10 Best TextNow Alternatives and Competitors in 2026 (Free and Paid)

Of all the TextNow alternatives, the best for most people in the US is Google Voice: it gives you a free phone number with no ads, and it works on your phone and in a web browser. If you want another free, ad-supported app like TextNow, try TextFree, Talkatone or TextMe. For a private or throwaway number, use Burner or Hushed. For a work number, use Sideline for one person or Quo (formerly OpenPhone) for a team. If you were really comparing TextNow’s new kids’ phone, Yello, look at Gabb and Pinwheel instead.

Last checked: 11 November 2026. Prices are the US rates published on each company’s own site that day. App update dates come from the US App Store.

TextNow itself is still active. Its app was updated on 9 November 2026, and the company now offers free calling and texting, a low-cost wireless service on a nationwide 5G network, international calling, and a phone for children called Yello. People still leave for the same reasons: ads on the free tier, free numbers that can be taken back after inactivity, limited use outside the US and Canada, and a consumer feel that does not suit business use.

TextNow alternatives at a glance

App	Free option	Paid from (Nov 2026)	Best for	iOS app updated
Google Voice	Yes, personal use (US)	$10 per user per month (business)	A free number without ads	6 Nov 2026
TextFree (Pinger)	Yes, with ads	TextFree Plus $9.99 per month	Closest like-for-like swap	6 Nov 2026
Talkatone	Yes, with ads	Paid upgrades in app	A US number for travellers	6 Oct 2026
TextMe	Yes, with ads	Paid upgrades in app	Free texting plus video calls	5 Nov 2026
Burner	Trial only	$3.99 per month billed yearly, or $7.99 monthly	Throwaway and private numbers	10 Nov 2026
Hushed	No	$6.99 per month	Private US, Canada and UK numbers	19 Oct 2026
Sideline (Pinger)	Trial	Subscription in app	A second line using carrier minutes	6 Nov 2026
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)	Free trial	$15 per user per month billed yearly, or $19 monthly	Small business teams	30 Oct 2026
YouMail	Yes (voicemail and spam blocking)	Paid plans	Spam calls and voicemail	30 Oct 2026
Dingtone	Yes, credit-based	Credit packs	Cheap international calls	23 Oct 2021 (stale)

How we chose these apps

• Still maintained. Each app must have had an update in 2026, or we say clearly that it has not.
• Gives you a real phone number you can call and text from, not just chat with other app users.
• Clear pricing. We only list a price if the company publishes it. Where it does not, we say “paid plans” rather than guess.
• Solves a reason people leave TextNow: ads, lost numbers, travel, privacy or business use.

The 10 best TextNow alternatives

1. Google Voice: the best free TextNow alternative

Google Voice is the closest thing to a free TextNow without the ads. A personal account in the US gives you a free number for calls, texts and voicemail, with voicemail transcription, spam filtering and the option to forward calls to your regular phone. It works in a web browser as well as on iPhone and Android, and the app was updated on 6 November 2026.

The business version is sold through Google Workspace. Google’s Voice pricing page lists Starter at $10 per user per month, Standard at $20 and Premier at $30. The main catch for TextNow users is that personal Google Voice is for the US only, so it does not help Canadians.

• Good: free, no ads, reliable, works on a computer.
• Watch out for: US only for personal use, and you need an existing US phone number to set it up.

2. TextFree by Pinger: the closest like-for-like swap

TextFree works much like TextNow: a free US number with texting, Wi-Fi calling and voicemail, paid for by ads. Its website lists TextFree Plus at $9.99 per month, which adds features such as an ad-free experience, verification codes, spam management and number changes. The iOS app was updated on 6 November 2026.

• Good: familiar if you are coming from TextNow, works without a phone plan.
• Watch out for: the free tier has ads, just like TextNow.

3. Talkatone: a free US number for travellers

Talkatone gives you a free US number and unlimited texting to US numbers over Wi-Fi or mobile data, without using cell minutes. Its site highlights calls to most US numbers including landlines, free Talkatone-to-Talkatone calls anywhere in the world, and the option to change your number while keeping your history. It is popular with people abroad who still need a US number.

