Is TextNow Better Than TextMe? A Full Comparison

The short answer

With TextNow you get unlimited talk & text, a real phone number, and the option for free 5G wireless with SIM activation. The TextMe app offers similar services, including a free phone number with the option to buy more numbers on the same account, but requires earning or buying credits to get full talk & text capabilities.  

TextNow is better than TextMe when it comes to data allowances and using the service away from Wi-Fi, however. It’s a good alternative to TextMe due to its greater flexibility of use.   

TextMe vs. TextNow summary  

At their base level, both TextMe and TextNow offer free talk & text, a free phone number, and an easy-to-use app for managing your account. Both use ads to support their free services, and users can buy data passes for additional access off Wi-Fi.  

Key differences:  

• TextMe's full suite of free messaging and calling features are reserved for communication with other TextMe app users. Other calls, and communicating internationally, require credits you must buy or earn in-app. 
• Users complain that the TextMe app has intrusive full-screen ads that interrupt usage.   
• TextNow offers a nationwide 5G wireless network with the activation of either a physical SIM card or eSIM. TextMe does not include any free data, and its data plans require an eSIM capable phone.  
• With TextNow you get 1GB data for free and can buy unlimited data at affordable rates — with up to 20GB high-speed data — and revert to free service without interruption whenever you like. On the other hand, TextMe data plans cap access, maxing out at 5GB, and are more expensive per GB.  
• TextMe has an advantage with its ability to have more than one number on an account. You must buy the additional numbers, though; only the first one is free. You can have several TextNow numbers for free, although each requires a separate email address for sign-up and you manage the accounts separately. 

Feature comparison

Final verdict: Should you choose TextMe or TextNow? 

TextMe and TextNow both offer free talk & text and make it easy to have a second phone number. But TextNow has clear advantages, including access to a nationwide 5G network, fewer restrictions on free calling, and more affordable data add-ons.

The TextNow Free Flex Plan gives you 1GB free data for the apps you use most. You can add more data, at affordable rates, and revert to the free level whenever you like without losing service. Weekly discounts and offers, plus the TextNow Rewards program, give you more money-saving opportunities. TextNow also has better consumer reviews on Trustpilot and app stores.

Why choose TextNow over TextMe?

The TextMe app has significant restrictions on texting and calling — you must buy or earn credits for calls and texts in many instances. You’ll also be restricted to Wi-Fi unless you choose from two unappetizing routes for mobile data: You can use your existing phone plan's data, which doesn't save you anything and probably already gives you talk and text. Or you can buy a TextMe data plan if your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible, but the plans are costly and have low limits. The cheapest is $5.99 for a single day capped at 300MB. Other choices range from $11.99/week capped at 1GB to $24.99/month for 5GB.  

Compare that to TextNow, which offers truly free talk & text without having to buy, earn or track credits. You can use it over Wi-Fi or enjoy its free nationwide 5G network by activating a SIM (a free eSIM for iOS or Android, or a low-cost physical card). You get a free local phone number, making it a great option for side hustles, online dating or selling, or any other situation where you want a second number for privacy. The Free Flex Plan gives you 1GB of data per month for the apps you use most: email, finance, iHeartRadio, maps, and rideshare. If you want more, unlimited data add-ons are $2.99/day, $8.99/week, or $35.99/month. 

TextMe vs. TextNow: Detailed review  

What is TextFree?  

TextMe is a free talk & text app that also offers a free phone number with the option to purchase more numbers to use on the same account. You use the app over Wi-Fi, with your mobile data from an existing phone plan, or buy data add-ons. The basic app is free and depends on ad support, but you can also pay for a subscription to drop ads and get other extras.  

It comes with some significant restrictions, however. Texting, calling and video calling other TextMe users is free, and calls to many non-TextMe numbers in the U.S. and Canada are also free. Otherwise, you need to buy credits (free minutes) or earn them in the app, for example by inviting other users or watching videos.  

What is TextNow?  

TextNow also offers a free phone number that can be used as your primary or second phone number. Its Free Flex Plan is an ad-supported version that offers $0 service with unlimited talk & text, plus data for essential apps (email, finance, iHeartRadio, maps, and rideshare). You can also get extra data at reasonable rates, by the day, week, or month, and drop back to free whenever you want without losing service.  

TextNow can be used as a Wi-Fi only app, or get a SIM card for access to a nationwide 5G network for access on the go. Users can download a free eSIM (iOS and Android) for instant activation or order a physical SIM card for a small one-time fee.    

What you get for free

TextMe gives a free number to users who sign up from the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. People in other locations can still use TextMe but must purchase a number if they want one.

Use the TextMe app over Wi-Fi or using your existing mobile data plan to text any phone number in the U.S. or Canada. Calling non-TextMe users or numbers in other countries requires credits, which you can buy in bundles for $1.99-$29.99 or earn with in-app actions. Incoming calls are free.

TextNow similarly offers a free U.S. or Canadian number but allows unlimited nationwide talk & text to any number — it doesn't have to be another TextNow user and doesn’t require credits. International calling is included for free or at affordable rates.

You can use the TextNow app on Wi-Fi or with mobile data from an existing plan, or you can use TextNow’s free nationwide 5G cellular network. You simply activate a free eSIM (for iOS or Android) or buy a physical SIM for a small one-time fee.  

Are there region restrictions with TextNow or TextMe?  

Yes, to get a free number with TextMe you must sign up from the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. When signing up from another country, you can use the app but won’t be assigned a number (you can purchase one).   

TextNow is for use in the U.S. and Canada. 

Can you pick your own number with TextNow or TextMe?  

TextNow offers phone numbers in almost all U.S. and Canada area codes. It offers you a short list of phone numbers to choose from when signing up. You can change the number within the app if you want to.  

