TextNow vs Google Voice: Which Second Number Fits You?

TextNow and Google Voice both give you a second number for calls and texts at no monthly cost. They behave differently once you rely on them, though, and the differences show up in the fine print: what you must do to keep the number, how you change it, and what a free account leaves out.

This guide compares the two using each company's own help pages, checked on October 25, 2026. For a comparison with a paid app, see our separate Google Voice alternative guide. If you only need a number for a short time, our guide to burner numbers covers that use.

TextNow vs Google Voice at a glance

	TextNow	Google Voice
Cost	Free tier at $0. Paid Plus and Unlimited plans are priced by day, week, or month	Google lists a basic plan at no cost for individuals
Ads	Free tier is ad-supported. Plus and Unlimited are ad-free	No ads
Getting started	Email, or a Facebook, Google, or Apple login	A Google account, a phone that can receive a verification text, and identity verification for new numbers
Numbers offered	US and Canadian area codes	US numbers, and Google says Voice can only be used in the US
Inactive numbers	May be revoked after a warning, with no fixed period published	May be reclaimed after about 3 months without calls or texts, with a warning
Changing your number	Once every 15 days, in the app	Delete the number in settings, then pick a new one
Apps	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS	Web, plus Android and iPhone apps
Verification codes	Most codes need a TextNow SIM, Lock In Number, or Ad-Free+	Acceptance depends on the service sending the code

TextNow's paid day, week, and month prices are on its comparison page: Plus is $1.99 a day, $4.99 a week, or $18.99 a month, and Unlimited is $2.99 a day, $8.99 a week, or $35.99 a month. Prices and plans change, so confirm them in the app before you buy.

TextNow: what to know

TextNow is built around a free, ad-supported tier. You choose a US or Canadian area code and TextNow shows you about ten numbers to pick from. You can sign up with an email address or a Facebook, Google, or Apple login, and there is no contract.

The ads. The free tier is ad-supported. TextNow lists its Plus and Unlimited plans as ad-free.

Keeping your number. TextNow's help center says a new number that is not used to text or call another number can expire within the first 24 hours. After that, it says there is no hard rule for how long a number can sit inactive before it is revoked, because several factors count. TextNow says it sends a warning message first, and that calling or texting at least once a day from the free number keeps it active indefinitely.

Once a number is released, TextNow says it cannot assign or restore a specific number. You get a new one.

Locking the number. TextNow sells an upgrade called Lock In Number. Its help page says you will not lose the number to inactivity and that the upgrade supports receiving verification codes. Ad-Free+ also locks the number to your account while you subscribe. We could not confirm a current Lock In Number price from an official page, so check the My Store page in the app.

Verification codes. TextNow's help center says you can receive most verification codes by activating a TextNow SIM card or buying a recurring subscription such as Lock In Number or Ad-Free+. It says Canadian verification codes are largely unsupported, and that some services do not support TextNow numbers at all.

International. TextNow's comparison page lists free texting to 100 or more countries, free calls to Mexico, Canada, and the UK, and per-minute rates elsewhere.

Google Voice: what to know

Google Voice gives eligible people in the US a number that works through the Voice app on Android and iPhone and through voice.google.com on a computer. Google's own pricing page offers a basic plan at no cost.

Setup. You sign in with a Google account and search for a number by city or area code. Google's setup page says your phone should be on and able to get texts, because it texts you a code to check. Google also says users who request a new Voice number must complete identity verification before they can make or receive calls and messages. That means a government-issued ID, your legal name and address, and a review that can take up to 3 business days.

US only. Google says in its help pages that a Voice number cannot be used if you are outside the US because Google Voice can only be used in the US. If you live elsewhere, see how to get a US number from outside the US.

Inactive numbers. Google's acceptable use policy says it may reclaim a number that is not used for calls or texts for 3 months. A separate help page says you get a warning with a reclaim date, and that making a call, sending a text, or listening to voicemail before that date prevents removal. After the date you have 45 days to get the number back.

