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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Burner vs Text Me

Burner 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Burner
Text Me 4.7★ · Free + IAP 40

Burner is the better choice for users seeking a more reliable and private second phone number, despite its higher price point and occasional performance issues, while Text Me struggles with basic functionality and aggressive paywalls.

Full reviews: Burner · Text Me

Burner and Text Me both offer second phone numbers, but Burner generally provides a more functional and private experience, albeit with complaints about billing and app speed. Text Me, while popular, faces significant issues with call/text reliability, excessive ads, and aggressive paywalls that hinder its free and paid users alike.

Head to head

Features and Functionality edge: BurnerR5R7R15R40
Burner Burner users appreciate its core functionality for calls and texts, with some noting the ability to pick local area codes and switch numbers R5. Some also value additional features like a VPN . However, some users report missing standard features like reaction functions R7 and limitations on calls even with paid plans R15R40. Voicemail functionality can also be problematic .
Text Me Text Me users praise its ability to provide an extra number for calls and texts . However, many users report significant issues with receiving or making calls and texts . The app also has limitations, such as not supporting RCS messaging and deleting old messages . Some users are frustrated by restrictions on sending too many messages, leading to temporary account locks .
Ease of Use and Performance edge: BurnerR3R5R6R7
Burner Burner is described as simple and intuitive by some users R5. However, a significant number of reviews highlight the app's slowness, clunkiness, and lag R3R7R9R16. Some users experience issues with messages not sending reliably or the app interfering with other phone functions like music playback R6.
Text Me Text Me's interface is not frequently praised for its ease of use, with many complaints about excessive ads and buggy behavior R85. Users report difficulties with the app loading and buttons not responding R85. The app also requires access to contacts for calling, which some users dislike .
Reliability and Stability edge: BurnerR1R5R16R20
Burner Burner's reliability is mixed. While some users find it works perfectly R5R45, many report issues such as the app being broken and unable to log in R1, messages not sending , and accounts being banned without explanation R20. There are also reports of the app slowing down the entire phone R16.
Text Me Text Me suffers from significant reliability issues, with numerous reports of calls and texts not working . Users frequently experience service interruptions, such as being locked out for spamming after sending too many messages . Some users also report losing their numbers despite paying for the service R85.
Price and Value edge: BurnerR2R4R10R13
Burner Burner is generally seen as a paid service, with users finding prices reasonable and worth it for the functionality . However, a major point of contention is its billing practices, with numerous reports of users being charged after canceling free trials R2R4R13R22 or continuing to be billed after burning numbers R10. Some users also feel it's a rip-off due to credit issues R18 or call limits on paid plans R40.
Text Me Text Me is advertised as free but is heavily criticized for aggressive paywalls and hidden costs R64R76R105. Users report needing to pay to receive certain texts, especially activation or verification codes R64R75R76. The app's free tier is plagued by excessive ads and limitations on earning free credits . Many feel it's not truly free and is expensive for what it offers R76.
Customer Support edge: BurnerR1R10R18R45
Burner Burner's customer support receives mixed reviews. Some users report positive experiences with customer support resolving issues R45. However, others find it difficult to contact anyone R1, describe the AI-generated help page as worthless R1, and report being unable to get refunds, with Apple and the developer blaming each other R10R18.
Text Me Text Me's customer support is widely criticized as non-existent or unhelpful R85. Users report issues with refunds and receiving generic, unhelpful responses when their calling capabilities are paused .
Pick Burner if

You need a reliable second number for privacy or work, are willing to pay for a subscription, and prioritize a generally functional app over a completely free option R5. You are comfortable with potential billing disputes and slower performance for the core service R10.

Pick Text Me if

You are looking for a very basic, potentially unreliable second number and are willing to tolerate numerous ads and aggressive paywalls for limited functionality . You might consider it if you only need to send a few texts occasionally and don't mind frequent service interruptions .

Evidence note: Burner's reviews show a strong negative skew regarding billing and free trial issues, which might be amplified by the nature of free-to-paid conversions. Text Me's negativity is more broadly spread across functionality, ads, and paywalls, indicating deeper core issues.