TextMe also lets you choose from a short list of free numbers but has a much more limited list of area codes. You can change your number within the app. It also has options to add more numbers to your account, such as an international number in the dozen or so supported countries, for a fee.  

Are there hidden fees with TextMe’s or TextNow’s numbers?  

TextNow’s number is free of charge to get and use for domestic talk & text in the U.S. and Canada.  

TextMe offers free SMS texts to most U.S. and Canadian numbers and lets you call other TextMe users for free. However, it may require buying credits or a subscription for calls to non-TextMe users and for texting or calling international numbers.   

Paid upgrades 

A TextMe Premium subscription runs $7.99 a week or $10.99 a month. It removes ads and lets you retain your number even when not actively using it. You also get call forwarding, voicemail transcription, look-up of unknown numbers, and conversation export. Premium is paid through Google Play or the Apple App Store, not in-app, and will auto-renew until you cancel it through the app platform.   

TextNow has features you can purchase or use Rewards points to get, such as Lock-in Number, voicemail transcription and more. The Ad-Free+ level is $6.99 a week for an ad-free experience, number lock-in, voicemail transcription, verification codes, call forwarding, unlimited photo and video history, and phone number lookup of unknown numbers.  

With both TextMe and TextNow, you can purchase data add-ons. Here’s how they stack up: 

Verification code support  

TextMe supports automated verification texts from a limited list of companies but does not disclose that list to customers. If a company does send a verification text to your TextMe number, you will get a pop-up requiring you to “secure” your number — which means buying the number for a week or more. You have 24 hours to buy the number before the verification text expires.  

TextNow, on the other hand, supports most verification codes once you activate a TextNow SIM or buy a Lock-in Number or Ad-Free+ subscription.  

Network availability 

Both TextMe and TextNow require an internet connection, which can be Wi-Fi, the data from a separate mobile plan on your phone, or a purchased data pass.  

TextNow offers both physical SIM cards or eSIM, and activating a SIM lets you use its nationwide 5G network for free. TextMe requires an eSIM capable device in order to add data, which you must buy.  

International support 

TextMe can be used in other countries over a Wi-Fi connection. Calling and texting have the same limitations as when using the app in your home country.  

TextNow can be used in other countries to call or text U.S. and Canadian numbers. You will need to be on a Wi-Fi connection.

Sign-up and commitment  

Signing up for either app is quick and easy. With TextNow, you can use an email address or  your Google, Facebook or Apple account to log in. TextMe lets you use an email address or Google account. 

With either, you only have an ongoing commitment if you purchase a subscription or data pass. Notably, TextMe consumer reviews often mention problems with canceling subscriptions, complaining about repeated charges and difficulty reaching customer service.   

Number porting  

TextNow allows you to port in a number from another carrier once you have activated a TextNow SIM card.  

TextMe does not support porting in an existing number.  

Customer service & user experience 

TextMe has a very low 1.7 score on Trustpilot, with the majority of reviewers leaving only 1 star — but it has fewer than 50 reviewers. On the Apple App Store it has a 4.7 rating on 635,000 reviews; on Google Play it has 4.2 stars on 550,000 reviews. Consumers like that it’s a free solution, but some complain about calls dropping, texts not going through, and invasive ads that interfere with using the app.  

Customer service is only through email, there’s no phone or live chat support. The website has support material answering FAQs and troubleshooting, although answers to some basic questions are missing and some information contradicts app store descriptions.  

TextNow, on the other hand, earns a 4.3 Trustpilot score on nearly 1,500 reviews. It gets 4.6 stars on Google Play with more than 1.6 million reviews, and 4.8 stars on Apple App Store with more than 900,000 reviews. People appreciate the free service option, but some complain about ads or account-disabling actions and similar terms & conditions-related issues. 

TextNow has a wide range of support options, with a customer service line staffed 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Eastern every day. It also offers an AI help bot around the clock, plus extensive FAQs and support material on the website.

Reliability & quality  

TextMe relies on your internet connection over Wi-Fi or an existing mobile data plan on your phone. As long as that connection is strong, calls and texts should work well. However, since it is a VoIP service (Voice over Internet Protocol) rather than a traditional cellular network you do have a higher chance of dropped calls, choppy audio, or other call-related issues. If you purchase a data plan, it's provided via an eSIM from Truphone, which gets mixed reviews on app stores for quality of service. 

The speed and reliability of TextNow’s Free Flex Plan will also depend on your own internet connection. It also is a VoIP app, but users praise TextNow's calling and messaging as more reliable than some similar services.   

If you upgrade to use one of TextNow’s SIM cards, you will get 5G speeds on a nationwide network. To see the full coverage, check out TextNow’s coverage map.  

Security & privacy  

Neither TextNow nor TextMe offer 2-factor authentication, so it’s up to you to protect your account by following common online safety practices. When using any free online service, it’s best practice to protect your account by using a strong password and changing it frequently. Also, avoid clicking on suspicious links that could be smishing or phishing attempts.

Because both companies recycle numbers that are left unused, you may get texts or calls meant for your number’s previous owner. Both services have the option to report messages or numbers as spam and block them. TextNow uses a firewall to detect and block spam and fraudulent activity on all accounts. With TextMe, a spam filter is included in the paid Premium subscription.  

Within the TextMe app you can turn off notifications, so calls and texts don’t appear on your screen, and set a passcode or Face ID to keep activity private from others. You can also hide the app so it doesn't show on your home screen. With TextNow, you can achieve the same effects by using your device’s OS features to require a passcode or Face ID or to hide the app. 

Note that neither TextMe nor TextNow offer end-to-end encryption, and while your identity is anonymous behind your number or username, it can be traced via legal channels such as with a subpoena or search warrant.  

FAQs about TextMe vs. TextNow