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

Dingtone vs TextNow

Dingtone 4.5★ · Free + IAP · ⚠ stale 45
Winner TextNow
TextNow 4.8★ · Free + IAP 78

TextNow is the better choice for most users due to its higher reliability and overall satisfaction.

Full reviews: Dingtone · TextNow

While both Dingtone and TextNow offer free and paid options, TextNow consistently receives higher ratings and fewer complaints about functionality. Dingtone struggles with reliability and customer support issues, making it less favorable for users seeking a dependable communication app.

Head to head

features edge: TextNowR9R22R64R68
Dingtone Dingtone offers a free tier but has limitations on calls and texts, leading to confusion about costs.
TextNow TextNow provides a more straightforward experience with free service that includes calling and texting, though some users report issues with verification codes.
ease of use edge: TextNowR4R18R70R95
Dingtone Users report frequent bugs and issues with Dingtone, such as freezing and difficulty dialing numbers.
TextNow TextNow is generally easy to use, though some users experience connection issues and bugs during calls.
reliability edge: TextNowR10R39R61R70
Dingtone Dingtone has multiple complaints about calls not going through and customer service being unresponsive.
TextNow TextNow has a higher reliability rating, although some users mention intermittent issues with calls and texts.
price/value edge: TextNowR19R54R80R99
Dingtone Dingtone's pricing structure is often seen as misleading, with users feeling they are charged excessively for features.
TextNow TextNow offers a free tier with optional paid features, which many users find to be good value.
support edge: TextNowR28R40R61R114
Dingtone Dingtone users frequently mention poor customer support and difficulty resolving issues.
TextNow TextNow has mixed reviews regarding support, but many users report satisfactory experiences.
Pick Dingtone if

you are looking for a free app with basic functionality and are willing to navigate potential issues.

Pick TextNow if

you want a more reliable and user-friendly experience with better overall support.

Evidence note: Dingtone has a significant number of negative reviews regarding reliability and support, while TextNow's reviews are more balanced with a higher proportion of positive feedback.

Frequently asked

Is Dingtone really free?
Dingtone offers a free tier, but many users report that essential features require purchasing credits, leading to confusion about costs R7R19.

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. [R9] Dingtone 3/5 · US It was fine: When I first got it I was like wow this is such a good app. But then later in the day it said “texting and calling not free ,why?” and I was like what you have to pay for every text you send
  2. [R22] Dingtone 1/5 · US Not sticking to agreement: You guys said a text message cost 0.5 credit but in reality it costs like 5 credit per messages. I need explanation, this is too expensive
  3. [R64] 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
  4. [R68] 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.
  5. [R4] Dingtone 1/5 · US App works occasionally: When it works, it does what it is supposed to do. But there are too many bugs, sometimes even making it impossible to enter numbers or select from recent calls because the screen is blocked. In general, disappointing expensive experience
  6. [R18] Dingtone 3/5 · US Cannot dial a number: App is very glitchy on iPad Air for me. Cannot get the dial pad to work after many attempts to fix.
  7. [R70] 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
  8. [R95] 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.🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️
  9. [R10] Dingtone 1/5 · US Phone number renewal: I paid to renew my number, but I received an auto-reply saying, “We’re sorry that the number is occupied.” My Austrian number expired on June 12, and I had 10 days to reclaim it. This is unacceptable, and I want it resolved. What's going on? Please fix it or refund me so I can take my business elsewhere. There was no way to contact customer service. The same thing happened th
  10. [R39] Dingtone 3/5 · GB Don’t let your number lapse: Good when I first got it, but my number expired and it won’t let me use the credits I purchased to get a new number. No response from support so it’s useless now. So; make sure you don’t lose that first number and you’ll probably be okay, but don’t buy credits with cash or they may become useless.
  11. [R61] 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.
  12. [R19] Dingtone 1/5 · US THE MOST MONEY HUNGRY APP ON THE INTERNET.: This app is a perfect example of the problem with today’s humanity.
  13. [R54] Dingtone 2/5 · US Extortion!: The app charges 1.10 credit per text which is not an issue, but in what world does 32 words qualify as 3 texts? That’s just extortion, they want to charge you as much as possible for as little texts as possible. They also intentionally send your message multiple times sometimes even when you click send once, just so they can charge you extra credits. And the video Adverts can be annoy
  14. [R80] TextNow 5/5 · US Keeps me from losing opportunities: Very free and will have some ads but aside from that no problems! Little hiccups
  15. [R99] 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!
  16. [R28] Dingtone 1/5 · US Dingtone Support Sucks: I need support monthly and it sucks! Don’t use this app!
  17. [R40] Dingtone 1/5 · US Credit purchase: I have been trying to buy credits for the past 24 hours now. My iTunes was debited and now I have no credit and your customer support system is extremely terrible. I can’t chat on X because I am not a premium user. Facebook is a dead end. No email support
  18. [R114] TextNow 5/5 · US Reliable affordable easy activation: I been using this ever sense I lost my old job and they made it easy and affordable I never left once I got a job !!
  19. [R7] Dingtone 1/5 · US Misleading Liars: You do NOT get a free number the only thing thats free is app user to app user… stick with whats app on that note.
  20. [R60] Dingtone 1/5 · US Not free: This is BS. Yet another app claiming to be free, but the first text I receive I can’t read because I get a pop up saying to lock my number which means BUY PREMIUM. *uninstalled*

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