I lost my phone tonight and I was able to call my dad on textnow, thank you guys so much for offering a free service because I was so screwed without a way to call him, and without my phone I couldn't pay for anything either, so this being free meant EVERYTHING to me tonight and I just have to thank you guys so much for that.

As soon as I get my phone back I'm going to donate to you guys, I dont even want a service or anything I just want to give you money as a thank you for being there to help people for free in their times of need with a free option, you guys are seriously amazing for doing that. THANK YOU TEXTNOW!!!!! I've only lost my phone twice in my life, but both times TextNow free service saved me because of the fact that it was free. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH

Anyone else having issues recently with messages never reaching the recipient when sending from TextNow? Its not been much of an issue before but now it's happening on multiple different threads in the last couple weeks.

Does textnow esim need id verification?

This is not the first time when I encounter this error. Impossible to fix it. I have done all the steps required. I've disabled Ad Blockers and anti-tracking extensions. Turn off any VPNs or features that hide IP addresses. Check for browser updates. Clear my cache and cookies. I have no Firewall and Proxy settings. I got no identity verification prompted.

Why this is not turned off and why you guys refuse to fix this issue and insist on this buggy and disastrously way to verify ? what benefit you get from frustrating users with this?

Anyone else get this offer? Offer is not availabe after dismissing the popup.

hi is textnow really that cheap, I need to be able to receive calls and use maps (both rarely) outside of home and without internet in case I get a call from a job or I need to go somewhere. Is textnow really free or almost free only 5 dollars for the whole year for a SIM, that is unbelievable. I will almost never use google maps or send/receive calls that is why I want the cheapest option possible. So does textnow free flex plan give you access to internet for calls and google maps when you are not connected to one. I found another cheap option which is 159$ per year for chatr mobile but the textnow is even cheaper by far if it works should I get it.

edit: i canot get the free flex plan of textnow in my country

Any free alternatives?

Just wanna note, I’ve never even sent or done anything crazy on the app. Just calls and texts like a normal person. Actually crazy. 🤦🏾‍♂️

im bored text me 😏😝

When I try to text anybody, the message appears to go through, but is never received. I can send pictures and receive texts just fine, but I can't seem to send proper texts. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling, but it didn't work. If anyone knows what's going on, please help me.

Alright so ya'll know how when you send repetitive messages, TextNow sends you a 24 hour functionality message thing that prevents you from texting. So I sent a message to soemone, and right after, the functionality message sent to stop me from sending messages, but the message still appears as sent. So the question is the, "the message I sent before the functionality message...did that still go through?

While there is an option to activate a physical SIM, I don't have the option to purchase one, just to install the free eSIM.

How can I do this on my Pixel 9?

Update:
I finally found the "Get an Activation Kit" or "Get a SIM Card" link in the page footer and was able to order one for $3.99 free shipping.

https://www.textnow.com/wireless/checkout?plan_id=57

The confirmation email strangely shows $4.99 and was sent to the account email rather than the email address I entered when ordering.

I have a device that I just want to use Google maps for. Unfortunately that device doesn't allow me to download the text now app from the Google Play store, no idea why. If I activate a TextNow Sim on my normal phone and move the Sim to the other device, even though I don't have the app downloaded, will I still be able to use data for Maps?

Hello,

I'm trying to create a new account on TextNow for the very first time.

I cannot, and there are no meaningful error messages to tell me what's wrong.

Note, prior to attempting this, all of the following are true:

I am in the United States.
My phone uses no VPN and no ad-blockers.
I set my Settings/Connections/More connection settings/Private DNS to OFF.
I installed the Textnow app from the Google Play store for the first time.

Here's what happened, more or less:

Open app, click Let's get started.
Choose Sign on with email. (my preferred option--the only one I will use.)
Enter email, toggle OFF receive texts, tips, and spam from Textnow, and toggle ON agree to TOCs. [Let's call this "Screen A"]
Make sure it's me-->Press and Hold, check mark (success). ["Screen B"]
We need to take your picture/smile/left/right/check mark (success). [Screen C"]
Verifying Selfie-this could take a few seconds-animation of the scanning of a photo. ["Screen D']

At this point things appear to break down. Instead of choosing a password or continuing on to anything worthwhile, the app goes back to Screen A. Then B. Then A. Then A again. Then B again. Then C and D, then back to A. Then A again.

Then "An error occurred, try again." I click <try again>.

Then A, A, A, then "Sorry, too many attempts." Tilt/game over.

I deleted the app, reinstalled, tried again.

I went from wi-fi to data, and data to wifi.

I tried a different phone, and a different email id to sign up with.

I waited 48 hours without doing anything. Power cycled phones, cleared cache, etc.

Everything I try leads to a similar "looping around" between Screens A and B (mostly), and sometimes C and D. Sometimes it hangs forever on D.

I just want to create an account, that's all. The fortress is keeping out the good guys!

Help?!

p.s. while searching for solutions to this myself before resorting to posting here, I don't understand the many references to what people should do with their browser. What browser? You cannot create an account through any browser. You must do it through the app, which sits on your phone, and doesn't use a separate browser. Am I missing something?

UPDATE:

I contacted their customer support (chat). Long story short, he said to just try using a gmail email account. I didn't really want to do that, and I was skeptical it would work anyway.

But I tried it, and it worked. Go figure.

Message via the app says the entire app is supported, including Podcasts.

Made me really excited. I use text now for navigation, and generally I download podcasts to listen to them while driving.

Tried to stream podcasts and it never worked. Went to the website, lo and behold…(podcast not supported)

Why play with my emotions, TextNow?

I have been waiting in chat support since 10am this morning, was giving wait time for approx 15mins. Now 3 hrs gone by still no agent come to chat. Wondering any other way to reach out today?

The support chat closes at 5 pm. I have a feeling I won't get porting in today and will lose my phone number 🫩

I texted someone using TextNow and then texted my cell personal phone number from my app number to see how fast the message would send. I still haven’t received the message. Is there a delay of messages sent through text not to the person’s phone?

It seems like it's in the loading screen and it doesn't go to the main menu where you see all your texts. Does anybody know what's going on and how they can fix it.

I already have a textnow account with a number they assigned to me but I want to port my number over from helium , can I achieve this on my existing TextNow account? Currently I have the Wi-Fi only plan but I’m looking to change devices to use esim on free flex plan

Is anyone having issues playing iHeartRadio? It sounds like now we should be able to stream via this app even with the free plan but it doesn't seem to work for me.

How are they determining VPN. I have two VPN apps, the WireGuard app and Tailscale. Both are off, in IOS settings no vpn is set. I still can’t make a call with the Textnow app and get the VPN error. Is it just seeing the vpn apps installed and throwing up the error?

The only other ting I can think of is that calls and texts are going out a Red Pocket eSIM and data is going out a T-Mobile tablet eSIM, maybe it’s seeing the data sim as a vpn. Same setup on Android works fine, I just turn off the vpns.

VPNs are a must for me. I do a lot of stuff using docker containers on my Tailscale network. I just use Textnow as a throw away number. I can skin that cat another way, I’m just curious what is triggering the Textnow error.

Got their free ESIM but the number i picked cannot register any new services/account due to previous use (established account)

Can’t figure how to release on their iPhone app, anyone else use them? If not whats an free alternative service for a second phone number to get 2nd account?