Texting limits. Google lists a few limits on its messaging page: short codes (five or six digit numbers) cannot be texted, and group messages can include up to 8 people. Heavy sending or spam reports can lead to temporary restrictions.

Verification codes. Google does not promise that other services will accept a Voice number. That is a decision made by the service sending the code.

How to change your number on each

Many people searching for how to change a TextNow number are really asking whether they are stuck with the one they got. Neither service locks you in, but both have catches.

Change a TextNow number

1. Open the TextNow app and tap the menu, then Settings.
2. Tap Account, then TextNow Number.
3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and choose Release Number.

TextNow says you can change your number once every fifteen days, and that the change is irreversible. The released number cannot be returned to you. Update any account that uses the old number before you release it.

Change a Google Voice number

Before you delete anything, update the accounts that use your Voice number. A new number also goes through Google's identity verification, so plan for that step.

1. On a computer, open Google Voice and sign in with the account that has the number.
2. Go to Settings, then Account, and find your number under Google Voice number.
3. Select Delete and confirm.
4. When prompted, choose Get a number and search by city or area code.

Google's page lists no fee or waiting period for this.

The downsides of each

TextNow. On the free tier you see ads, you have to keep the number active, and most verification codes need a paid upgrade or TextNow SIM. Some services reject its numbers. The free tier is also where the number is most likely to disappear if life gets busy.

Google Voice. It is US only, setup now involves identity verification, and the number can be reclaimed after months of no calls or texts. Google does not promise that other services will accept it, and it does not offer toll-free numbers.

Both are VoIP services, so both run into the same wall with services that block internet-based numbers. Our guide to why VoIP numbers fail some verification codes explains how that works.

A low-cost paid option: HashPhone

If you would rather skip the ads and pay a little for a number of your own, a paid second-number app is the other route. HashPhone is one of the more affordable ones.

HashPhone is a personal second number for one-to-one calls and SMS on iPhone, iPad, and Android. US prices are $2.99 a week, $6.99 a month, or $24.99 a year, which is about $2 a month on the yearly plan, checked October 25, 2026. Every plan includes unlimited talk and text with no ads.

You get a high-quality US or Canadian number, with clear calls and fast messaging backed by major carriers. You pick the area code, and it works over Wi-Fi or mobile data on the phone you already have.

Want a different number later? Open Settings and tap Change Number. You can do it any time for a one-time $2.99 charge in the US, and the old number is deleted.

For a wider look at paid options, read our best second phone number app comparison.

FAQ

What is the downside of TextNow?

On the free tier, you see ads, you must keep the number active or risk losing it, and TextNow says most verification codes need a TextNow SIM card, Lock In Number, or Ad-Free+. Some services also reject TextNow numbers.

What is the downside of Google Voice?

It is limited to the US, new numbers require identity verification, and Google may reclaim a number after about 3 months without calls or texts. Acceptance by other services is not guaranteed, and it does not offer toll-free numbers.

What is better than Google Voice?

It depends on what you need. If you are outside the US or want a Canadian number, or you want a number that does not depend on a Google account, an app like TextNow or a paid second-number app may fit better. If you are eligible and your number works for your accounts, Google Voice may be all you need.

Is there anything better than TextNow?

Better depends on the problem. If losing the number to inactivity is the worry, TextNow's Lock In Number upgrade is built for that, and Google Voice has inactivity rules of its own. If you want an ad-free number at a low price, a paid app like HashPhone starts at $2.99 a week, or about $2 a month on the yearly plan.

How do I get a new number on TextNow?

Release your current number in the app (Account, TextNow Number, Release Number) and pick a new one. You can do this once every 15 days, and the old number cannot be returned.

Can I use either for verification codes?

Sometimes. TextNow says most codes need a TextNow SIM card, Lock In Number, or Ad-Free+. Google Voice acceptance depends on the service. Do not rely on either for a bank, medical, or recovery account. Our free phone number for verification guide covers the options.