TextNow Cell Phone Plans Review

If you’ve heard anything about TextNow, it’s probably that the company offers free cell phone service. Yes, the rumors are true. Check it out.

But TextNow is not a one-trick pony. It offers other plans, including a cheap unlimited data option. And there are a few caveats to the word free. We’ll talk about all of it in this TextNow review.

You’re probably wondering what is TextNow wireless and how does it offer free service?

While TextNow started as one of many voice over internet protocol (VoIP) apps that basically run a telephone line through your Wi-Fi, it’s now a full-fledged mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). That’s just a fancy way of saying that it offers phone service using another carrier’s network.

Running service through another company’s cell phone towers allows TextNow to cut costs significantly, and offer you, the customer, a free cell phone plan. The company makes money off its free plan by displaying ads to its customers.

Let’s talk more about this free plan and TextNow’s other offerings.

TextNow’s tagline is “phone service for everyone,” and the company really does seem committed to that goal. Besides the company’s famously free talk and text plan, it offers several affordable plans with data (and without ads).

Let’s take a closer look at TextNow’s best attributes.

TextNow made its name by offering free phone service. Free unlimited talk. Free unlimited text. Free? Like, really free? Yes. As in no money, nada, zero dollars.

The catch is (you knew there’d be a catch) that you have to watch advertisements. Yep, you’ll have to use the TextNow app to watch a commercial for Humira or whatever until you’ve got enough credit call your aunt Mildra back.

Whether you're on the free plan or go with a paid plan, you’ll get access to T-Mobile's network. 

One more thing: you’ll have to buy a SIM activation kit to get started. The kit is, well, not free, but it is pretty close to free. The activation kit costs only $0.99. 

TextNow’s free plan has some obvious appeal. Meanwhile, it’s middle of the road plans are just kind of worse versions of plans offered by companies like Mint Mobile and Tello.

But TextNow’s Unlimited 5GB Plan is actually a pretty good deal. For just $27.99 a month you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data. If you use all 5GB of data, you’ll be reduced to 2G speeds, which is like going from broadband internet to dial-up (not good).

It’s hard to knock a free service plan, but that’s our job as reviewers. To complain. So here are some things that bother us about TextNow’s service.

TextNow is kind of like Spotify: you can get the free version, but you’ll pay for it with ads. Prepare yourself for videos to pop up after calls, banner ads within the TextNow app, and full-page ads that will take over your whole screen.

This might not seem like a big deal if you don’t use your phone that often. But for most us, looking at an ad for Old Spice every time we want to text our spouse is going to get on our nerves.

If you used up all your data, or simply just want to add more, then there are quite a few options. You can purchase up to 1-5GB of high-speed data, ranging from $8.99/mo for 1GB to $27.99/mo for 5GB. 

Believe it or not, TextNow does have some competition in the free talk and text plan category. Here’s a look at how the company’s free plan compares to other free (or basically free) plans.

Cheap plans comparison

TextNow lets you add up to 10 lines to your plan. You can manage all of the lines using one central account, making for simplified billing.

For those who aren’t part of families like the Duggars on 19 Kids and Counting, you can add really anyone to your plan, related or not. That includes friends, boyfriends, roommates, and random acquaintances.

Before you rush to call your estranged uncle to see if he wants in on your phone plan, take note: you won’t really get anything out of it.

There’s one big problem with TextNow’s family plan. It doesn’t come with any discounts or perks. If you have a family plan with three lines, you’ll pay the same amount and get the same benefits as you would if you signed up for the plans separately.

Since TextNow’s family plans aren’t really a great deal at all, you might want to check out this review of great family plans or the plans listed in this chart.

Cheap family plans comparison

TextNow has millions of customers, but it’s still a small fish in the big pond that is the telecommunications industry. The company definitely doesn’t have the money to go building a cellular network from scratch.

So, what carrier does TextNow use to give its customers service? It uses T-Mobile. 

Here’s a peek at the T-Mobile coverage map so you can see how good coverage is in your area.

If you want to learn more about the major carriers’ network coverage, check out our review.

You can bring any eligible device to TextNow so there is no need to purchase a new device if you're planning to switch. TextNow offers a device compatibility checker so you can enter your phone's IMEI and see if it is eligible. 

If you are in the market for a new phone, then check out these awesome deals on top-line devices.

Most folks seem to think TextNow’s customer service is top-notch

Smaller MVNOs like TextNow aren’t usually included in consumer satisfaction surveys, like the American Customer Satisfaction Index.¹ But one way of gauging how happy customers are with a company’s service is to look at app reviews.

On the Google Play store, where Android users get their apps, the TextNow app maintains a 4.4 star rating with 1,084,000+ reviews.² That’s pretty impressive, actually.

On the Apple Store the app has more than 478,000 reviews and maintains a 4.8 star rating. Not bad, TextNow. Not bad at all.

Let’s cut to the chase: is TextNow worth it? We think it’s a great deal for those who want to spend nothing (or next to nothing) on their cell phone plan. Here’s a recap of the highlights.

• Plans: TextNow’s free plan will get you unlimited talk and text on T-Mobile's network. You’ll just have to put up with the advertisements. The company’s unlimited data plan is a decent deal for those who need more (and can spend more).

• Family plans: TextNow is not the best carrier if you’re looking for a great deal on multiple lines. The company doesn’t offer any family plan discounts.

• Overall performance: TextNow uses T-Mobile's network to offer decent coverage and data speeds. Customer reviews show that most customers are happy with TextNow’s app.

If ready to get free phone service (and watch a few ads) then go ahead and sign up for TextNow right now.

If you’ve got a low-data or no-data plan then you’ll want to make sure your home internet connection is fast. That way, you can connect your phone to Wi-Fi and stream, game, scroll, post, and swipe to your heart’s content!
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Here’s a quick review of the best home internet plans.

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