iPhone's phone number. Apple Shortcuts controls the trigger, and the destination service controls what happens after it receives the text.