In our previous post, we introduced TextNow as a free wifi calling app. Actually, TextNow does much more than that – It has combined several different approaches to save your money for phone call.

In this TextNow review post, we’d like to introduce TextNow to you in details and then you will know how it can help you save money.

What is TextNow?

Founded in 2009 by two university students looking to save money on their phone bills, TextNow has been putting free phone service technology into the hands of customers for over a decade.

When you sign up for TextNow, you’re assigned a phone number, and then just like that, you’re free to make calls and send texts as long as you’re connected to wifi.

Some of the features of TextNow include:

• Making and receiving voice calls
• Using emojis and stickers
• Sending pictures
• Caller ID
• Voicemail transcription
• Call forwarding
• Customizable tones
• Unified inbox for messages inside and outside of TextNow
• Floating chat
• Seamlessly make calls from all your devices with the TextNow website and app

While TextNow started as one of many voice over internet protocol (VoIP) apps, it’s now a full-fledged mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Like all MVNOs, it operates on one of the “Big Four” networks (Sprint), meaning they purchase service and bulk from these companies and sell it to consumers at a lesser cost. Therefore, it is not strange that TextNow sells Plans and Phones.

TextNow Plan and Phone Offerings

TextNow Plans

Like most prepaid and postpaid carriers, TextNow offers customers unlimited talk and text, but the plan is free. However, customers must be connected to Wi-Fi when using the app in order to take advantage of the talk and text capabilities. Should a customer choose to make a one-time purchase of $9.99 for a SIM card and access Sprint’s network, Wi-Fi is not needed. 

All TextNow plans, irrespective of their charges, allow you to leverage the benefits of unlimited text and talk to the U.S. and Canada. 

TextNow Phones

There’s no doubt about it, TextNow has cheaper phone plans than any of the other leading MVNOs such as Cricket Wireless, Metro PCS, and Boost Mobile – especially when it comes to their unlimited data plan. It offers a variety of phones, from lower-end used cheap phones costing $76 to $260 32GB iPhones. You’re able to view these phones at face-value on the TextNow website. In addition, Phones that are compatible with Sprint will work as long as there are no contractual obligations on the phone. Also, most universally unlocked phones from manufacturer’s such as Motorola and Samsung are compatible with the network.

TextNow Review: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Is Textnow Used for?

TextNow offers everyone free calling and texting via their mobile application. The free version of the app supports ads. If you’d like an ad-free experience, you can pay to have the ads removed. And if you’d like to be able to make calls and send texts without needing a Wi-Fi connection, you can sign up for one of TextNow’s cellular data plans. 

Precisely, TextNow’s service is about – 

• Phone service without the phone bill –With unlimited calling and texting, it is a pure boon for people in the U.S. and Canada. 
• Connecting with family and friends abroad – TextNow serves you with free (or low-cost) international calls to 230+ countries.
• A side number for your side business – Through the TextNow app, you can get a second phone number (with the area code of your choice) that you can use as your business phone line.

2. Is Textnow a Safe App?

Textnow will safeguard your information in accordance with industry procedures and security standards. However, “perfect security” does not exist on the internet.

For children, parents should keep an eye on the app. Your kids may feel like they can hide their activity from their parents when they using the app because their messages don’t show up on their phone bill. This can promote negative behavior. Also, there are reports of predators using the app to target victims.

3. Is Textnow Really Free?

If you live in US or Canada, TextNow offers you a personal phone number and connections to make free, ad-supported phone calls and texts. But it has to be with a phone that’s compatible with the Sprint network. And you can’t surf the internet as well. 

For those who would like the service without ads, the cost is $19.99 monthly with 2 GB of mobile data or $39.99 with ad-free unlimited data service. 

4. What Carrier Does Textnow Use?

With TextNow, you will have coverage through Wi-Fi and the Nationwide Sprint® Network. To see if TextNow is a good fit, you can view their Nationwide coverage map.

5. Does Textnow Show Up On Your Phone Bill?

Nope! Calls made through TextNow on a data connection will not show up on your carrier’s bill.

6. Does TextNow Show Your Real Number?

No, it won’t. TextNow will show your Caller ID. Caller ID is now built-in to the TextNow app for all of our Ad Free+ subscribers!

The first time you call a contact from your TextNow phone, the call will show the names you’ve entered on your TextNow profile for your first and last name.

However, if your contact already has your name and TextNow number saved in the contacts app on their phone, that local contact information will supersede the caller ID name. So, for example, if you already have your father in your phone contact as “Dad”, with his TextNow number, his name will show up as “Dad” on caller ID.

7. How Long Does a Textnow Number Last?

Any number on a free Wifi-supported account runs the risk of expiring if the number is not used regularly. TextNow recommends you use your TextNow number for an outgoing call or text at least once every 2 days. While your number won’t necessarily expire after two days, every account and area code is different. So if you are adamant about keeping that number, make sure to stay active and don’t let your account become dormant.

8. Can I Have Multiple Phone Numbers?

Yes, you can create multiple TextNow accounts with their own unique login to keep more than one number in your arsenal, however, you cannot have more than one assigned number to an account at a time.

9. Can TextNow Numbers Be Traced?

According to TextNow support, you can’t track who owns TextNow number as they do not reveal information about the identity of a person who is using a particular number.

10. Does TextNow Work On My PC?

Like WhatsApp, TextNow has developed a web application for PC/Mac, so you can send, receive and manage all your messages from the comfort of your laptop and/or PC. All text messages are automatically synced too, so you don’t have to worry about missing anything. You can also start a message on your computer and pick it up on your phone, just like iMessage.

Recap: Is TextNow Worth It?

When considering is TextNow worth it or not, we can take the price, phone and data options into consideration. Generally, TextNow is an affordable option for those who want to call internationally, let alone that it allows you to call freely if both of you live in USA. However, if you have the need to text and talk at all times for business reasons, you need to subscribe the Unlimited Plan which is pricey and there may be better options.