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%
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C

The service is slow and I don t like

The service is slow and I don t like how you have to send text messages
M

Phone I can t Use My phone number to be cancelled

I had been a TextNow customer for a few years and was very happy with their service On Apr 16 2020 I purchase a new phone through TextNow because I needed 32G of memory I noticed a few glitches when making and or receiving calls Since the quarantine I started using my phone more often This is when the glitches became more of an issue The first week in June I contacted the on-line support and we spent several hours trying to resolve the problem I was later told that the engineers found that the phone which I bought from TextNow was not compatible on the TextNow network Jun 18th I went to Best Buy to find a new carrier I decided on ATT The tech inserted the new sim into the phone from TextNow and went through the activation process For some reason the phone that I was assured was unlocked was locked onto a Sprint tower The phone was re-set to factory settings but still unable to activate it After many calls I discovered that the phone was locked by Boost Mobile I was forced to purchase a new phone On June 19 2020 I sent a letter to TextNow at your San Francisco office requesting guidance on return the phone that I could not use To date no reply Today I received an email from TextNow saying that my phone number was going to be deleted unless I send a message to TextNow That is impossible to do since you don t have any direct phone line that can be used
M

I been trying to chat with support i

I been trying to chat with support i want a return i purchase the lock number option but i made a mistake and i cancelled litteraly 5 minutes after so can i get my 5 back please
D

The service is okay but the customer

The service is okay but the customer service is terrible You can t get ahold of a person and their numbers just lead to recording with directions to use the app
J

textnow serves its purpose but beware

textnow serves its purpose its free so able to call or text but its not very reliable sometimes wont receive missed calls texts or voicemails til after a couple days their phones work fine for about 3 to 6 months before stuff starts going wrong with freezing glitching and or not charging properly Logging in to your acct can be a pain and of course no refunds nor replacements are given and insurance is not available the updated sim cards that they send you every year doesnt always work and that in itself is a process because your phone became locked and they have to get in touch with your carrier to unlock your phone the good thing about it is that you can download onto laptop computer tablet any phone so if yours breaks theres still a way to access your messages if you have either of those electronic devices The biggest issue is having to replace your phone every year because it will not last through the years Thats where they are making their money overpriced phones that dont even last a year Ive used them for about 3 yrs now and for me personally its been useful and helped alot but i dont like how im having to replace my phone about every 6 months and i wish they would provide insurance
S

I paid for a year to keep my number

I paid for a year to keep my number then on following year I was charged without notice for the renewal then 15 days later my service was suspended and they just won t talk to me nor refund my money They said I violated their terms of service
P

Suspicious but good though

Well I am not really completely against this service I have had no problem after several years of nice and free service with my own phone number and area code using any available internet connection BiG however there is no real customer service desk for support The best you can have is a tutorials page That s very suspicious Is this a kind of laundry or phishing platform
F

Canadians can t get sim cards for use in US

I used the service in Canada and it is working fine on Wifi However I am going to the US for the winter and wanted to use the sim card in the US When I try to pay for the sim card using my Visa which works fine in the states the system has no way to put in a Canadian billing address so card is rejected I managed to chat with their representative with difficulty Their response was I need a US billing address A supposed Canadian company that discriminates against Canadian Snowbirds

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.