• TextNow

TextNow

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Overview

TextNow has a rating of 4.0 stars from 524 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with TextNow most frequently mention phone service, sim card, and second line. TextNow ranks 5th among Mobile Applications sites.

Proactively asks for customer feedback

This company responds to reviews on average within 3 days

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 88.3%
Positive
310
Neutral
11
Negative
30
24
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How would you rate TextNow?
Top Positive Review

“Need better reception for calls.”

Adelita V.
10/15/24

This app has been great need less day. When I need to use Text No, it opens right up for me. No problem. Reception could be hella better for voice calls... Other than that Text Now does the job and gets it done.

Top Critical Review

“Unsatisfied”

Clark L.
8/22/24

I paid for the card, it doesn't work, there is no free calling, and there is no available customer service for assistance. That's about it... Save for the fact that health insurance spammers can get through with perfect signal strength time after time even leaving default four-second vms. I'm not upset or anything, I didn't have high hopes about this from jump street, just saying.

Reviews (524)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

phone number (36)
Thumbnail of user patrickh1266
1 review
1 helpful vote
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July 25th, 2023

They let me have a great number with great service for years. Then they deleted my account and chime and Google stole my money. Because I can't log in to my account.Its not right I want my money you stole my money, give it back dammit.

Tip for consumers:
They suck terrible service.

Products used:
I paid and they still shut me down.

* TextNow attempted to help this customer through the Sitejabber Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond

Service
Value
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Thumbnail of user jasong1972
Jason G. – TextNow Rep

Hi Patrick, we’re sorry you are having trouble signing in, thanks for letting us know. I've sent you a private message to assist further!

Thumbnail of user majidl
1 review
2 helpful votes
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May 8th, 2023

TextNow cancelled my subscription for no reason and on top of it failed to reimburse the subscription fee. Customer support is so poor and unsupportive to the limits. You cannot expect anything helpful from them

Thumbnail of user jasong1972
Jason G. – TextNow Rep

Hi Majid, thanks for your review and we're sorry to hear that your subscription was cancelled. We've sent a private message to assist further!

Thumbnail of user veep10
1 review
3 helpful votes
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April 10th, 2022

The app was ok, great for texting. Then I decided to pay for a year to secure my number, this allows me to get Confirmation emails for websites. No sooner that I paid for this service they terminated my account saying that I violated their Terms of Use but they could not tell me what violation I made. I was doing the same thing that I had been for a couple of months. Their support is only available by Chat and it is horrible, they did not want to do anything to help me.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user anona117
1 review
6 helpful votes
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July 15th, 2021

I am sick and tired of this company letting scammers use their services. Their "solution" is to just text EACH of the scam numbers the command #STOP to block them. Only, when that happens, another one quickly pops up in its place. They are not doing properly verifying members as required by US law and I am frankly sick of it. Reporting the numbers does nothing, but reporting the company to the FTC and lawyering up should do the trick. If you are being messed with by scammers using the crime-permitting app, then please, if you are an American, consider the following information for your reporting purposes which can be found in the attached photos.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user someb8
1 review
4 helpful votes
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March 20th, 2023

Very stupid. They updated it and now it's just bad and terrible and awful and frustrating. I had for a while before and it pretty good. But that years ago. Now is updated and bad. It doesn't even let me login or make an account and none of the buttons work. I don't know anything after that because it won't let me in. Also, I was doing that I was trying to call somebody in an important situation. But who cares. *sigh*

Thumbnail of user camilah30
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 11th, 2024
Verified purchase

So good but I cant do something and all my pics were deleted.

Thumbnail of user marya1386
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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April 11th, 2024
Verified purchase

Always great service, etc. Very convenient. Thank you.

Thumbnail of user sheilaanns
1 review
5 helpful votes
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August 21st, 2022

At first the service was wonderful. I felt that this company truly cared about bringing service free of charge. I truly needed this service. 2019 is when the service began faltering. It never was got better. Though I eventually had no reliable service I soon regretted that I had no way to cancel the premium service that I had upgraded to. Worse more, TextNow has been charging my registered bank card monthly ever since even though they have many Tech Help records which indicate I the has not been in operation for more than a year.

Tip for consumers:
You may never be able to speak with a live person.

