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

Text Me vs Text Free

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

Text Me offers slightly better reliability for calls and texts, despite its own issues with paywalls and ads, making it a marginally better choice for an extra number.

Full reviews: Text Me · Text Free

Text Me and Text Free both offer free texting and calling with in-app purchases, but both struggle with reliability, ads, and paywalls for essential features like verification codes. Text Me has a slight edge in call and text stability, while Text Free users report more frequent login issues and poorer call quality.

Head to head

Core Functionality (Calling & Texting) edge: Text MeR1R2R7R9
Text Me Text Me users report mixed experiences, with some finding it perfect for emergencies and an extra number, and others experiencing issues with making or receiving calls and texts, especially after some months of use. Some users also report being locked out for sending too many messages or having messages deleted.
Text Free Text Free users frequently complain about poor call quality, low volume, and calls dropping, even with good internet. Many also report issues with sending photos and the app being laggy when typing. Some users experience the app freezing or failing to load.
Verification Codes & Paywalls tieR3R4R15R16
Text Me Text Me users are frustrated by paywalls for receiving activation or verification codes, with some claiming the app blocks codes to force subscriptions, sometimes at $29.99 a month. Many feel the app is not truly free due to these hidden costs.
Text Free Text Free also requires users to pay to receive verification codes, leading to disappointment among those who downloaded the app specifically for this feature. Users report paying for this perk only to find the number still doesn't receive codes.
Ads & User Experience edge: Text MeR6R18R21R25
Text Me Text Me users frequently complain about an excessive number of ads, describing them as annoying, slow, and sometimes interfering with typing. Some also report issues with the app being buggy, flashing, or not allowing button clicks.
Text Free Text Free is heavily criticized for its overwhelming number of ads, which users say make the app slow, laggy, and cause phones to overheat. The ads are described as disruptive, taking up too much screen space, and sometimes attempting to trick users into installing other software.
Account Management & Support edge: Text MeR1R7R19R22
Text Me Text Me users report issues with lost numbers despite paying for subscriptions, inability to change voicemail greetings, and a lack of customer support. Some users are charged twice or have their service shut down for suspected spamming, even with minimal usage.
Text Free Text Free users experience significant problems with logging in after updates or logging out, with many unable to access their accounts. Accounts are also blocked without clear reasons, and customer service is described as unhelpful and unable to resolve issues like account suspensions or login errors.
Pick Text Me if

You need an extra number for general texting and calling and are willing to tolerate ads and potential paywalls for specific features, especially if you have a reliable WiFi connection R9.

Pick Text Free if

You are looking for a basic, free texting app and are prepared for frequent ads and potential issues with call quality and account access .

Evidence note: Both apps have a high number of positive lifetime ratings, but recent reviews for both show significant frustration with paywalls, ads, and reliability issues. The 'free' aspect often leads to negative experiences for users expecting full functionality without cost. Text Me's reviews, while still negative in some areas, indicate slightly fewer critical issues with basic functionality compared to Text Free's widespread complaints about call quality and login problems.

Frequently asked

Can I receive verification codes for free with these apps?
No, neither Text Me nor Text Free reliably allows users to receive verification or activation codes for free; both apps typically require a paid subscription for this feature, with Text Me sometimes blocking codes to force a $29.99 monthly subscription R4R15R16R64.
Do these apps have a lot of ads?
Yes, both Text Me and Text Free are heavily criticized for having a large number of intrusive ads that can slow down the app, interrupt conversations, and even cause phones to overheat R6R18R21R53.
Are calls and texts reliable on these apps?
Users report mixed reliability for both apps; Text Me users sometimes experience issues with calls and texts not working, being locked out for spamming, or messages being deleted R1R7R13R31, while Text Free users frequently complain about poor call quality, low volume, dropped calls, and laggy texting .

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. [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
  2. [R2] Text Me 5/5 · US Awesome: Perfect for emergency situations big time.
  3. [R7] Text Me 1/5 · US Does not work: I cannot get calls out. Worked ok first 5 months, suddenly stopped working
  4. [R9] Text Me 3/5 · US TextMe: The connection is good with reliable WiFi
  5. [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…
  6. [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.
  7. [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
  8. [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 .
  9. [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
  10. [R18] Text Me 3/5 · US Knicks in 6!!!: The adds are annoying and it’s slow but not too bad
  11. [R21] Text Me 3/5 · US Too many commercials: Waaaaay Too many commercials please Stop all of them thank you
  12. [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
  13. [R19] Text Me 1/5 · US Used to be good not anymore: I’ve had this app for years and paid the $20 a year to keep my number all of a sudden my number is gone and I just paid my 20 in May
  14. [R22] Text Me 1/5 · US purchases don't work: Subscribed to a plan, made me continue to subscribe without getting my number. Wasted money AND time.
  15. [R64] 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
  16. [R53] Text Me 1/5 · US Not worth it: Too many ads too many bugs. Other apps with not nearly as many ads nor bugs
  17. [R13] Text Me 1/5 · US Can’t send too many messages will lock you out: Literally just texting one friend and if you send too many texts in a row it locks you out for 24 hours. Even just to the same friend! Very annoying
  18. [R31] Text Me 1/5 · US Shut down my service: I had this on my phone for less than a day. I was talking to exactly one person back-and-forth, equal conversation and all of a sudden I got a message saying that my account had been limited for one hour due to suspicion of spamming and I would be unable to send out any text messages for that time. I can't even imagine where that could come from. But a number you can't rely o

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