Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Talkatone vs Burner

Talkatone 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Burner
Burner 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75

For a more reliable experience with fewer billing issues and better customer support, Burner is the better choice, despite its higher cost and occasional performance complaints.

Full reviews: Talkatone · Burner

Talkatone offers a free tier but struggles with consistent service, account access, and customer support. Burner provides more reliable service and better support, though it's a paid-only app with some users reporting billing issues and performance slowdowns.

Head to head

Features and Functionality tieR3R5R10R11
Talkatone Talkatone users appreciate its core functionality for calls and texts, especially the free aspects R5R11R20R26. However, many report issues with messages failing to send even with premium subscriptions R3R10, calls cutting off after 15-16 minutes , and limitations on inbound/outbound calls/texts . Some users desire features like call waiting, checking texts during calls, or video calls . Voicemail quality is also noted as abysmal .
Burner Burner users find the app effective for obtaining a second number for privacy and work, with good call and text updates R65R74. It allows switching numbers easily and some plans include a VPN . However, some users report issues with messages not always sending , voicemail buttons missing , and limitations on outbound calls even with paid plans . The app is also criticized for lacking standard features like reaction functions and not supporting Caribbean area codes .
Ease of Use and Reliability tieR1R7R8R9
Talkatone Talkatone users frequently encounter issues with account registration and login, receiving error messages even with the latest version R1R8. Many report persistent server errors and bugs that make the app unusable or cause lag R7R9. The app is also noted for sometimes stopping text sending and having an outdated design . Some users find it works well with good Wi-Fi R11.
Burner Burner is described as generally easy to use with an intuitive layout R65. However, a significant number of users report the app being slow, clunky, and glitchy, taking a long time to open, send, or receive messages . Some users experience their phone slowing down or music stopping when using Burner . There are also reports of the app not alerting for texts unless the number is saved and issues with calls registering under incorrect names .
Price and Value tieR3R5R10R11
Talkatone Talkatone is promoted as free and many users appreciate its free call and text features R5R11R20R26. However, some users report that it's not truly free or doesn't offer a free trial . Premium users frequently complain about messages failing to send R3R10 and calls being cut off or limited despite paying for unlimited service . There are also complaints about the app being 'greedy' with ads and limits .
Burner Burner is a paid-only app, with users finding its prices reasonable and appreciating the value for privacy and a second number R74. However, a significant number of users report being charged immediately despite signing up for a free trial R62R64R73. Many also report being continuously billed after cancellation R70R73. Some users feel it's a 'rip off' due to unreceived credits or charges for non-functional features .
Customer Support edge: BurnerR4R6R7R28
Talkatone Talkatone's customer support is widely criticized as unhelpful or non-existent. Users report accounts being closed without explanation and receiving only automated messages R4. Many state that support provides no help for server errors, login issues, or messaging problems R6R7R28.
Burner Burner users report difficulty contacting support, describing AI-generated help pages as worthless . Some users state that support will not reply or refers them to Apple support for billing issues . However, one user did report that customer support helped resolve issues with unlimited texts and calls .
Privacy and Permissions tieR31R50R65R74
Talkatone Talkatone users appreciate the privacy of not sharing their real phone number R50. However, one user complained about being forced to share all data with no opt-out R31.
Burner Burner is valued for providing a number for privacy and screening, allowing users to avoid giving out their personal number R65R74. However, one user expressed concern about payment being tied to their Apple Account and preferred not to share contacts . There are also reports of accounts being banned without explanation, potentially due to previous users of the assigned number .
Pick Talkatone if

Pick Talkatone if you are looking for a free secondary number for occasional use and are willing to tolerate frequent bugs, service limitations, and poor customer support R5R11R20R26.

Pick Burner if

Pick Burner if you need a reliable secondary number for privacy or work, are comfortable paying for the service, and prioritize better customer support, even if the app can be slow and has reported billing issues R65R74.

Evidence note: Both apps have a high lifetime rating, but recent reviews for both show significant negative sentiment, particularly around reliability, billing, and customer support. Burner's negative reviews are heavily skewed towards billing issues related to its free trial and subscription model, while Talkatone's are more focused on app functionality and support for both free and paid users.

Frequently asked

Does Talkatone offer free calls and texts?
Yes, Talkatone offers free calls and texts, and many users appreciate this aspect, though some free users report limitations and ads R5R11R20R26.
Are there known billing issues with Burner?
Yes, many Burner users report being charged immediately after signing up for a free trial, or being billed continuously even after canceling their subscription R62R64R70R73.
How is customer support for Talkatone and Burner?
Talkatone's customer support is widely criticized as unhelpful or non-existent, with users receiving automated messages or no response for account and service issues R4R6R7R28. Burner users also report difficulty contacting support and unhelpful AI pages, though some have had positive experiences resolving issues .

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. [R3] Talkatone 3/5 · US Message failure: Im using premium, but all of messages failed to send
  2. [R5] 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
  3. [R10] Talkatone 1/5 · US Waste time and money: Im using premium, but all of messages failed to send
  4. [R11] Talkatone 4/5 · US free call N text: works great for me as long you have good WI-FI
  5. [R1] Talkatone 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: Can’t even register
  6. [R7] Talkatone 1/5 · US Persistent Server Error: As the title says, there are so many server errors that the app is practically unusable. Customer service, as usual, has been no help at all.
  7. [R8] Talkatone 5/5 · US Help me: I love this app making calls and texting ..I uninstalled the app and reinstalled it again. I can’t login keep saying unspecified error occurred try again . Any help please .
  8. [R9] Talkatone 3/5 · US Bug Fixes: Hello, I’ve been enjoying the app to be sincere but the only issue is that the bug need to be fixed cause it always appears when not needed
  9. [R4] 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.
  10. [R6] Talkatone 3/5 · US It worked at first: But after purchasing the pro option and reinstalling the app, I’ve been locked out of my account for over a week with no response from technical support.
  11. [R28] Talkatone 2/5 · US Text not working: I’m a paid subscriber and I wa only able to send one text today tried to message talktone support in app it didn’t work
  12. [R31] Talkatone 1/5 · US Gross: Lures you in, then forces you to share all your data with them in order to use the app. No way to opt out.
  13. [R50] Talkatone 5/5 · US Great app: I really like this phone/text app. The best part is privacy versus sharing my real ph number.
  14. [R65] 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
  15. [R74] Burner 5/5 · US Love it: Very good app and reasonable prices, i dont have to worry about using my personal numbers and get lots of spam calls and this is a good way to have a second number for work then carrying around two phones!
  16. [R20] Talkatone 5/5 · US Amazing: Free and good to use🥹
  17. [R26] Talkatone 5/5 · US My review: This is so good if you don’t have a phone number I recommend it
  18. [R62] 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 !!
  19. [R64] 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 $16.99
  20. [R70] Burner 1/5 · US Keeps billing after cancellation: The app “works,” but after we burned the two numbers we had, we kept being billed for months more. Impossible to resolve because Apple simply blames the developer - and the developer says they cannot issue refunds, only Apple can. Online searches show this “feature” extends to other users. Be careful!
  21. [R73] Burner 1/5 · US Scam cancellation: I didn’t want this subscription and never did y’all’s FREE APP WOULD LET ME CONTINUE WITH OUT A FREE TRIAL WHEN. I seen it was a yearly and 100$ I instantly cancelled but still being charged I want my money and would let to stop being charged for something I never intended on using

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