How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Google Voice is the best TextNow alternative for most US users: a genuinely free personal number with no ads, unlimited US calls and texts, and voicemail transcription.
- TextFree and Talkatone are the closest like for like swaps: free ad supported US numbers with unlimited texting, if you accept the ads and activity rules.
- Burner and Hushed are the privacy picks, from about 7.99 and 6.99 dollars a month, built for disposable and multiple private numbers.
- Free app numbers come with fine print everywhere: inactive numbers get recycled, and many banks and services reject VoIP numbers for verification codes.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Google Voice | Free ad free US number | Free | Yes |
 TextFree | Casual free texting | Free | Yes |
 Talkatone | Free number from abroad | Free | Yes |
 TextMe | Free texting with video calls | Free | Yes |
 Burner | Disposable private numbers | $7.99 per month | No |
 Hushed | Multiple private numbers | $6.99 per month | No |
 2ndLine | Professional second line | See website | No |
 Quo | Team business numbers | $15 per user/month | No |
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The best TextNow alternatives
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
What we like- Google Voice is the standout deal in this category: a free US number for personal use with unlimited domestic calls and texts, voicemail transcription, spam filtering, and no advertising anywhere, ringing across your phone, tablet, and browser from your Google account. The number stays yours as long as you use it periodically, roughly every 90 days. For anyone whose TextNow complaint starts with ads, this ends the search.
Watch out for- Personal Voice is US only, and you need an existing US mobile number to claim one. It is a Google account service, so it suits people comfortable inside that ecosystem. Businesses need the Workspace version at 10 dollars per user a month, and even then it is a lighter phone system than Quo.
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
What we like- TextFree, from Pinger, is the nearest TextNow clone: a free US number with unlimited calls and texts to the US and Canada, custom voicemail greetings, and group messaging, supported by ads. Paid plans remove ads and add features, with ad free Plus reported at about 9.99 dollars a month. If your TextNow setup works and you simply want a second service with the same shape, this is it.
Watch out for- The free plan's fine print mirrors TextNow's: keep the number active with a call or text about every 30 days or lose it, and verification codes are not supported on the free tier. Ad free pricing approaches paid rivals that keep numbers permanently. Support quality draws mixed reviews across app stores.
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
What we like- Talkatone gives you a free US or Canada number that works over WiFi or data from anywhere in the world, which makes it the expat and traveller pick: call and text US numbers free from abroad without a US carrier plan. The free tier is ad supported, with paid options to remove ads and add calling credits for international numbers. It has run for years with a steady feature set.
Watch out for- Ads fund the free tier, and credit based international calling needs rate checking per country. Like all free VoIP numbers, it faces verification code rejections and inactivity rules. Call quality rides entirely on your data connection, so poor hotel WiFi means poor calls.
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
What we like- TextMe offers a free US or Canada number with unlimited texting, calls, and video calls, plus the option to hold numbers from several countries on paid plans, which suits people with contacts abroad. The ad supported free tier covers casual use without a subscription, and subscriptions or credits remove ads and add international reach. Its interface is among the simplest here for non technical users.
Watch out for- The credit and subscription mix confuses buyers: check whether a feature needs the subscription, credits, or both before relying on it. Free numbers carry the same recycling and verification limits as its free rivals. Heavy users usually find a paid number from Burner or Hushed cheaper than feeding credits.
Starting price$7.99 per month
Free planNo
What we like- Burner invented its category name: create a private number for dating, selling, freelancing, or a project, use it with full calls, texts, and picture messages, then burn it when the job ends. Pricing runs 7.99 dollars a month or about 3.99 a month billed annually for a main line, with subscriptions covering multiple numbers. Because you pay, the number is not recycled out from under you while the subscription runs.
Watch out for- There is no free tier beyond a trial, so casual users pay for privacy they might not need. Per number limits on lower subscriptions can surprise people running several projects. As a VoIP service it shares the category wide verification code problem, despite the privacy positioning.
Starting price$6.99 per month
Free planNo
What we like- Hushed sells private numbers across the US, Canada, and the UK with an emphasis on control: multiple lines in one app, numbers you can delete and replace, and plans from about 6.99 dollars a month, with prepaid and unlimited style options and a popular lifetime style deal appearing periodically. It suits entrepreneurs and privacy minded users who keep separate numbers for separate parts of life. No ads appear at any tier.