Frequently asked

Does Burner offer a free trial, and are there billing issues?
Burner offers a free trial, but many users report being charged immediately or after cancellation, with charges ranging from $14.99 to $100, and difficulty obtaining refunds R2R4R13R22.
Is Text Me truly free, or does it have hidden costs?
Text Me is advertised as free but is not truly free, as it has aggressive paywalls that require users to pay to receive certain texts, especially activation or verification codes, often at $29.99 a month R64R75R76R105.
Do these apps have good customer support?
Burner's customer support is mixed, with some positive experiences but also reports of difficulty contacting support and issues with refunds R1R10R45. Text Me's customer support is widely criticized as non-existent or unhelpful, with users unable to resolve issues or get refunds R85.
Are there performance issues with either app?
Burner is frequently described as slow, clunky, and prone to lagging, with messages taking several seconds to send or receive R3R7R9R16. Text Me also has performance issues, including being slow, buggy, and having difficulty loading R85.

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. [R5] 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
  2. [R7] Burner 2/5 · US Glitchy, slow, and lacks functionality: Not a fan so far. If you’re using this for online dating privacy/screening, be aware that it has no reaction function, which is standard on both iPhone and Android. It’s also incredibly, frustratingly slow. This is the only app I have where it takes several seconds to register typed characters. Dictation is a little better, but frankly if this doesn’t resolv
  3. [R15] Burner 3/5 · US Number of calls: Out of no where with no heads up we have been limited on how many calls we can make with a number
  4. [R40] Burner 1/5 · US Not for high volume: Even with the $90 yearly play it caps your outbound calls per day. Absolute rip off
  5. [R3] Burner 3/5 · US App way too slow: I like the app it’s just SUPER slow. Also wont alert you that you have a text unless the person’s number is saved. Could be better but overall it serves its purpose.
  6. [R6] Burner 3/5 · US Spotify and burner problems: Everything works on this app very well including getting really good updates on texts and calls but the one thing I would say is a big negative and I would love to get some more information on how to fix this because Google is no help, is why every single time I’m on Spotify and I go to check a text or respond to a text and when I get off of the Burner app back onto Sp
  7. [R1] 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.
  8. [R16] Burner 2/5 · US So slow: The app slows my whole phone down, messages take forever to be delivered
  9. [R20] Burner 1/5 · US Don’t Even Bother With Burner: I signed up for a number to use for a new small business. One week later (after having used the number on critical business documents), I open the app to get a message that my account has been banned since I “violated the Burner Terms of Service.” Clearly someone before me was using the number for crime, burned the number, and then I was the unlucky next person to cl
  10. [R2] 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 !!
  11. [R4] 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 $16.99
  12. [R10] Burner 1/5 · US Keeps billing after cancellation: The app “works,” but after we burned the two numbers we had, we kept being billed for months more. Impossible to resolve because Apple simply blames the developer - and the developer says they cannot issue refunds, only Apple can. Online searches show this “feature” extends to other users. Be careful!
  13. [R13] Burner 1/5 · US Scam cancellation: I didn’t want this subscription and never did y’all’s FREE APP WOULD LET ME CONTINUE WITH OUT A FREE TRIAL WHEN. I seen it was a yearly and 100$ 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
  14. [R18] Burner 1/5 · US Rip off: I purchased $20 worth of credit credits I did not receive my credit. They will not reply. and when they decided to reply, they said to reach out to Apple support, and Apple support is about as useless as the Burner support.
  15. [R45] Burner 5/5 · US Great app and support: This is the best app I’ve ever used. The unlimited texts and calls work perfectly. I ran into a few issues but customer support helped me resolve them. Thanks!
  16. [R22] Burner 1/5 · US Cancelled subscription still charged: I select a 3 day trial. I cancel the subscription the first day after downloading. I get charged $14.99 anyway. Not happy about it.
  17. [R64] 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.
  18. [R75] Text Me 3/5 · US Good but…: I wish that we could actually receive activation codes if we have it free, and I wish we were able to text people who only have a email to text with. Otherwise it’s fine
  19. [R76] 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 .
  20. [R105] Text Me 1/5 · US paying: why am i paying yall for a FREE texting app it’s screaming broke and desperate
  21. [R85] Text Me 1/5 · US Buggy App: Can’t click any buttons in the app. It just flashes at me. No support and i lost my number despite paying every month
  22. [R9] Burner 3/5 · US Works but clunky: I have been using this app for about a month now or so, and it is very slow to open, very slow to download messages, and send them out. I find that it’s very clunky. I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max and it takes about 20 seconds just to start the program. To send out messages and receive, it probably takes about another 20 seconds for each action. I’ve use other numbers, including Goo

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