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

Text Me vs Talkatone

Text Me 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Text Me
Talkatone 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60

Text Me has a slight edge over Talkatone due to more consistent reports of basic functionality, despite both apps struggling with reliability and customer support.

Full reviews: Text Me · Talkatone

Both Text Me and Talkatone offer free texting and calling with in-app purchases, but users frequently report issues with call and text reliability, especially for paid features. Text Me appears to have a slightly more stable core service for some users, while Talkatone struggles more with account access and message delivery.

Head to head

Features tieR2R5R15R20
Text Me Users appreciate Text Me for providing an extra number for emergencies and privacy, and for cross-platform calling R2R20. However, some wish it had RCS messaging and the ability to receive activation codes in the free tier R5R15. There are also complaints about voicemail greetings not changing .
Talkatone Talkatone is valued for providing a free extra number and privacy . Users desire features like FaceTime-like video calls and the ability to check other chats during a call . Some also wish for an Apple Watch version .
Ease of Use edge: Text MeR12R18R21R48
Text Me Text Me is generally considered easy to use by some R48. However, users report issues with messages being deleted and not recoverable R12, and an inability to dial numbers without granting access to contacts . The app also has frequent ads that can interfere with typing R18R21R48.
Talkatone Talkatone is described as easy to use for its core functions . However, many users experience significant difficulty with account registration and login errors . The app is also reported to lag significantly unless messages are deleted, and has an outdated design .
Reliability tieR1R6R7R9
Text Me Text Me has mixed reliability. Some users report it works well for calls and texts, especially with good WiFi R9. However, many experience significant issues, including inability to make or receive calls R1R7, messages failing to send , being locked out for 'spamming' after sending too many texts R6, and numbers disappearing despite paid subscriptions R25.
Talkatone Talkatone suffers from widespread reliability issues. Users frequently report messages failing to send, even with premium subscriptions . Calls are reported to cut off after 15-16 minutes , and some users experience server errors making the app unusable . The app also limits incoming and outgoing calls, disabling numbers for 'too many' calls .
Price/Value tieR3R4R15R16
Text Me Text Me is criticized for being misleadingly advertised as 'free' but having significant paywalls. Users report needing to pay for basic features like receiving certain texts or activation codes R3R4R15R16. Subscriptions are described as expensive, with one user mentioning $29.99 a month R16. Some feel it's not worth the cost due to bugs and ads .
Talkatone Talkatone is also criticized for not being truly free, with users noting it's not even free trial R94. While some appreciate the free aspects , premium users still experience limitations, such as text failures and calls being cut off . The cost for international calls is also mentioned as being high .
Support tieR25R47R57R64
Text Me Text Me users report a lack of customer support. Issues like double charges and lost numbers go unaddressed, with no clear email for contact R25R47. One user was told by support that their calling capabilities were paused by a security system that couldn't be overridden R57.
Talkatone Talkatone's customer support is widely criticized as awful or non-existent. Users report accounts being closed without reason, receiving automated messages instead of actual answers R64, and no response from technical support after being locked out . Attempts to contact support through the app also fail .
Pick Text Me if

You need an extra number for occasional use and are willing to tolerate ads or pay to remove them, and you prioritize a slightly more stable experience for basic calling and texting over advanced features R2R9R20.

Pick Talkatone if

You are looking for a free secondary number primarily for receiving calls and texts, and you are willing to navigate frequent bugs and potential account issues .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of 1-star reviews indicating severe functionality issues, even among paying users. The 'free vs paid' asymmetry is evident, as many negative reviews for both apps stem from limitations or paywalls in the free tier, or from paid features not working as expected. The lifetime ratings are high for both, but recent reviews skew heavily negative, suggesting a decline in service quality.

Frequently asked

Can I receive verification codes with Text Me or Talkatone?
With Text Me, users report that you generally cannot receive activation or verification codes if you are using the free version, and the app may block codes and force a subscription to read them R15R16. Talkatone users express a desire to consume credits to receive verification codes, implying it's not a standard free feature R98.
Do Text Me and Talkatone have good customer support?
Neither Text Me nor Talkatone are reported to have good customer support; users for both apps describe support as non-existent or unhelpful, with issues like double charges, lost numbers, or account closures going unresolved R25R47R57R64.
Are Text Me and Talkatone truly free?
Neither Text Me nor Talkatone are truly free; both apps have significant paywalls for essential features, with users reporting that Text Me requires payment to receive certain texts or activation codes R3R4R16 and Talkatone is criticized for not even offering a free trial R94.

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. [R2] Text Me 5/5 · US Awesome: Perfect for emergency situations big time.
  2. [R5] Text Me 5/5 · US No RCS only SMS: Wish it had RCS messaging
  3. [R15] 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
  4. [R20] Text Me 5/5 · US Love ittt: I can call my cousin even if he's in Android😄
  5. [R12] Text Me 3/5 · US Rating: Don’t like how my messages get deleted & can never get them back but other than that I’d recommend my friend
  6. [R18] Text Me 3/5 · US Knicks in 6!!!: The adds are annoying and it’s slow but not too bad
  7. [R21] Text Me 3/5 · US Too many commercials: Waaaaay Too many commercials please Stop all of them thank you
  8. [R48] Text Me 4/5 · US not a bot this is honestly a nice app!!: i mean i hardly got this app this hour but it works like a charm especially because i was blocked by someone on my real number... lol but anyway its okay that theres ads i know theyre meant to be in your face but it shouldnt be where youre typing it makes it to where so much stuff is going on but who knows maybe the app could be worse i barely got it but im
  9. [R1] 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
  10. [R6] Text Me 3/5 · US Text me: It's good and all but I was texting my sister and said I was spam and now I can't text on it anymore and so many ads it won't even let me text at all
  11. [R7] Text Me 1/5 · US Does not work: I cannot get calls out. Worked ok first 5 months, suddenly stopped working
  12. [R9] Text Me 3/5 · US TextMe: The connection is good with reliable WiFi
  13. [R3] Text Me 3/5 · US Texting app: It kinda sucks that people got to pay extra fees to be able to use these texting apps. But it is what it is…
  14. [R4] 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.
  15. [R16] 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 .
  16. [R25] 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
  17. [R47] Text Me 1/5 · US You charged me twice: Kindly refund, for you charged me twice. Why do you not have an email for someone to reach you in case of such issues?
  18. [R57] Text Me 2/5 · US Customer Service is Non Existent: I’ve had a TextMe subscription for about 5 months and use it mainly to call the USA from Panama and to receive 2 factor identification texts. The texts work great, the calls not so much. I’ve contacted customer service about the issue and the answer is “ our security system has paused your calling capabilities and we do not know when calling will be available. “ T
  19. [R64] 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.
  20. [R98] Talkatone 5/5 · US Functional suggestions: Hope it can consume credits to receive the verification code.
  21. [R94] Talkatone 1/5 · US Bad app: It’s not free not even free trial

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