Watch out for- Pricing spans many plan shapes, from per line bundles to unlimited plans, so compare the exact allowance before buying. Prepaid lines expire with their term, which catches out users who assume permanence. International coverage beyond its core countries is limited compared with TextMe.
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
What we like- 2ndLine targets remote workers and freelancers who want a stable, professional second line rather than a disposable one: a US or Canada number with calls, texts, voicemail, and business friendly features such as auto reply and call forwarding. It positions above the free apps on reliability and keeps one consistent number for client contact. Its app design is clean and single purpose.
Watch out for- Pricing is sold through app store subscriptions that vary by platform and promotion, which is why this guide lists see website pricing here
- Confirm the current rate inside the app before committing. It lacks the team and CRM features businesses grow into at Quo. There is no meaningful free tier for long term evaluation.
Starting price$15 per user/month
Free planNo
What we like- Quo, formerly OpenPhone, is the step up from this whole category: a business phone platform with shared numbers, a team inbox, call recording, AI summaries, and CRM integrations, at 15 dollars per user a month billed annually. If your second number has become a sales or support line answered by several people, Quo is where this list hands you over. Numbers are stable, portable, and managed like business assets.
Watch out for- It is priced and built for teams, so a solo user wanting a private number pays for machinery they will never open. There is no free plan, only a trial. Leaving later means porting numbers and retraining staff habits, a heavier exit than deleting a burner app.
How we chose
We compared the TextNow alternatives that August to October 2026 roundups from WBcom Designs, BubblyPhone, TwoLine, and Tech Nerdiness rank most consistently, and verified free tiers, recycling rules, and entry prices against those surveys. We balanced free ad supported clones, privacy paid apps, and the team platform end of the market, and we excluded TextNow itself as the target. We weighted the unglamorous rules, number retention, verification code support, and ad load, as heavily as feature lists, because those rules are why people switch.
How to choose the right TextNow alternative
Start with why you are leaving. If the ads are the problem and you are in the US, Google Voice solves it free and permanently, and the rest of this list is a backup. If you need a number outside the US or a second free line with the same feel, TextFree or Talkatone replicate the model you know, with the same inactivity discipline required. If the number protects your privacy or represents your work, pay for it: Burner for disposable projects, Hushed for several standing private lines, and Quo when a team shares the number.
Whatever you choose, set it up defensively. Use the new number for a week alongside the old one before printing it anywhere, since porting a number out of free VoIP services is unreliable and often rejected. Never register an app number as the sole two factor method for banking or your primary email; providers recycle numbers, and a stranger can inherit your recovery path. Put a recurring reminder inside the app's activity window so the number never lapses silently, and screenshot your settings: the fine print, not the feature grid, is what decides whether a second number app serves you or strands you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to TextNow?
Google Voice, for US users: completely free, no ads, unlimited domestic calls and texts, and a number that persists with light use. TextFree and Talkatone are the closest free clones of TextNow's model, funded by ads and governed by similar activity rules.
Will I lose my number if I stop using the app?
On free plans, yes, eventually. Providers recycle inactive numbers: about every 30 days of silence risks a TextFree number, and Google Voice works on roughly a 90 day use rhythm. Paid subscriptions at Burner, Hushed, and Quo keep numbers active while you pay. A recycled number cannot be recovered.
Can I use these numbers for bank and app verification codes?
Often not. Many banks and platforms reject VoIP numbers for verification because they are cheap to obtain and recycle. Some paid and specialist services advertise better compatibility, but none can promise it. Keep your carrier number as the recovery method for important accounts.
Can I port my TextNow number to one of these apps?
Porting out of TextNow is reported as unreliable; carriers frequently reject the port because of incomplete records for the number range. The safer path is to take a new number, run both for a week while you update contacts, then let the old number lapse.
Do these apps support emergency calls?
Most VoIP second number apps do not provide full 911 service, or route it differently from a carrier line. Read the emergency calling disclosure in your chosen app, and always keep a carrier line or landline path for emergencies. This matters most when the app number is given to children or elderly relatives.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.