• Good: works well over Wi-Fi when travelling, no roaming fees.
• Watch out for: ads on the free tier, and some banks will not send codes to app-based numbers.

4. TextMe: free texting plus video calls

TextMe offers free texting to US and Canadian numbers, free calls between TextMe users, low-cost international calls and video calling, which most free-number apps do not have. It is supported by ads, with paid options to remove them and buy calling credits. The iOS app was updated on 5 November 2026.

• Good: one app for texting and video calls with family abroad.
• Watch out for: its website did not load for us, so we checked the app listing instead.

5. Burner: the best for throwaway numbers

Burner lets you create numbers you can keep or delete, and swap them when you want. It is built for privacy: selling things online, dating, short projects, or anywhere you do not want to share your real number. Burner’s pricing page lists Standard at $7.99 a month, or $3.99 a month billed yearly as $47.99, and Premium at $12.99 a month, or $5.83 a month billed yearly as $69.99.

• Good: easy to create and delete numbers, no ads.
• Watch out for: no free plan beyond a trial.

6. Hushed: private numbers in the US, Canada and the UK

Hushed sells private second numbers in Canada, the US and the UK. Hushed’s pricing page lists an Unlimited plan from $6.99 a month for local talk and text, Prepaid plans from $7.99, and a Pay-as-you-go international plan from $8.99 a month including $1 in credit. It is one of the few options here that gives Canadians a local number without a carrier contract.

• Good: numbers in three countries, many area codes, no ads.
• Watch out for: no free tier.

7. Sideline by Pinger: a second line on your own phone

Sideline adds a second number to your existing phone. Unlike most apps here, it uses your carrier’s network for calls, so call quality matches your normal phone and you do not need Wi-Fi. It includes separate voicemail, auto-replies, spam labelling, unlimited messaging, number porting and different ringtones per number.

• Good: better call quality than Wi-Fi apps, useful for freelancers and sellers.
• Watch out for: Sideline’s website does not show a price; you see it in the app.

8. Quo (formerly OpenPhone): the best for small teams

Quo is a business phone system, not a consumer app. Each user gets a US or Canadian number, and teams get shared inboxes, call recording, phone menus, contact notes and integrations with tools such as HubSpot and Slack. Quo’s pricing page lists Starter at $15 per user per month billed yearly ($19 monthly), Business at $23 yearly ($33 monthly) and Scale at $35 yearly ($47 monthly), with a free trial.

• Good: professional, built for teams, no ads.
• Watch out for: too much for a personal second number. Monthly billing costs noticeably more than yearly billing on the higher plans, so compare both.

9. YouMail: for spam calls and voicemail

YouMail started as a visual voicemail and robocall blocker and now offers call protection, privacy features and paid plans with a second number. If your real problem is spam calls and missed voicemails rather than texting, it solves that well. The iOS app was updated on 30 October 2026.

• Good: strong spam blocking, free voicemail features.
• Watch out for: it solves a different problem than TextNow does.

10. Dingtone: cheap international calls (with a caution)

Dingtone offers second numbers for Wi-Fi calling and texting and low-cost calls to mobiles and landlines in many countries, using a credit system. Its website is online. However, its iPhone app had not been updated since 23 October 2021 when we checked, which is a long time for a calling app. Test it carefully before relying on it, especially on iPhone.

• Good: low international rates, numbers in several countries.
• Watch out for: the stale iOS app.

TextNow vs TextFree: which is better?

	TextNow	TextFree
Free number	Yes, with ads	Yes, with ads
Calling and texting	US and Canada free, low-cost international	US texting and Wi-Fi calling
Own wireless service	Yes, nationwide 5G with free talk and text and add-on data	No, it runs over Wi-Fi or your existing data
Main paid upgrade	Ad removal and number locking	TextFree Plus, $9.99 per month
Best for	People who want a cheap or free phone service	People who want a free second number app

Choose TextNow if you want it as your actual phone service. Choose TextFree if you just want a free second number inside an app.

