Best TextNow Alternatives in 2026 (Free and Paid)
The best TextNow alternatives compared on real prices, ads, keeping your number, and verification codes, for anyone tired of ads or lost numbers.
Quick answer
The best TextNow alternative depends on what annoys you. To stay free, try Text Free or Google Voice. To get rid of ads and stop worrying about losing the number, a low-cost paid app is the better fit. HashPhone is one of the cheapest at $24.99 a year in the US, with unlimited talk and text and no ads.
TextNow is popular for a good reason: you can get a number and start texting for $0. Most people go looking for something else after they hit one of three walls. The ads get old, the number gets taken back after a quiet stretch, or a verification code never shows up on the free plan.
This guide compares the main options using each company's own pages and App Store listings. We did not run our own call-quality tests, so treat this as a comparison of prices and terms.
Why people look for a TextNow alternative
Ads. TextNow's free plan is ad-supported. Going ad-free means paying for Ad-Free+, Plus, or Unlimited.
Losing the number. TextNow says a number can be revoked if it sits inactive. Number Lock and Lock In Number are paid features.
Verification codes. TextNow's own comparison page says verification codes need a paid subscription, and its help center also mentions activating a TextNow SIM.
Price once you upgrade. TextNow Plus is $4.99 a week or $18.99 a month, and Unlimited is $8.99 a week or $35.99 a month. Those plans include mobile data, which is great if you want a phone plan and a lot to pay for if you only want a second number.
TextNow alternatives compared
| App | US price | Ads | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HashPhone | $2.99 a week, $6.99 a month, or $24.99 a year | None | A cheap, ad-free second number |
| Text Free | Free with ads. Plus $9.99 a month, or $69.99 a year on iOS | Yes on free | Staying free, with the option to reserve your number on Plus |
| Google Voice | Free basic personal plan | None | US users who are fine with a government ID check |
| Burner | $7.99 a month or $47.99 a year | None | Deleting and switching numbers often |
| Hushed | Unlimited from $6.99 a month, prepaid from $7.99 a month | None listed | US, Canadian, or UK numbers |
Prices were checked in November 2026 and shown in US dollars. They can change at any time and may differ by country, app store, or offer. Check the app or the provider's site for the current price before you buy.
The best paid alternative: HashPhone
If you are done with ads and only need a number for calls and texts, you probably do not need a data plan. HashPhone gives you a US or Canadian number on iPhone, iPad, or Android, with unlimited talk and text and no ads on every plan.
The yearly plan is $24.99, about $2 a month. TextNow Plus costs $18.99 a month and includes data. TextNow also sells a separate Ad-Free+ upgrade that removes ads. If you want a different number later, Change Number is a one-time $2.99 in the US.
HashPhone can receive regular texts and many verification codes, and the service sending the code decides which numbers it accepts.
Done with ads?Get a second number with unlimited talk and text, from $2.99 a week in the US.
Get HashPhoneHashPhone runs free trials and introductory offers from time to time. Availability depends on your platform, region, and eligibility, and it can change. Open the app to see the current offer and renewal price for your account before you subscribe.
Current status (checked October 10, 2026): eligible Android users can start with a free trial. iPhone users do not currently see a free trial.
The best free TextNow alternatives
Text Free
Text Free works a lot like TextNow: a free local number, unlimited calling and texting, and ads to pay for it. The Plus plan, $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year on iOS, lets you reserve your number so it does not expire and unlocks verification short codes.
Google Voice
Google Voice gives eligible US users a free number with no ads, and it works on a computer as well as a phone. The catch is setup. You need another US phone number, and Google now requires identity verification for new numbers, including a government ID. It can only be used in the US. Our TextNow vs Google Voice comparison goes deeper.
Other paid options
Burner suits people who want to throw a number away and make a new one. Its Standard plan is $7.99 a month or $47.99 a year, and every subscription is ad-free.
Hushed is worth a look if you need a UK number, which most apps here do not offer. Unlimited starts at $6.99 a month. See our Hushed alternatives guide for more.
Is there a TextNow alternative for verification codes?
Yes, but no app can promise that every service will accept its numbers. Banks and big platforms often reject numbers they identify as VoIP. Text Free puts short codes on its paid plan, and Burner sells a separate Verified Number subscription for stricter services. Our guide to free numbers for verification compares the options, and you can check any US or Canadian number with our free VoIP number checker.
Is there a TextNow alternative for Canada?
Most apps here are built around US numbers. HashPhone and Hushed both offer Canadian numbers. Our guide to getting a Canadian phone number walks through it.
Which one should you pick?
- You want $0 and can live with ads: Text Free or stay on TextNow.
- You are in the US and fine with an ID check: Google Voice.
- You want no ads and a low yearly price: HashPhone.
- You want included number swaps: Burner includes one per month on single-line monthly plans or six per year on single-line yearly plans. HashPhone's Change Number is a one-time $2.99.
- You need a phone plan with data: stay with TextNow Plus or look at a carrier.
Before you leave TextNow, update any account that uses your TextNow number, so future login codes still reach you.