Textnow Reviews

TextNow | Get Free Calling and Texting with TextNow

3.40
87 reviews
Average Rating
Based on 87 user experiences
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A

Not good at all

Not good at all When app was screened for background trackers and spyware Huawei 5G was tracking in the background They also reassigned a person s phone number to me who reportedly conned someone by selling them a defective unlicensed gun They did not respond to any complaints or give me a new number I had to let the number expire
T

I am writing as a concerned parent of a

I am writing as a concerned parent of a son who suffers with mental illness A girl has been texting him communicating with him for over 2 years and I just discovered she s now using TEXT NOW I actually think it s a BIG SCAM I am taking his phone to the authorities or please feel free to INVESTIGATE the following phone number from the scammer girl 651 317 7451 I want this to end for my son and am determined to find out WHO has this number and is manipulating him It s sick and sad
M

Account Disabled for no Reason then Horrible Customer Service

I signed up used it to make a couple of calls and thought it was great The next day my account is disabled for violating terms I have no idea what term was violated because I only used it for 3 legitimate calls therefore appealed also asking what term was violated I get no response I try to follow-up and it is impossible because you are only allowed to appeal once and their emails don t accept replies
C

Suspended my account and canceled my subscription

Worst company ever They canceled my subscription for no reason and they suspended my account for suspicious activity I use Textnow as my main number and they are absolute trash If you want a good company use something else
A

They deleted my phone number for all of

They deleted my phone number for all of my marketing needs for my business without any reason and their is no support or customer support to explain anything at all Lost me over 11 000 00 for my construction company Thanks alot text now I will absolutely never use again We emailed so many times and no reply
A

Blocked my account for no clear reason Now they cannot reactivate

I had a number for over 2 years Making calls to a landline from it every other day But I got a message that I wasn t using it sending text messages out and one day they blocked my account What a nightmare I talked to customer service They told me it can be for a variety of reasons Not specific And when they tried to reactivate it again they said they couldn t because I m currently not in Canada or the USA The whole point of a voip number is that it s international DO NOT USE TEXTNOW FIND ANOTHER VOIP PROVIDER
M

TextNow is the worst company when it

TextNow is the worst company when it comes to customer service TextNow cancelled my subscription for no reason and did not refund the ad subscription as the subscription was taken out just a few days before cancellation I had a hard time contacting them but finally I found their chat site Totally unhelpful They told me that Apple will refund the charges when I contacted Apple they told me that TextNow needs to refund it
L

TextNow has gone crazy

TextNow has gone crazy They are confused on how to run their service properly I read their terms of service before setting up my account and never violated any of their rules Very surprising to see my account got suspended luckily I have not paid the subscription before my account was taking down But too bad to see how difficult or hard time they re going through to run their service properly
P

My experience with TextNow has been

My experience with TextNow has been horrible They blocked two phone numbers in one week for no reason I have lost all of my customer s Contacts and I m trying to resolve it without success because they don t have any kind of customer service Please TextNow my name is Silvio my phone is 415 756 7898
L

How does one contact a live human

How does one contact a live human Customer Service Rep for info on tracking SIM card I bought SIM card 6 16 23 haven t received it as of 6 23 23 BUT I m receiving notices from Text Now stating It is time to activate your SIM card ELP

About Textnow

Phone smarter! Ditch your monthly phone bills with free calling and texting. Get the TextNow SIM card or use the TextNow app over wifi. Start saving!

United States

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Frequently Asked Questions

TextNow is a telecommunications service provider that offers free and low-cost mobile phone and messaging services in the United States and Canada. Its core service provides users with a free phone number to send unlimited texts and make calls within these countries using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology over Wi-Fi or data. For an enhanced experience, TextNow also offers premium plans, including SIM cards and data plans, which allow the free calling and texting service to operate over a cellular network.

TextNow's free service operates on an ad-supported model. Users can download the TextNow app on iOS or Android devices or use the web platform to obtain a free phone number. This number can be used to send and receive unlimited text messages and make phone calls within the United States and Canada at no direct charge. The service is sustained by advertisements displayed within the application's interface and requires an internet connection via Wi-Fi or cellular data to function.

