TextNow’s free calling and texting services are difficult to match if you’re seeking methods to reduce your monthly phone bill.
While researching what constitutes a good cell phone plan, I compared TextNow to more than a hundred others. To help you decide if TextNow is a suitable fit for you, I’ll compare its features, service, and pricing to those of other popular low-cost programs.
Here, I’ll discuss the features, pricing, and other specifics of TextNow’s service so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to sign up.
Text Now: 5 Things to Know Before You Sign Up
Imagine the convenience of totally free texting and calling. However, with TextNow, this is now a distinct option.
You can get a free phone number from TextNow, make and receive calls, and send and receive text messages. However, a SIM card, which allows you to make calls and send texts while you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, will cost you $0.99. Not only does the free plan not include mobile data, but in exchange for the no-cost service, you’ll have to endure some advertisements.
As a test of the free service, I joined TextNow. In addition, I checked to see if you could save money by switching to another cheap phone plan instead of TextNow’s paid add-on alternatives.
Table of Contents:
- What Is TextNow?
- How Does TextNow Work?
- TextNow Phone Plans: Pricing and Information
- How Does TextNow Compare?
- TextNow Reviews
Keep reading to learn more about TextNow including how it works, how you can get free service, and how it compares to other low-price phone plans.
What Is TextNow?
TextNow is a telecommunications company started in 2009 by two students at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who were looking for ways to cut costs on their phone service. TextNow claims that its service currently provides millions of users with free calling and messaging.
Get a free phone number, unlimited texting and calling over Wi-Fi, and more by signing up for TextNow online or through the app. Free voicemail, group chat, and teleconference services are also available through TextNow.
If you buy a SIM card from T-Mobile for $0.99, you can use TextNow to connect to the GSM network.
The sole plan available for TextNow is a free one, which includes unlimited talking and texting. Mobile data is not included in this package.
There are no other plans available, however, you may pay $9.99/mo to remove ads or $19.99/mo to acquire 2 GB of high-speed data as upgrades.
How Does TextNow Work?
TextNow allows users to make free calls and send free texts through the use of Wi-Fi and T-GSM Mobile’s network. By displaying adverts on its website and mobile app, TextNow is able to offer its services at no cost to its users.
For more information about how this phone service provider operates, I went to the source and looked into TextNow. So as to get going with it, I went on over to the TextNow website and signed up for an account. The TextNow app is also available on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Basic details like my name, email address, and password were required when I signed up. Contrarily, I was not required to supply any billing details.
With TextNow, you get to pick your own phone number. You may start your phone number lookup by simply entering an area code. Then, pick a phone number that fits the criteria.
After signing up with TextNow, you may use it on your computer, tablet, or phone to make and receive unlimited calls inside the United States and Canada at no cost.
I discovered that while you may purchase a $0.99 SIM card to use for talking and texting on the move, you can also sign up for a free phone number, make calls, and send texts using TextNow’s website or app at no cost at all. In exchange for free voice calls and text messages, you will likely be subjected to a few on-screen ads.
How to Change Your Text Now Number
You’ll need to install the TextNow app on an iOS or Android device in order to modify your TextNow phone number. After that, proceed as follows:
- Download the TextNow app on your Apple or Android device and log in.
- Click the menu icon in the upper-left corner and click “Settings.”
- Find “Profile,” and under “Account,” click “TextNow Number.”
- Click “Get a New Phone Number,” and confirm that you want to let go of the phone number you currently have with TextNow.
If you give up your current TextNow phone number in exchange for a new one, you will not be able to get your old one back.
Check out this page of TextNow’s frequently asked questions for details on how to modify your existing phone number.
How to Delete Your Text Now Account
You can cancel your TextNow account at any time by not using the phone number, logging out of the account, and/or erasing the app if you are on the free plan with no paid upgrades.
If you haven’t used TextNow in a while, the service will automatically deactivate your number after a short period of time. At any point, you can restore access by reinstalling the program or signing in to your online account.
You can terminate your ad-free membership or data add-on subscription through the TextNow website or mobile app at any time.
