Is TextNow Better Than Google Voice? A Full Comparison

TextNow vs. Google Voice: The short answer

TextNow gives you more service at the free level than Google Voice does, making it the better choice for truly free phone service.

Unlike Google Voice, TextNow gives you access to free 5G wireless, so you don’t have stay on Wi-Fi or have another phone plan providing mobile data (which kind of defeats the point of “free service”!).   

Googe Voice vs. TextNow summary  

If you’re looking for a free calling and texting app that also gives you a free phone number, both TextNow and Google Voice offer a solution. But some important downsides to Google Voice mean it’s better suited as a second phone number only, while TextNow offers a bigger menu of features and the flexibility of full wireless service. 

Some notable downsides to Google Voice: 

• Works best when paired with an existing mobile phone plan — which means you’re not lowering your phone bill, you’re just getting a second phone number. 
• Requires an existing mobile number to claim an account, and once a mobile number has been used for this it can never be re-used. Many mobile providers re-use inactive numbers and if your number was previously used by someone else to set up Google Voice, you’re out of luck.  
• Does not support RCS messaging, so you don’t have access to typing indicators, read notifications, or reactions.  

Google Voice vs. TextNow: Feature comparison

Why choose TextNow over Google Voice   

Google Voice comes with some significant limitations that take the shine off its free service. It’s a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service only, so you must stay on Wi-Fi unless you have a separate mobile plan on your phone to provide data — and then you’re no longer enjoying truly free service. It’s limited to U.S. residents and lacks several features you get with TextNow.  

TextNow also has a fully free tier, but it also provides free 5G cellular access so you can use it away from Wi-Fi. You get a limited amount of free data for apps like email, finance, maps, rideshare, and iHeartRadio. Unlimited data is available at affordable rates — and you can drop back to the free level at any time without losing service. In addition, you get a U.S. or Canadian phone number, and enjoy much broader communication than with Voice: free international texting plus free calling to Mexico, Canada, and the U.K.  

Why 5G beats Wi-Fi calling

Why care about having 5G access? It lets you cut your dependence on Wi-Fi, which can be pretty limiting. Wi-Fi works best in a set location with a strong router to provide a good signal.  

With 5G, on the other hand, you’re truly mobile, letting you talk, text, and use data on the go. You get faster data and better performance in crowded areas, as well, and bypass the security issues associated with public Wi-Fi. 

Google Voice vs. TextNow: Detailed review  

What is Google Voice?  

Google Voice is a free VoIP texting and calling service available to U.S. residents. It works over Wi-Fi or uses your existing phone plan’s mobile data. If you link your Google Voice number to an existing mobile number, it will forward calls and texts there.  

What is TextNow?  

TextNow provides a free phone number and can be used as a VoIP app over Wi-Fi or on TextNow's nationwide 5G network simply by activating a SIM.  

Its Free plan offers $0 service with free texting and calling. You also get some data for free, with options to add more — and can revert to the free level at any time without losing service. Unlimited data can be added at affordable increments by the day, week, or month.

Google Voice vs. TextNow: What you get for free

Google Voice provides a free phone number (U.S. only) and unlimited talk & text within the U.S. and to Canada, as well as entry-level functions like voicemail and call forwarding. To use it as a fully free service, you need to be on Wi-Fi, otherwise you need an underlying mobile phone plan with data.  

 TextNow offers a free number in the U.S. or Canada; unlimited texting at home and to 100+ countries; free calling including to Mexico, Canada, and the U.K. and low rates to others; plus free data for your most-used apps. It can be used over Wi-Fi or on a nationwide 5G network with activation of a TextNow SIM card. You also get free offers and discounts, plus Rewards Points you can redeem for upgrades or other items.    

Are there region restrictions with TextNow or Google Voice?  

Yes, Google Voice is limited to U.S. residents and provides a U.S. phone number for domestic talk & text. International calling from the U.S. is charged at various rates per minute. You cannot text internationally other than to Canada.  

TextNow provides a free phone number in either the U.S. or Canada, for free talk & text domestically and free international texting to 100+ destinations. Calls are free to select countries, including Mexico and U.K., and at affordable per-minute rates to 200+ other destinations. Roaming in Mexico is included on all plans, including the free base plan.

Can you pick your own number?  

Yes, both services let you pick from a set of numbers during sign-up. With Google Voice, you can choose from three numbers or three nearby locations. You can also delete your number and get a new one, limited to once a year. 

TextNow offers a longer list of choices, 10, and you can ask for another set of choices if you don’t like the first. You can also change your number later, limited to once every 15 days. 

Are there hidden fees?   

Google Voice for personal use is free of charge. Its business phone plans have a per-user fee, however.  

TextNow also is free to use. You can get a free eSIM for iOS and Android devices, or buy a physical SIM card for a low one-time fee on the Free plan.  

Paid upgrades 

To make international calls with Google Voice, you first need to buy prepaid calling credits. The per-minute rate varies by calling destination. You should get a message as you start the call noting it’s going over Google Voice; if not, the call may be routed through your underlying mobile phone service and incur a charge from it. 

Google Voice also has paid tiers, mainly aimed at businesses users. Prices range from $10 to $30 per user, and you get additional calling features plus your number will not be reclaimed due to inactivity.  