TextNow’s kids’ phone, Yello, vs Gabb and Pinwheel

Some people searching for “TextNow vs Gabb” or “TextNow vs Pinwheel” are comparing phones for children. TextNow’s Yello is a pre-set Motorola Moto G Play phone for kids. Its page lists the phone at $74.99 (or $49.99 refurbished) plus $19.99 a month, with calls and texts only to contacts parents approve, a parent portal with location, no social media and no browser.

• Gabb makes phones and watches for kids with parent-managed contacts. Its site listed the Gabb Phone 4 at $229.99 (down from $249.99) plus a Gabb cellular plan when we checked.
• Pinwheel sells phones and watches for kids and teens with parent controls and a 30-day money-back guarantee. We could not see a price on its home page.

Yello is the lowest upfront cost of the three. Gabb and Pinwheel offer more device choices. Compare the monthly plan, which contacts and apps you can allow, and how location sharing works before you decide.

Free vs paid second numbers: what you actually get

	Free apps (TextNow, TextFree, Talkatone, TextMe)	Paid apps (Burner, Hushed, Sideline, Quo)
Ads	Yes, unless you upgrade	No
Keeping your number	Can be reclaimed if unused	Kept while you pay
Verification codes	Often blocked by banks and apps	Accepted more often, still not always
Call quality	Depends on Wi-Fi or data	Sideline uses carrier minutes; others use data
Support	Mostly help articles	Usually email or chat support
Best use	Casual texting, a spare number	Work, privacy, anything you cannot lose

A simple rule: if losing the number would cause you a problem, such as missed client calls or a locked bank account, pay for it. If it is for signing up to newsletters or chatting with friends, a free app is fine.

How to set up Google Voice in five steps

1. Go to voice.google.com on a computer, or install the Google Voice app, and sign in with a personal Google account.
2. Accept the terms and search for a number by city or area code.
3. Pick a number you like and confirm it.
4. Verify an existing US phone number. Google sends a code to that number. This step is required, so you need a US mobile or landline number to start.
5. Choose your settings: forward calls to your phone, turn on voicemail transcription, and switch on spam filtering.

To keep the number, use it now and then for a call or text. Google may reclaim personal numbers that are not used for a long time.

Using a second number safely

• Do not use a free number for your bank or email recovery unless you are sure it will not be reclaimed. Losing it can lock you out.
• Use a strong password and two-step sign-in on the account that owns the number. Someone who takes over the app can read your texts.
• Watch for scam texts that ask for codes. No real company will ask you to read back a verification code.
• Keep work and personal separate. A business line in Sideline or Quo stops client calls arriving at 11pm on your personal number.
• Read the privacy policy of free, ad-supported apps. Ads pay for the service, so understand what data is shared. If you mainly want private conversations rather than a phone number, our guide to secure messaging software compares encrypted chat apps.

Before you leave TextNow

• Keep or move your number. TextNow numbers can usually be ported to another provider if the account is in good standing. Start the transfer from your new provider, not from TextNow, and have your TextNow account details ready.
• Check verification codes. Many banks and apps refuse app-based (VoIP) numbers for login codes. Google Voice and paid business lines tend to be accepted more often than free, ad-supported numbers, but no app works with every service.
• Know the inactivity rules. Free numbers on TextNow, TextFree and Talkatone can be reclaimed if you do not use them. TextNow’s help centre says a paid upgrade protects the number while it is active. If a number matters, pay to lock it.
• Check emergency calling. Wi-Fi calling apps may handle 911 differently from a normal carrier. Read each app’s policy before using it as your main phone.
• Export anything you need. Screenshots or exports of important messages are worth keeping before you cancel.