Products used:
Cellular service.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user smithg35
1 review
2 helpful votes
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September 13th, 2020

DO NOT GET ANY PHONE APP. I have had multiple people calling this # and txt this # all hours of the night. Looking for a hooker! Hookers use these as their business lines. Text now gave me someone else's #! Talk about security issues. I feel so unsafe. And very scared when they call or txt me. And am now trapped because I have used this # for things I have to get calls from. If you want safety just get a pre paid. I have reached out for help and not once has the issue been addressed. And I live everyday in fear I've upset one of the callers and they trace it to find me! Shame on you guys. This innocent has happened with all the apps. And is absurd!

Thumbnail of user am555
1 review
5 helpful votes
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May 21st, 2019

IF your call actually connects, ALL call quality is very poor. Tunneled audio able to hear other conversations.

A MINIMUM of 50% of your calls will be dropped.

Takes a good 30 seconds for calls to connect, e.g. you're saying, "hello, hello, hello" before someone hears you.

It affects your wifi and somehow makes it MUCH slower.

Thumbnail of user markl2146
1 review
1 helpful vote
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November 17th, 2021

After five years of using this app and being general fine with the service I was terminated from it for violating their Terms of Service (ToS). They won't explain what I did or reinstate after chatting with them (no customer service number to call) but of course they're going to keep my money and Apple won't refund it either since it's been more than 60 days since my subscription renewal.

Great little scam they and Apple have going on. Cut the service but keep the money. Then split the pot at the end for a nice payday.

Don't get sucked into their scam world and save yourself the aggravation.

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Thumbnail of user adriennel8
1 review
4 helpful votes
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March 10th, 2017

Texting online is great! But their phones are worthless. Have to use text now app everyday to get updates. Calls don't connect, person answers phone and cannt hear you. On line chat for technical service. Try using 1-800 and wait for over an hour to get through to tech serve and they drop you. If I could get a phone that works for 24 hours, would be a miracle.

Thumbnail of user erics2692
1 review
3 helpful votes
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September 1st, 2022

I had my textnow account for several years and even paid for the verification code service. My account apparently violated their terms of service even though I texted my friend and then couldn't text her any more. There seems to be no customer service number to reach and have been unsuccessful in resolving this. It's basically a scam because they take your money and you have no way to get it back or anything. I loved textnow until they did this. Can't count on them anymore.

Tip for consumers:
Don't pay for the app, if you need a temporary number it is okay, but if you rely on a specific number then this service is not good. I seem to have no way of getting my number back, but I can open a new account, just wont get my number back that I have had for years.

Products used:
I purchased their verification code texting service

Service
Quality
Thumbnail of user kristik43
6 reviews
14 helpful votes
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May 23rd, 2019

If you're a scammer, this is your dream company. You can scam all you want, and no one will do a thing to stop you. Anyone who uses this service is probably doing it so they can't be caught and prosecuted. This company needs to be sued for allowing scammers to get away with fraud!

Thumbnail of user ht113
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 11th, 2024
Verified purchase

We love Text now great for when you are travelling or at home

Thumbnail of user danb779
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
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August 20th, 2020

I often don't get my notifications from the app, and it goes down a lot. If you want reliable communications, go elsewhere. This service is barely workable for how often it goes down and doesn't send messages.

Thumbnail of user aswink6
1 review
3 helpful votes
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August 14th, 2022
Verified purchase

I have an annual subscription from Textnow starts from Sept 2021 - Sept 2022.
But on Feb 2022, they unilaterally denied the service.
When I contacted their customer support person Jason, he refused to service and denied to refund the money. Pathetic.

Tip for consumers:
Never purchase anything from here.

Products used:
Textnow subscription

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user arthura53
1 review
4 helpful votes
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September 4th, 2018

Zero customer support for the most part. I have waited five days for my number to be ported. I tried contacting Textnow via chat. I waited at least 10 minutes. After I stopped away for 30 seconds, my turn can and I was disconnected. I tried again, and now I cannot even get to the starting point of having an online chat.

Very disappointed!

Thumbnail of user pcahyadi
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 24th, 2023

I bought my Iphone12 Pro from them. Now it cannot be used with any other carrier. Their customer service is terrible. They kept saying that it is unlocked. But it is not. And, the call quality is not that good.

