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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Better options than

TextNow alternatives

TextNow users often look for alternatives due to issues with call quality, unreliable texting, and unexpected charges for features like verification codes. Many also report problems with spam calls and account access. Alternatives offer varying strengths, from reliable texting to better privacy features.

Why users look for alternatives to TextNow

The alternatives

Text Me
4.7★ · 663,570 ratings · Free

Text Me offers a second number for calling and texting, with some users finding it useful for emergency situations R52. It supports cross-platform texting between Android and Apple devices .

Better for: Text Me is better for users who need a second number for general calling and texting, especially for communicating with contacts on different mobile operating systems . However, be aware that some users report issues with call reliability and a paywall for certain texts, including verification codes R51R53R55R61.

Head-to-head: TextNow vs Text Me
Text Free
4.7★ · 590,123 ratings · Free

Text Free provides a free texting and calling app that some users consider the best of its kind R69. It can be a reliable option when phone bills are low .

Better for: Text Free suits users primarily looking for a free texting and calling solution, especially when they are on a tight budget R69. However, it has a paywall for verification codes R68R71 and some users report poor call quality even with good internet R70.

Head-to-head: TextNow vs Text Free
textPlus
4.6★ · 271,736 ratings · Free

textPlus is an app that some users appreciate for its free verification code process, unlike other second phone number apps R80.

Better for: textPlus is better for users who specifically need to receive verification codes without paying extra, as some users found this feature to be free R80. However, some users report issues with messages not showing as delivered R86 and problems with account suspensions . There are also reports of being charged after canceling free trials or being unable to get a number without paying .

Head-to-head: TextNow vs textPlus
Talkatone
4.7★ · 141,109 ratings · Free

Talkatone offers free calls and texts, working well for users with a good Wi-Fi connection . Some users have found a bug where 'call me' options on websites or apps go through without a subscription R97.

Better for: Talkatone is better for users who have consistent, strong Wi-Fi and primarily need free calling and texting . However, users report issues with registration R93, messages failing to send even with premium R95, and poor customer support for account issues R96. Some premium users also report calls being cut off .

Head-to-head: TextNow vs Talkatone
Burner
4.7★ · 92,978 ratings · Free

Burner provides a second number for privacy, allowing users to respond to texts without giving out their personal number R110. It offers a simple, intuitive layout and allows users to pick from various local area codes R110.

Better for: Burner is better for users who need a temporary or secondary number specifically for privacy, such as for online dating or work, to avoid spam calls on their main number R110. However, users report significant issues with billing after cancellation R108R109, slow performance , and poor customer support R107.

Head-to-head: TextNow vs Burner
Stick with TextNow if

You should stick with TextNow if you primarily need a free way to stay in touch with people and occasionally make calls, especially to Android users, and you are prepared for potential issues with call quality and verification codes R5.

Evidence note: All alternatives had sufficient reviews to form a pitch.