Using these apps from outside the US

Many people use TextNow to keep a US number while living or travelling abroad. Here is how the alternatives compare for that job:

• Talkatone is built for it. It works over Wi-Fi anywhere and avoids roaming fees for calls and texts to US numbers.
• Google Voice keeps working abroad once it is set up, but you need a US number to create it in the first place, and some features depend on your location.
• Hushed lets you buy numbers in the US, Canada and the UK, so it suits people who move between those countries.
• TextMe is handy for staying in touch with family through free app-to-app calls and video calls.
• Dingtone has low international rates, but test it first because of its stale iPhone app.

Whichever you choose, check local rules. Some countries restrict internet calling apps, and some apps limit sign-ups from certain regions.

Which TextNow alternative should you pick?

• Free, no ads, US: Google Voice.
• Free and just like TextNow: TextFree, Talkatone or TextMe.
• In Canada: TextFree or TextMe for free texting; Hushed or Quo for a paid local number.
• Privacy or a throwaway number: Burner or Hushed.
• A work line for one person: Sideline or Google Voice.
• A work line for a team: Quo or Google Voice for Workspace.
• Spam calls and voicemail: YouMail.
• A first phone for a child: TextNow Yello, Gabb or Pinwheel.

If you are choosing a work number, our list of Google Voice alternatives covers more business phone options.

What we removed or changed

• Skype Number: removed in an earlier update. Microsoft shut down Skype on 5 May 2025.
• 2ndLine: removed earlier; Pinger’s other apps (TextFree and Sideline) cover it.
• Price updates: we added Quo’s monthly prices for every plan (Starter $19, Business $33, Scale $47) next to the yearly ones. Hushed no longer lists the $4.99 rate older guides quote, so we removed the price chart image that still showed it.
• New: a TextNow vs TextFree table and a kids’ phone comparison.

What we could not confirm

• Sideline, Talkatone, TextMe and YouMail prices. They show prices inside their apps or behind sign-up, not on their websites.
• TextNow’s exact inactivity window. TextNow’s help pages confirm free numbers can be recycled, but third-party sources disagree on how many days.
• Pinwheel and Gabb plan prices. These change often and depend on the plan you pick.
• Bank acceptance. Whether a number works for verification codes depends on each bank, and changes without notice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to TextNow?

Google Voice, if you are in the US. It is free, has no ads, and keeps your number as long as you use it now and then.

What apps are like TextNow?

TextFree, Talkatone and TextMe are the most similar: free numbers paid for by ads. Google Voice is similar but ad-free. Burner, Hushed, Sideline and Quo are paid.

Who are TextNow’s competitors?

For free numbers: Google Voice, TextFree (Pinger), Talkatone and TextMe. For paid second numbers: Burner, Hushed and Sideline. For business phones: Quo and Google Voice for Workspace. For its kids’ phone Yello: Gabb and Pinwheel.

Is there a TextNow alternative without ads?

Google Voice is ad-free for personal use. Burner, Hushed, Sideline and Quo are paid and ad-free. The free apps like TextFree remove ads only on paid plans.

Which TextNow alternative works in Canada?

TextFree and TextMe offer free texting to Canadian numbers. Hushed and Quo offer paid Canadian numbers. Personal Google Voice does not work in Canada.

Does TextNow take back inactive numbers?

Yes. Free numbers can be recycled after a period without use. A paid upgrade protects your number while it is active.

Is TextFree better than TextNow?

Neither is clearly better. TextNow also offers its own wireless service. TextFree is simpler if you only want a free second number in an app.

What is a good alternative to Talkatone or Dingtone?

Google Voice for free US use, Hushed for paid numbers in the US, Canada or UK, and TextMe for free texting with video calls.

Can I use these apps for bank verification codes?

Sometimes. Many banks block app-based numbers. Google Voice and paid business lines are accepted more often, but test before you rely on it.

The bottom line

For a free number in the US, set up Google Voice. If you want something that feels exactly like TextNow, TextFree is the closest match. For work, pay for Sideline or Quo so you never deal with ads or lost numbers. For privacy, Burner and Hushed are built for it. And if you came here comparing kids’ phones, put Yello, Gabb and Pinwheel side by side and check the monthly plan, not just the phone price.