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

Good to use

Good to use But when having a call the voice is a quite low from other side I hope more improvements Do not stay at one place
S

Useful as a secondary backup VoIP number

I ve been using TextNow for over 2 years now and while I m not a fan of all of all of the updates they ve had in the last 6 months such as the update to block ad blockers from working on the app and the major increase in pricings of their in-app purchases I understand it and am thankful that my account s subscription is stayed the same price due to the grandfather clause TextNow has been very useful as a secondary and backup VoIP number for me to use for years now and for that I ll remain a subscriber for as long as I m grandfathered
D

Curious about how intelligent the

Curious about how intelligent the average person is Look no further than an online review sites comment section about a free app In this world common sense and critical thinking don t matter and self entitlement levels are so high the people who are the most intentionally ignorant won t understand any of this On to TextNow It s a free app It is able to afford to operate on T-Mobiles network thanks to an abundant amount of ads displayed on the app at all times and from customers who pay to have said ads removed from their app In order to send and receive free calls and texts even with a TextNow sim you must use the TextNow app to send and receive calls and texts This means you will not use the default phone app or text message app that came pre-installed on your iphone or Android device If you are having issues sending or receiving calls or texts while not connected to a wifi network and have their sim card this is an issue with your signal strength on the T-Mobile network or incorrect APN settings Both are clearly mentioned prior to setting up an account or paying for a sim TextNow is a personal data harvesting cheaply coded app loaded with trackers hell-bent on nothing more than profiting off selling every bit of personal and geographical location information they can get from you but their app and services work as advertised You should probably work on your critical thinking and google search skills if you re here calling them a scam
H

Not bad for use as subscriber

I use this service for more than 2 years and subscribed it for the second year It s a good phone number provider in the past however they cancelled notification via email Hope they can add it back in the future
J

Just wish my SIM card would work on any

Just wish my SIM card would work on any cell phone

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.