Products used:
Iphone12

Thumbnail of user jasong1972
Jason G. – TextNow Rep

Hi Budi! We're sorry as we have not sold phones for a couple of years now so I'll confirm you're using one of our devices. I have sent you a private message so we can assist further.

Thumbnail of user beths121
3 reviews
6 helpful votes
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December 12th, 2017

I have been stalked and harassed for two years because of companies like this. I complain every night and they do absolutely nothing except send back a scripted message about how they are sorry and I should contact my local authorities. They will not even assist the Officer who is working on the case. They do not care about my safety and have lack of concern for anyone except the criminals who use this service. I have contacted the FCC, the FBI, and new stations. This will not end well... for them.

Thumbnail of user roseo249
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 4th, 2022

Every year right in Nov. DEC THEY say we have to update. Every year I click on that button. I end up having to get a new number. It deletes all my contacts. I was told by another phone company that's they way it works. I think its awful but some don't care to have 2 and 3 phones. So it's convient but yet so incontinent.

Tip for consumers:
Understand that it's not guaranteed. And when you get a new phone as far as my experience you can't move it over for me every year during the Holiday they want to update. Which that equals having to get a new number. Be prepared for such.

Products used:
Your app you can download on your phone.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user saphg
1 review
5 helpful votes
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November 10th, 2020

Had a phone number with them, i changed it because I was receiving weird calls. Then the person who own my older number now had access to my contacts and texted them during the night. One of my friend told me the next day he received weird texts from my previous phone number. My first language is french and this person spoke french too..

Thumbnail of user garrym94
1 review
9 helpful votes
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October 24th, 2020

First of all the phones from textnow must be factory rejects with no support. I got service for my whole family and what a mistake that was... I tried to give them a fair shake but now I have a pile of junk phones and they continue to Bill my Paypal account with absolutely no service! 3 months ago I went with another carrier and I had to close my paypal account to stop the billing on my credit cards and of course I can't get anyone to reply for my request of reimbursement of extra payments.
Stay away from Textnow! Big Ripoff!

Thumbnail of user audras86
1 review
1 helpful vote
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June 24th, 2023

At first it was wonderful. They had a family plan and I was able to refer people for credit. For years, I was able to add my husband, my non profit business, my 2 stepsons, even my daughter and son. Now, they did away with family plans and I'm left with over a $3300 credit I can't transfer to my nonprofit business or any other line. To even things out. If I would've know it would be like this, I never would have chosen TextNow. I actually have us mobile now. And I love it. It's cheaper than TextNow. Unlimited everything

Tip for consumers:
Barely able to utilize the hotspot when I did have the service and the service was either 1 bar or no bars. Even at my own home

Products used:
Phone and phone service

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jasong1972
Jason G. – TextNow Rep

Hi Audra, thanks for your review and we're very sorry as we haven't offered Family Plans or Referrals for many years. We have sent you a private message to assist further!

Thumbnail of user audreyrichardson678
1 review
2 helpful votes
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July 15th, 2023

The main reason I made this review is because of one thing. I tried to use a phone number to keep my Google account safe so I put my Textnow phone number into where it was telling me to fill it in and then went to Textnow because it was telling me enter a 6-digit code in a text I was supposed to receive. Instead I received a text telling me that in order to receive verification codes I have to "upgrade my account" with a link. I click on the link but nothing happens. Like why do I need to upgrade my account? Why can't I just receive verification codes like any other texting app? So that concludes my summary. Basically if you use Textnow for texting and want to use a phone number for recovery of your Google account you can't for some stupid reason.

Thumbnail of user jasong1972
Jason G. – TextNow Rep

Hi Audrey, thanks for your review! For security, free WiFi-Only TextNow accounts are not able to officially support verification/short codes. Ad Free+, Lock Your Number and Wireless plans do support verification codes.

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From the business

TextNow is on a mission to make phone service free, easy, and accessible to all by providing users with a free phone number, and unlimited calling and texting on the nation’s largest 5G network in the US and on WiFi. Founded in 2009, TextNow is the largest provider of free mobile phone service in the US, supported by advertising. We have offices in San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Waterloo, Ontario and our app has been downloaded more than 250 million times globally. Our phone service helps more than 8 million people connect freely every month. For more information visit
https://www.textnow.com/

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user jasong1972
Jason G.
Typically responds within 3 days

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