TextNow offers free calling to some international destinations (Mexico, Canada, the U.K.). For others, you need to buy international calling credits. The rate varies depending on the destination.  

With TextNow, you can also buy or redeem Rewards Points to unlock additional features, such as Number Lock and Ad-Free+ service. 

Verification code support  

Some companies, especially financial institutions, will not send account verification codes to a VoIP number like Google Voice. Google does offer a different solution, the Google Authenticator app, which generates verification codes to use in conjunction with an account password instead of relying on texts.  

TextNow has in-app paid upgrades that come with verification code support, such as Lock-In Number or Ad-Free+. Or, you can purchase a data plan, starting at $4.99/week. 

TextNow's plans and upgrades

Network availability 

Google Voice is a free VoIP service, which works over an internet connection — either Wi-Fi, or your existing mobile phone plan. It does not provide a cellular connection on its own. 

It can be a little confusing, because Google also offers Google Fi Wireless. It leases space on the T-Mobile network to provide wireless plans ranging from $20 plus $10 per GB of data up to $65 per month. To be clear, if you sign up for Google Voice you are not getting Google Fi Wireless service. 

TextNow also provides a free service you can use over Wi-Fi, or you can activate a TextNow SIM card to use its nationwide 5G network. Get a free eSIM (iOS or Android devices) or buy a physical SIM for a small one-time charge. 

International support 

U.S. residents get free calls and text from the U.S. to Canada and Puerto Rico with Google Voice. Calls to other countries carry a per-minute charge, and there’s no international texting.  

You can use Google Voice while traveling abroad with the same rules: free talk & text to U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, plus calls to other locations for a fee. But if you’re not on Wi-Fi, it’s likely you’ll incur roaming charges from your existing phone carrier — and those can really add up. 

TextNow has free international texting plus free calls to Mexico, Canada, and the U.K. It also supports international calling to hundreds of other countries and destinations at varying per-minute rates. Roaming in Mexico is included at all plan levels.

Google Voice vs. TextNow: Sign-up and commitment  

To sign up up for Google Voice, you need to be a U.S. resident and be able to provide three things: 

• A Google Account, which you can easily get by setting up a free GMail account.  
• An eligible U.S. mobile phone number to verify your account. (Google Voice and other VoIP numbers are not eligible, and neither are landines.) 
• A government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport that shows your address. 

With TextNow, you just need an email address or can use your Facebook, Google, or Apple log-in.  

There’s no commitment or contract with either service. TextNow offers paid upgrades and unlimited data passes, but you can revert to the $0 level at any time without losing service. 

Number porting  

Bringing your own number to Google Voice costs $20. Only U.S. phone numbers can be ported in. Porting a number out costs $3 if it was a Google Voice number, or $0 if you brought your own number.  

TextNow does not charge to port numbers in or out. Only U.S. phone numbers can be ported in, and you must activate a TextNow SIM in order to port in.   

Customer service & user experience 

Users online like Google Voice as a free second phone number they can use to separate work, online selling, dating, and other activities while keeping their main number private. The Google Voice app has 4.2/5 stars on the Google Play store, and 4.3/5 stars on the Apple App Store. 

However, when it comes to customer service, it’s pretty skimpy. Inquiries must be made via email, and it can take up to 10 days for response. The Google Help Center offers how-to articles and answers to common questions, plus has a community forum where users swap information.  

Users online praise TextNow as a way to have free service that won’t cut off. It’s useful as a second number but the option of use on a 5G network means it can be a main number as well. The TextNow app has a 4.6/5 stars on Googe Play, and 4.8/5 on Apple App Store.  

Customer service is via a 24-hour chatbot online plus human response every day from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Eastern time. You can also find help articles and online FAQs on its support site.  

Reliability & quality  

Several online reviews of Google Voice cite good call quality and few or no dropped calls. It compares well with other VoIP services. However, Google Voice often is used in tandem with a mobile phone plan to provide data and accept forwarded calls. When used off Wi-Fi, quality and coverage will depend on that underlying phone plan’s provider.  

When TextNow is used Wi-Fi only, the speed or reliability will also depend on your own internet connection. If you upgrade to use one of TextNow’s SIM cards, you will experience 5G speeds on a nationwide network. Use TextNow’s coverage map to check your area.   

Security & privacy  

If you are concerned about the security of your Google Voice account, you can set use Google's 2-Step Verification process for your overall Google Account (there is not a separate two-factor authentication available for Voice accounts only). TextNow does not offer two-factor authentication.  

Best practice for any account or app is to use a strong password that’s changed frequently. Also, protect yourself by knowing common phishing scams and following online safety tips. 

Some Google Voice users express concerns about privacy because it’s part of the larger Google ecosystem. Your activity can be tracked across GMail, search, maps, YouTube, Voice and more unless you invest some time into how to adjust settings. Also, users complain about having to upload a picture of a government ID to verify themselves even though they’re already know to the Google system because Voice sign-up requires a GMail or Google Account.  

Neither Google Voice nor TextNow have end-to-end encryption. And as with most communication platforms, activity could be traced via legal channels such as a subpoena or search warrant.  

FAQs about Google Voice vs. TextNow