Textnow Reviews

TextNow | Get Free Calling and Texting with TextNow

textnow.com
3.40
87 reviews
Average Rating
Based on 87 user experiences

Rated 3.40 out of 5 by 87 Happy Customers

44.8%
5.7%
17.2%
9.2%
23%
All 5 ★ 4 ★ 3 ★ 2 ★ 1 ★ 😊 Positive 😐 Neutral 😞 Negative Reset Filter
S

I was foolish enough to order a Sim

I was foolish enough to order a Sim card to take advantage of their so-called free cell phone calling and texting service After activating the Sim I was unable to receive calls or make outbound calls Their only customer service provided is via chat by a service somewhere in India The individual on the other side of the chat with me was never able to understand that my problem was with the cell phone and Sim card-based service not the app No matter how many ways I explained it this individual did not get it and actually disconnected with me abruptly to get rid of me It s five dollars and some frustration lost but the lesson is avoid this business like the plague
C

THEY DELETE ACCOUNTS AND ALL CONVOS WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR REASON

Expect to have your account shut down without any notice or reason Sent a group text to a few friends saying Happy Thanksgiving yesterday Then my account was shut down I figured it set off a spam alert so I did live chat w them and they said my account could not be recovered no matter what And they wont give you a reason And they wont let you download your conversations post cancellation 6 months of conversations with valuable information down the drain

So sad

Disabled my account with no reasonThe customer service always just copy same words This app can set pass words but dose not support 2FA which means it is not safe enough
C

Charged for annual subscription account shut down next day and no refund provided Stay away form this company please

Used their services for 2-3 years Then one day right after charging me for the annual subscription they canceled the account as it apparently violated their terms and services Sent an appeal no reply at all Had a chat with their support they have no phone support was told they did not disclose the reason and would not refund the subscription Please do yourself a favor and stay away from this company
S

Free service HORRIBLE

Free phone service is literally a win for most people If not all TextNow does that but at what cost EVERYTHING I ve created 4 GOOGLE ACCOUNTS JUST for TextNow to disable each of their numbers and I lost HUNDREDS of valuable texts And they aren t even going to reply to my goddamn appeal because APPARENTLY saying something as simple as yeah sure will set off a spam filter and disable my account I HATE YOU TEXTNOW Do yourself a favor and look up TextNow alternatives because TextNow is HORRIBLE At least until they update their service
A

This app is a total scam

This app is a total scam It ask you to pay for the paid version and says that the limitations of the free version will go away I subscribed but nothing was fixed so I tried to change the number and they disabled my account minutes after I paid for the subscription I contacted them asking for a fix or a refund and they didn t even bother to answer the email
D

4 99 a year to locked a phone number

4 99 a year to locked a phone number to receive a confirmation code bruh come on man
L

Text now was difficult enough to use

Text now was difficult enough to use previously due to the vast amount of ads you must endure to use this service Now some genius at Text Now has decided to run gaming ads which run repeatedly every single time you either use the phone or have a call come in These ads run for several minutes blasting loudly so you can t hear your own conversation nor is there anyway to get out of the loop until it finishes which makes the phone service virtually unusable Very unwise decision
M

I fell victim to their Terms of

I fell victim to their Terms of Service violation scam just like most others on here Shame on you Textnow
A

i has acount from many years

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

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.