Frequently asked

Does TextNow charge for verification codes?
Yes, TextNow charges users if they want to receive any type of verification code, with some users reporting weekly charges for this feature R4R5R6R47.
Is TextNow reliable for calls and texts?
TextNow's reliability for calls and texts is inconsistent, with many users reporting issues such as being unable to receive or make calls, messages not being delivered, and poor call quality, especially without Wi-Fi R1R4R9R10.
Do TextNow alternatives offer free verification codes?
textPlus users have reported that its verification code process was free, unlike other second phone number apps R80. However, Text Me and Text Free users report that verification codes are behind a paywall R53R61R68R71.
Are there issues with spam calls on TextNow?
Yes, many TextNow users report receiving a high volume of spam calls, with some blocking over 2,000 spam calls and still receiving more, even as paying customers R13R21R35R41.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] TextNow 1/5 · US Want to love it: The call quality is okay but you have to be on WiFi. I don’t like that they charge you if you want to receive any type of verification code. This app charges weekly to get verification codes
  2. [R10] TextNow 1/5 · US Horrible service: This app is horrible half way through phone calls people will say that can’t hear you. It’s horrible
  3. [R31] TextNow 2/5 · US Phone calls don’t work: It’s great with text messages, but my phone calls for some reason. Don’t go through. I can’t hear them. They can’t hear me. It just doesn’t work.🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️
  4. [R1] TextNow 1/5 · US Issue unresolved: I can’t receive calls and I can’t text. I’ve been waiting to hear back after I was told that they will email me. That was yesterday. Now I have been waiting on chat support for an hour and I am just wasting my time.
  5. [R9] TextNow 3/5 · US None: Overall I enjoy the app and the fact that I get free service. However I can’t text anyone, they receive my calls and I can receive theirs but they never get my messages and a lot of times I don’t get their messages.
  6. [R33] TextNow 1/5 · US Only works half of the time: I was able to take pictures in the beginning, but now cannot send them at all. The chats constantly get stuck after I’ve typed them so I have to back out of the text and go back in to send it as a draft. There is no one to help troubleshoot so it’s not worth purchasing
  7. [R43] TextNow 2/5 · US Texts Labeled as Sent Not Received by the person i texted: Needs to Be Fixed
  8. [R5] TextNow 5/5 · US Good review: I love TextNow soooo much IVe been using it for a couple of years now and the only issue I've ever had with it is the codes for different app because thats basically thé whole point of a paid number I would, and have, recommended this to countless friends. It works for Android AND Apple cross texting which I find nice.
  9. [R6] TextNow 3/5 · US Why not: Why do they not have like a FaceTime and if I get a code sent to my phone I have to get vip like what the hell
  10. [R18] TextNow 3/5 · US Honest review: I don’t have a phone and I constantly need verification so this is perfect!!
  11. [R13] TextNow 1/5 · US Sucks: I have over 2,000 spam call I block and they still keep calling
  12. [R21] TextNow 2/5 · US Need to fix: The app says the number must be used once every 30 days to keep number but I have lost number after just 12 days. Some numbers turn out to already be spam as I get 20 calls a week and I haven’t given out number.
  13. [R35] TextNow 1/5 · US Too Much Spam: I receive about 6-8 calls a day from Spammers. I pay to lock this number in for work. As a paying customer, Spam & Ads should disappear. But I'm actually getting MORE spam calls now that I switched from locking in the number from 1-week at a time to 1-month at a time. I giving them guaranteed monthly business and I get more spam/ads for it. Makes no sense!
  14. [R41] TextNow 1/5 · US Scammers: I rate y’all a one star because of them scammers
  15. [R19] TextNow 1/5 · US Awful app: So now requires you to scan your face. Ridiculous, why harvest my data and sell it to some broker. Awful app. You used to be free with no strings attached.
  16. [R22] TextNow 5/5 · US Register very difficult: Too many things need to finish
  17. [R25] TextNow 1/5 · US Why take a pic now: This app is invasive now. Why do i need to take a pic, smh deleted!
  18. [R29] TextNow 1/5 · US No sign up: Can’t sign up = Fail. When signing up, you enter an email, then it tells you that email doesn’t exist in the database… duhhh. So no ability to create an account.
  19. [R38] TextNow 5/5 · US About textknow: Well it’s great but can y’all add FaceTime
  20. [R40] TextNow 4/5 · US My opinion: It’s better because if you don’t have a certain app for texting and calling you can get this but you can’t FaceTime on top of that I love all of this, but just please add FaceTime
  21. [R51] Text Me 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: I’ve been unable to receive or make calls despite paying premium for months now this app is honestly trash
  22. [R52] Text Me 5/5 · US Awesome: Perfect for emergency situations big time.
  23. [R53] Text Me 1/5 · US Awful app: This app has a pay wall. I order to get certain texts you need to upgrade. Not free at all. Dumb horrible app that takes advantage of people who are trying to get messages, and they want you to allow tracking? Scammers.
  24. [R55] Text Me 1/5 · US Does not work: I cannot get calls out. Worked ok first 5 months, suddenly stopped working
  25. [R68] Text Free 2/5 · US THE CODESSSS: Literally the only reason I got this app was to verify a code please make this free I realize everything else is free but I feel like a lot of people only need the app to do this
  26. [R69] Text Free 5/5 · US The BEST!!!: The best free text/call app out there!!!
  27. [R70] Text Free 3/5 · US Could be better: It always has adds and when you call the quality is horrible even when I have internet!.
  28. [R71] Text Free 1/5 · US Verification Codes: I paid the 10$ and it specifically said in the paid section I would get this perk. Well I paid and this number I was provided has not been receiving verification codes!
  29. [R79] textPlus 1/5 · US Took my money: I paid for an annual subscription and could not make 1 phone call and I was able to send a text which was supposed to be unlimited calls and texts within the U.S., but it said that I was sending too many text messages after 1 message. After about a week of going around and around with some bot pretending to be live support, and being denied a refund request 3 times by the App Store
  30. [R80] textPlus 5/5 · US Random guy: I like this so much because the verification code process was free unlike other 2nd phone number apps
  31. [R81] textPlus 3/5 · US Great but needs tweaking.: Once i tried to create a phone number. It recalled my region or state wasn’t available or the app version.
  32. [R86] textPlus 1/5 · US Complain: Why is it that messages doesn’t show delivered at times just only sent and I won’t know wether the messages reach the receiver
  33. [R93] Talkatone 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: Can’t even register
  34. [R95] Talkatone 3/5 · US Message failure: Im using premium, but all of messages failed to send
  35. [R96] Talkatone 1/5 · US Awful Support: They closed my account for no reason and won’t tell me why. I just get an automated message but not an actual answer. No customer service.
  36. [R97] Talkatone 5/5 · US Bug: It’s good but there’s a bug where if your a free user and there’s a call me option on whatever app or website ruling a Talkatone phone number, it actually goes through without needing a subscription. Please fix this bug
  37. [R107] Burner 1/5 · US App is Broken: There is no way to contact anyone. And the ai generated help page is worthless. I have paid for the service, used it for over a year, renewed even. And the app wont go past the login. Would be super if someone would get back to me.
  38. [R108] Burner 5/5 · US Don’t do free trial: I did like this app quite a lot until it charged me for a subscription to a free trial that i had cancelled right after subscribing to it, almost a week later and now its causing disruptions to my whole phone !!
  39. [R109] Burner 1/5 · US Stole $16.99 from me and lied: Do not use this app they will say you have a trial but as soon as you download the app, they will cancel the trial and charge you automatically. I use this app for like 15 minutes and didn’t like that user interface so I deleted it off my phone the next day I can’t download apps because all of a sudden they charged me $16.99
  40. [R110] Burner 5/5 · US Amazing service: I needed to respond to a text from my builder after closing, but didn’t want him to have my new phone number. This app worked perfectly. Simple, intuitive layout, and they even let you pick from a variety of local area codes. 5/5
  41. [R47] TextNow 1/5 · US 0 stars: You shouldn’t have to get a 2 dollar subscription to get a code that makes no sense on a app the clams to be free
  42. [R61] Text Me 1/5 · US It’s very expensive: It’s not free . The moment you get any sort of activation code or verification code they will block the code and force you to subscribe at $29.99 a month just to read it .

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store