If you no longer wish to receive paid texts from TextNow, simply sign in to the website or mobile app, navigate to your account settings, and select “Cancel Your Subscription.”
You can reach TextNow by online chat from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday if you need assistance canceling your account. Please refer to this page on TextNow’s frequently asked questions section for additional information on how to terminate your subscription.
Text Now Phone Plans: Pricing and Information
Technically, TextNow only has one phone plan available: free unlimited calling and messaging.
Here’s what TextNow’s plan includes at no cost:
- A phone number
- Calling and texting to U.S. and Canada
- Voicemail
- Group texting
- Conference calling
TextNow’s core phone service is free, however, there are premium features available for purchase.
It only costs 99 cents to buy a SIM card. With this purchase, you can switch from using only Wi-Fi for your free countrywide calls and texts to using a nationwide GSM network instead. In other words, for the low, low price of $0.99, you may make and receive calls and texts while on the road.
TextNow is a free service that relies on advertising revenue to operate. If you pay $9.99 a month, you can disable ads, get voicemail transcription, and gain access to an infinite photo and video text archive.
Access to mobile data is not included with the free plan, the SIM card, or the ad-free upgrade.
For an additional $19.99 a month, you can get 2 GB of high-speed data in addition to unlimited 2G data. All the benefits of the ad-free subscription are included in this upgrade as well.
How Does Text Now Compare?
In my experience, TextNow is the best totally free phone and messaging service out there. For those who don’t regularly use mobile data, this package is ideal.
There are more suitable options if you require data. The $19.99/month TextNow package provides 2GB of high-speed data followed by unlimited 2G data.
I would suggest looking into Tello Mobile, Mint Mobile, or Boost Mobile instead if you’re looking for a low-cost monthly phone plan. These plans all give unlimited 2G data after a set amount of high-speed data.
Check out our recommended cell phone plans and prices if you’re looking for something more than just unlimited talk and text.
Also Read: Is Vudu Free? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Vudu!
TextNow Reviews:
I signed up for TextNow and found that the browser version of the service allowed me to make and receive phone calls in addition to sending and receiving text messages. I’d like to try out TextNow’s GSM-network-based service, but I haven’t ordered a SIM card yet.
I looked at TextNow’s rating across many platforms to see how well it has fared with regular users.
According to data collected from 464.2K reviews posted to The App Store, TextNow received an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars in February 2022. Over a million users have given the app a positive review on Google Play, raising its overall rating to 4.4 stars.
Many users have expressed their satisfaction with the app’s free service. It has been reported that some consumers have had problems with dropped calls and missing phone numbers. The premium TextNow subscriptions seem to be the source of most of the complaints.
In February 2022, after 59 reviews, TextNow obtained a 1.5-star rating on Trustpilot. But the business has claimed its Trustpilot profile and, according to the review site, usually replies to negative feedback within 24 hours. For this reason, a TrustPilot review can help you get your issue with TextNow fixed.
At last, I looked into TextNow’s reputation with the BBB. As of February 2022, the company had received only four evaluations from patrons, all of which gave it a grade of 1 star out of 5. Recent concerns on BBB include problems with activation and lapsed phone numbers, both of which have been addressed by the company in the past six months. That means you may contact TextNow through their BBB page, which is another option for getting issues resolved.
Final Thoughts:
Get a free phone number, send and receive free text messages, and make and receive free phone calls all with TextNow. As long as your computer, tablet, or smartphone can connect to Wi-Fi, you can use TextNow without paying a dime.
With a SIM card from TextNow, you can make calls and send texts from anywhere for $0.99.
TextNow’s $19.99/month package provides unlimited 2G data in addition to 2GB of high-speed data for those who have a need for mobile data. If you’re looking for a low monthly data plan, though, Tello Mobile, Mint Mobile, or Boost Mobile are your best bets.
Refer to our best cell phone plan and deal guide for more information. If you’re ready to make the transition to a new phone plan but don’t know where to start, this handy guide will show you exactly what to do.
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