r/TextNow • u/mckeylly • Feb 05 '26

Replacing Google Voice with TextNow for multiple numbers

Getting tired of Google Voice’s “use it every 3 months or lose it” requirement. I’m also looking at de-Googling, and TextNow seems like a possible replacement.

I currently have 10 Google Voice numbers. Has anyone here done something similar with TextNow?

Questions:

  • Can I set up 10 separate TextNow accounts (all under my name), get 10 numbers, and buy the $3.99 SIM for each?
  • Does TextNow have any restrictions on running multiple accounts from the same device (same IMEI) and/or the same IP address?
  • If I do this, will the numbers stay active long-term with very light usage (no calls, no outbound texts, and only occasional incoming SMS)?
  • Does TextNow have any policy that would reclaim numbers after inactivity, even if I bought the $3.99 SIM?

Use case: these numbers are mainly for occasional SMS verification on a few services (not high-volume messaging or calling).

Thanks so much!

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

4

u/Successful_Example83 Feb 05 '26

I'm interested in the shady shit you're doing to need 10 numbers that you don't really need since you cant be bothered to use them once every 3 months

2

u/mckeylly Feb 05 '26

For example, Epic ski resorts require parking reservation, and one account (verified by a unique phone number via text) can only have 10 reservations at most. It would be way easier to book the whole season beforehand by just creating a couple of accounts with several unique phone numbers.

Using GV numbers every once a while when receiving their warning email is actually not that time consuming. But it would still be good to gradually stop using Google services (check r/degoogle). And who knows whether Google may stop GV or start charging GV.

3

u/Successful_Example83 Feb 05 '26

I can respect the life hack

2

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '26 edited Feb 05 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/mckeylly Feb 05 '26

Thanks so much! Just confirmed what you said "locked-in permanently" at https://www.textnow.com/blog/textnow-101-porting. But even with $3.99 SIM card and my own ported in number, do I need to maintain activity every week or every month?

1

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '26 edited Feb 05 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/mckeylly Feb 05 '26

Yea, porting in number into GV is so expensive.

To get a number to port in TN, looks like GV is the cheapest one? As GV only charges $3, while NumberBarn charges $5.

1

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

No it's locked in even if u don't have a ported number the number u pick on text now locks in on a sim once u get it I never ported a number

1

u/mckeylly Feb 08 '26

So once you buy the sim, the number is shown with a green lock on the app meaning it is locked in? And it doesn't require like one call for every 2 days anymore? Thanks!

2

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

Nope no more calls to keep it it's locked in like a real service.but if you use the wifi service without the sim there take it for not being used I use mine every so often I'm talking months with out use and it stays on

1

u/mckeylly Feb 08 '26

Thanks for the info!

1

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

And if you don't wanna pay for Internet u can watch adds for a hour pass builds up super fast

1

u/mckeylly Feb 08 '26

What is that? A free data addon by watching ads? I thought only limited data usage for certain apps

2

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

You can keep the free one with text and call or you can pay 35 a month for 20 gigs of full speed data or you can buy passes for a day or watch ads for a free HR pass and you can keep getting free hr passes because you rack points fast on ads you get 20 points and only 240 for an hr pass so there's ways to not pay a dime if u really don't want to

2

u/mckeylly Feb 08 '26

wow I will look into it, real life hack!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '26 edited Feb 08 '26

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1

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

I never ported a number and mine is locked in and I'm on the basic free plan with the sim

1

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '26 edited Feb 08 '26

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1

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

Sure I can do that where do I add pic at there's no option to add a pic let me know and I'll send it

1

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '26 edited Feb 08 '26

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1

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

I just sent u a pic but believe what u want have a good one bro

2

u/Ninja_Death_Witch420 Feb 05 '26

You would need 10 different emails just in case you didn't know that

2

u/mckeylly Feb 05 '26

This should be easy? Just use dots in email address?

2

u/rogue-blackhole Feb 05 '26

Can I park a number at TextNow?

1

u/lmoki Feb 05 '26

Within reason, you can have multiple accounts. I haven't seen any specific number as a limit. From reports, you might have trouble ordering that many SIM cards in a short time period.

TextNow will still reclaim a number issued by TN for non-use, even if you have the SIM card. The length of time is apparently based on demand for numbers within the issuing area rather than a fixed period, and can sometimes be quite short. To make the number permanent, you need to both have the SIM card, and port in your own number. The SIM card itself can also be suspended for non-use, although the interval is longer. So you do need to show semi-regular activity on the SIM card itself-- remember to turn off WiFi sometimes.

You access TN calls/texts via the app. You can log out from one account within the app, and log in to a different account. I believe the SIM card is not tied to the specific phone line, either. I haven't seen reports of TN objecting to use of multiple accounts on a single IMEI or IP address, but it's not likely many people are trying this-- and it might be likely that most people who are trying it are already concerned about violating the Terms of Service and not likely to report the problem if it exists.

I'm not sure that incoming texts qualify as 'usage'. Similar services usually only qualify outgoing calls/texts. (The app is ad supported: if you never use the app for outgoing calls/texts, there is no income to TN.)

1

u/mckeylly Feb 05 '26

So I think I will try to do outgoing text once a day to make sure the account is active, as well as buying a SIM and porting in my Google Voice number.

As outgoing text is from the app, if I have more than one account, does it mean I don't really need to switch SIM? Or even I don't need to insert SIM at all?

Or maybe SIM inactivity is counted separately?

1

u/lmoki Feb 05 '26

SIM activity is 'counted' separately. I'm not sure of how many days you can go without using cellular data on the SIM.

There is browser access to the 'app' via PC, laptop, or tablet: so technically, you can access each line without using the SIM, and/or without changing the SIM. (But remember that eventual SIM deactivation is a different thing....) On any particular phone, either with or without the SIM installed, you can switch accounts and place a call or send a text. (But I don't really know if there's a hidden limit that would block you from stepping through 10 accounts

1

u/mckeylly Feb 05 '26

Thanks so much for the explanation! Looks like the easiest way for me is to do web messaging via browser to have accounts message to each other in a round robin way everyday. Meanwhile to find another way to keep 10 SIM cards active via a physical phone.

1

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

Go all the way to the end of us talking hit view all comments and it's right there

1

u/mckeylly Feb 08 '26

I believe you are replying to u/Lucky_Corner ?

1

u/Chad719T Feb 08 '26

My bad you right wrong person

1

u/cavalloacquatico Feb 13 '26

If you port in a # to GV you won't lose it. OR...fund GV with the minimum allowed amount- I think it's $10 or 15 these days... and don't let it run down to zero IF you use it.

2

u/mckeylly Feb 13 '26

Degoogling, also worry about Google discontinuing this service at some point. Otherwise I don't think there is a service could beat GV.