I recently upgraded to a Pixel 6 Pro, so my OnePlus 8T became a spare phone. I don’t remember if I was researching eSIM / SIMs, or just trying to find ideas on how to use my old phone, but I ended up stumbling upon TextNow. I was aware of TextNow but I wasn’t aware of the cell service they provide.
They provide a “Nationwide Talk & Text” cell phone service for free. Yes free, other than the cost of the SIM (assuming you have a compatible phone). My first reaction, which is honestly probably most people’s first reaction, was to wonder what is the catch.
No catch. Other than the cost of the SIM and/or phone, the service is free. You can call and text, but no data is provided. How is it free? Simple - they put ads in the app. No hidden fees or overage costs from what I could tell.
So of course, I ordered a SIM. I have no real need for a spare line, but I wanted to try it out just to see how it worked. Once the SIM arrived, I popped it in my OnePlus 8T. After a few reboots, and setting up the APN settings (which are on their website) it was working. You can send/receive text messages, and make voice calls. You have to use the TextNow app, so you can’t use the native SMS app or dialer but I don’t see an issue with that. I had no problems with the test calls and texts that I did.
Here are the main points I noticed about the TextNow services:
Free / Low cost: If you don’t have a phone, they have options you can buy. If you have a compatible phone, you just need to purchase a SIM which was $5 when I did it. No monthly cost - at all - for the “Nationwide Talk & Text” plan with ads.
No data: The free service does not provide any data, but most people have access to wi-fi and you can do many offline things to store content on your device. If you want to pay $19.99 a month, you can get 2GB high speed data and then I think it goes to low speed (2G). For parents this is great - no overage charge because your child used too much data. I always hate seeing cell providers who either automatically charge you more when you go over the data limit (like they are doing you a favor). TextNow still has limits on how much 2G you can use on their website under "2G Fair Use Policy".
Starter cell service: If you have someone who wants/needs the ability to call and text while they are away from wifi, this is a great free option and the only one I am aware of that includes cell coverage.
Number re-use: If your number goes inactive, sooner or later TextNow will reclaim your number. You can pay about $5 a year to lock in your number which might make sense if this is a spare-standby phone, but if the primary user is going to use it actively then no need to pay.
Bottom line: The “Nationwide Talk & Text” with ads is a great free option to provide call and text features. The TextNow website does a great job of explaining how things work, and any limitations with the service.
NOTE: If you plan to use your own phone, make sure you check two things:
1) Make sure it is compatible with TextNow. You can go to their site ( https://www.textnow.com/wireless/device-checker ) and put in your IMEI to find out.
2) Make sure your phone is “network unlocked” allowing you to use it on any cell network. On recent phones, there is often an unlock app or option in the settings. This page has some good information as a starting point ( https://www.consumerreports.org/smartphones/how-to-unlock-your-phone-from-any-major-carrier/ )
TextNow website: https://www.textnow.com/