TextNow's primary premium offering involves purchasing a TextNow SIM card and subscribing to a data plan. The SIM card provides access to TextNow's nationwide cellular network, allowing the free calling and texting service to work with cellular data outside of Wi-Fi hotspots. These plans are contract-free and month-to-month, where users pay only for the data they need while talk and text remain free. Premium plans also typically remove advertisements from the app interface.

An MVNO, or Mobile Virtual Network Operator, is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not own its own wireless network infrastructure. Instead, it purchases network capacity at wholesale rates from a major carrier (an MNO) and resells it to consumers. TextNow operates as an MVNO, utilizing the infrastructure of major carriers to provide its nationwide cellular data network for users who purchase a TextNow SIM card.

Yes, TextNow supports cross-platform accessibility. A user's TextNow phone number and message history are synchronized across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and web browsers. This allows for seamless communication continuity as long as the device has an active internet connection and the user is logged into their TextNow account.
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About Textnow

TextNow: A Comprehensive Overview

TextNow is a leading telecommunications service provider that offers free and low-cost mobile phone and messaging services primarily in the United States and Canada. The company's core mission is to make essential communication accessible to everyone by leveraging Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. This allows users to make calls and send texts over Wi-Fi or cellular data, bypassing traditional carrier networks and their associated costs for service plans.

Core Services and Features

The cornerstone of TextNow's offering is its free, ad-supported wireless service. Users can download the TextNow app on iOS or Android devices, or use the web platform, to obtain a free phone number. With this number, they can send and receive unlimited text messages and make phone calls within the United States and Canada at no direct charge. The service is sustained by advertisements displayed within the app interface.

For users seeking an enhanced experience without ads or wanting to use their TextNow number with cellular data outside of Wi-Fi hotspots, the company offers premium plans. The key premium option is the TextNow SIM card and data plans. By purchasing an affordable SIM card, users can access TextNow's nationwide cellular network for data, which powers their free calling and texting. This effectively creates a low-cost, contract-free wireless plan where users only pay for the data they need, while talk and text remain free.

Key Differentiators and User Benefits

TextNow distinguishes itself in the competitive telecom market through several key attributes:

  • Cost-Effective Communication:It provides a genuine free tier for basic calling and texting, which is invaluable for budget-conscious individuals, secondary phone lines, or travelers.
  • No Contracts or Commitments:All services are month-to-month with no credit checks, offering significant flexibility.
  • Nationwide Cellular Network Access:With a SIM card, the service transitions from Wi-Fi-only to a full-fledged mobile service using TextNow's own MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) network, which operates on major carrier infrastructures.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility:A user's phone number and messages are synchronized across smartphones, tablets, and web browsers, ensuring communication continuity on any device with an internet connection.

Target Audience and Use Cases

TextNow serves a diverse user base. It is particularly popular among:

  • Individuals seeking to minimize monthly phone bills.
  • Students and young people needing a first or secondary phone line.
  • International travelers who want a temporary US/Canadian number for local communication.
  • Business professionals desiring a separate number for work-life balance.
  • Anyone in need of a reliable backup communication method.

Website and User Experience

The textnow.com website functions as a central hub for information and account management. It clearly outlines the differences between free and premium services, allows for SIM card purchases, and provides access to the web-based messaging platform. The site includes comprehensive support pages, FAQs, and community forums to assist users. The design emphasizes clarity and conversion, guiding visitors toward downloading the app or selecting a suitable plan.

Conclusion

TextNow successfully carves a unique niche by democratizing access to telecommunication. It bridges the gap between traditional, expensive carrier contracts and limited-functionality messaging apps. By offering a permanent free phone number with core functionality and optional, affordable data access, TextNow presents a compelling and flexible solution for modern communication needs. Its model is built on accessibility, flexibility, and leveraging internet connectivity to provide substantial value to a broad spectrum of users.