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

Dingtone vs Text Free

Dingtone 4.5★ · Free + IAP · ⚠ stale 40
Winner Text Free
Text Free 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65

Text Free is generally more reliable for basic texting and calling, despite its ad-heavy free tier, while Dingtone struggles with consistent service, payment issues, and poor customer support.

Full reviews: Dingtone · Text Free

Dingtone and Text Free both offer free texting and calling with in-app purchases, but Text Free has a higher lifetime rating and is generally seen as more functional for core services, despite frequent ads and occasional call quality issues. Dingtone users report significant problems with payments, number expiration, and app glitches, making it less reliable.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Text FreeR6R13R17R24
Dingtone Dingtone offers calling and texting, but users frequently report issues with receiving verification codes, making calls, and sending texts R13R17. Some users appreciate the ability to pick their own number . There are also complaints about the app freezing, especially when trying to get free credits R6R24R27.
Text Free Text Free provides free texting and calling, with some users finding it effective for personal and business use . However, many users struggle with receiving verification codes unless they pay . There are also reports of issues sending photos and the app freezing or being unable to create accounts .
Ease of Use & Reliability tieR4R5R6R18
Dingtone Dingtone users report frequent glitches, freezing screens, and difficulty dialing numbers R4R6R18R25. Calls are sometimes reported as clear R5, but others mention low volume R6R27 and calls not going through . The app is also criticized for being difficult to navigate and not user-friendly R25.
Text Free Text Free's reliability is mixed. While some users find it effective, many report poor call quality, low volume, static, and dropped calls R66. The app is also described as laggy R78 and prone to freezing or login issues after updates .
Price & Value (Free vs. Paid) tieR1R7R9R10
Dingtone Dingtone is advertised as free but users quickly discover that core functionalities like texting and calling require credits or subscriptions R7R9R43R52. Many users report being charged for numbers or credits that are then unusable or expire without warning R1R10. The cost per text is also seen as high .
Text Free Text Free is also free with IAP, but users complain about the overwhelming number of ads in the free version R66R78R79. Many features, such as receiving verification codes, are locked behind a paywall . Some users feel the subscription management is a 'money grabber' and that the billing for weekly subscriptions is processed too far in advance .
Customer Support tieR10R16R25R26
Dingtone Dingtone's customer support is widely criticized as unresponsive or non-existent R10R16R25. Some users report positive experiences, with support being responsive and helpful in recovering accounts R26.
Text Free Text Free's customer service is generally viewed as useless or unhelpful, especially when accounts are suspended or blocked without clear reasons .
Pick Dingtone if

you need an app for international calls and are willing to navigate potential payment and service issues, and you might get lucky with responsive customer support .

Pick Text Free if

you need a secondary number primarily for texting and occasional calls, and you are prepared to deal with frequent ads or pay for an ad-free experience and specific features like verification codes .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, especially concerning their 'free' claims and the necessity of in-app purchases. Dingtone's issues often revolve around payment processing and number management, while Text Free's are more about ad intrusiveness and call quality.

Frequently asked

Can I get a free phone number with Dingtone or Text Free?
Both Dingtone and Text Free claim to offer free phone numbers, but users frequently report that core functionalities like texting and calling, or even receiving verification codes, require credits or paid subscriptions (R7, R9, R43, R52, for Dingtone; , , , for Text Free).
Do Dingtone and Text Free have good call quality?
Call quality is a mixed bag for both apps; Dingtone users report calls are sometimes clear R5 but also mention low volume and freezing R6R27, while Text Free users frequently complain about poor call quality, low volume, static, and dropped calls even with good internet connection R66R79.
Are there many ads in Dingtone and Text Free?
Text Free is heavily criticized for its excessive and intrusive ads, which can disrupt conversations and make the app laggy R66R78R79. Dingtone also has intrusive ads, with one user reporting full-page ads delaying the receipt of a one-time passcode R21.

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. [R6] Dingtone 3/5 · US The volume is low. Freezes, other issues: The volume is very low even on speaker phone. That happened even in my brand new phone. It Freezes at times, and when you want to answer a call or to hang out a call, and the phone has gone on lock screen, then it asks you to unlock the phone first before hanging out !!
  2. [R13] Dingtone 1/5 · US I can’t receive code with my numbers, I’ve lost so many jobs cause of this: I can’t receive code with my numbers, I’ve lost so many jobs cause of this
  3. [R17] Dingtone 4/5 · US Didn’t work: I live overseas and need a USA phone number. Tried this and it didn’t work for bank account or getting my credit report. Basically useless and can’t even submit a help request.
  4. [R24] Dingtone 3/5 · US Free credit disfunctional: Offers free credit by checking in, but 8 out 10 times will simply freeze the app if u try. Absolutely by design or they would have fixed it long ago. Seems to work well otherwise.
  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. [R5] Dingtone 5/5 · US Always reliable: It has never failed me calls are always clear I just wish the voice mail was still part of the free service but still is worth it
  7. [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.
  8. [R1] Dingtone 1/5 · US Scammers: They removed my number after I bought credits so now I can’t use them unless I pay more for a new number, which doesn’t use credits. So I wasted my money on a useless product
  9. [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.
  10. [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
  11. [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
  12. [R16] Dingtone 1/5 · US They will steal your money, apparently: It claims 839 is not a valid area code. It is. And it is mine. A request for a refund was denied by Apple even though I could never even log in to the service to make an account. I received an email from their dev team telling me to email their customer service. I did. Two weeks ago. I've heard nothing. Al.ost a month ago I paid for a service I never receive
  13. [R25] Dingtone 1/5 · US Not user friendly: I’ve been trying to make a phone call the app doesn’t even let me dial a phone number, each time l need to make a phone call l encounter a different problem… no appearant customer SVC when in crisis either
  14. [R26] Dingtone 5/5 · US Great app and useful service: Amazing service and very helpful support. Very pleased with the service and have been using them for a few years now
  15. [R43] Dingtone 2/5 · US It’s dumb: I was trying to text my dad and it said low balance 4.99 like bro what if I was trying to tell him something inportent I don’t recommend
  16. [R52] Dingtone 1/5 · US Not free: Used this app for over a year no problem. I have over $50 in credits I can’t use because now a pop up for a subscription constantly is blocking my use.
  17. [R27] Dingtone 3/5 · GB Oka so far...: Won't let me contact support but loudspeaker is very quiet then freezes trying to collect free coins
  18. [R66] Text Free 3/5 · US Could be better: It always has adds and when you call the quality is horrible even when I have internet!.
  19. [R21] Dingtone 3/5 · US Disappointing performance and price structure: I was really disappointed in this apps performance particularly with the intrusive adds. Case in point, requested a one time passcode from another app that set a time limit of 60 seconds, opened this app to receive it and what do I get but a full page add followed by another add then followed by yet another. Of course by this time the one time passcod
  20. [R78] Text Free 3/5 · US Great but….: The calls get laggy and a lot of ads
  21. [R79] Text Free 1/5 · US App Quality 0%: Call quality is terrible. People on the other line can never hear me or they tell me that the call volume is low. Ads are ridiculous. A couple to a few ads are fine, but the amount of ads I receive the moment I log into this app is horrific. I’m trying to get right with TextNow (which was the only reason why I’m using TextFree). I’m having a difficult time logging into my TextNow a

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