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TextNow works for casual use but lacks essential tools for busy professionals and businesses.
For instance, it doesn’t offer call recording, business-hour settings, encrypted texting, or a phone tree. In addition, TextNow doesn’t guarantee HIPAA compliance.
In this article, we’ll cover five alternatives to TextNow you can consider.
💡 iPlum is one of the best TextNow competitors if you’re looking for a cost-effective alternative that allows HIPAA-compliant calls and texts with a local phone number.
That said, let's start by analyzing TextNow before digging in.
Table of Contents
3. TextNow Reviews: What Are Users Saying?
4. Why Consider a TextNow Alternative?
6. Best Alternatives to TextNow: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
7. TextNow Alternatives: Why Choose iPlum Over Competitors
TextNow Features
TextNow features include:
- Calling and Texting – Allows you to make calls and send texts in the U.S. and Canada over Wi-Fi.
- Voicemail – Enables you to receive voice messages with a basic inbox.
- Caller ID – Lets you see the number of incoming calls.
- Mobile and Desktop Access – You can use TextNow on a phone, tablet, or web browser.
- Call History – Allows you to view past calls, missed calls, and texts.
TextNow Pricing
TextNow pricing is structured in four plans as follows:
- Flex free: Free, albeit with limited functionality
- Day pass: $2.99 per day
- Weekly unlimited: $8.99 per week
- Monthly unlimited: $35.99 per month
TextNow Reviews: What Are Users Saying?
TextNow appeals to users seeking free or low-cost communication options. However, some users say the service is unreliable and not ideal for business use.
Here are some TextNow user reviews.
❌ Unreliable Call and Message Delivery
"I never get my voice through. My messages don't go through, so I have to send the same message multiple times every time."—user review, Reddit.
❌ Difficulty Receiving Verification Codes
"FYI, you can't get 2-factor authentication codes by text on services like this in most cases."—user review, Reddit
❌ Inconsistent Service Quality
"It's always wrought with issues though ...dropped calls and echoes, long pauses in conversation where it's dead air."—user review, Capterra.
❌ Limited Functionality Without Wi-Fi
“Calling within the app IS HORRIBLE, and I can’t use the phone unless it’s on Wi-Fi."—user review, G2.
On the flip side,
✔ Simple and Convenient for a Second Number
"I've been using the service for quite some time now, and it’s convenient if you need a second phone number."—user review, Trustpilot.
Why Consider a TextNow Alternative?
Despite offering free calls, TextNow has several significant limitations, particularly for professional or long-term use.
Here are 10 reasons to look for an alternative.
- No Call Recording – You can’t record calls, a must-have for many business or legal needs.
- No Business Hours Feature – There’s no way to set work hours or automatically send calls to voicemail after-hours.
- No HIPAA Compliance – TextNow doesn’t meet privacy standards for healthcare or legal professionals.
- Missed Calls and Messages – Users report that calls often don’t ring or messages fail to deliver.
- Doesn’t Support 2FA Codes Reliably – Many services won’t send verification codes to TextNow numbers.
- Limited Mobile Data – You’ll need to buy data passes frequently unless you’re always on Wi-Fi.
- Ad-Supported Experience – The app can be distracting unless you pay for the ad-free version.
- No Secure Texting – Messages are not encrypted, which may raise privacy or compliance concerns.
- Not Built for Business Use – It’s mainly for personal or backup use, not managing clients or teams.
5 Best TextNow Alternatives
Having looked at TextNow and its limitations, let’s review the top TextNow alternatives.
Before we take the plunge, here’s a table summarizing what each option offers.
1. iPlum (Best Value)
TextNow is appealing if you just want a free number and some basic calling.
That said, you’ll run into problems once you try using it for anything serious, like managing client calls.
At the top of TextNow’s list of limitations is reliability.
The service’s users often complain about calls that don’t ring, messages that never deliver, and dropped conversations. That’s a deal-breaker for customer communications.
On the other hand, iPlum gives you dual calling modes. You can use either your mobile network or Wi-Fi, depending on which one is stronger. So you can be sure your calls will go through every time.
Now let’s talk about business features.
TextNow doesn’t let you set business hours. That means calls can come through at any hour, including weekends, holidays, or 10 pm on a Sunday.
iPlum solves this with smart scheduling. You can set work hours, auto-respond to missed calls, and send them to voicemail after hours. That way, your clients receive professional experience without you having to be on 24/7.
Moreover, TextNow isn’t HIPAA compliant. iPlum, in contrast, is a trusted name by healthcare professionals for its secure texting, encrypted calls, and full compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations.
On top of that, iPlum comes with call recording, voicemail transcriptions, and a phone tree. You can record calls (with consent), create an auto-attendant menu like “Press 1 for billing,” and read voicemail messages as text. You won’t get any of that on TextNow.
Even on a team level, iPlum pulls ahead.
You can create team accounts, assign roles, monitor usage, and manage communication from a centralized dashboard. Conversely, TextNow allows one account per person without oversight or structure.
Indeed, TextNow works if you only need a free number. But it's not enough if you’re running a business, protecting client data, or working in a regulated industry.
Curious to see what else iPlum can do? Click the link below to learn about every iPlum feature.
iPlum Pricing
iPlum pricing is structured in three tiers as follows.
- Standard Plan — $8.99/user/mo: Covers mobile calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, phone tree setup, voicemail, auto-replies, work hours, and app access on iOS and Android.
- Professional Plan — $14.99/user/mo: Adds web-based texting, message encryption, voicemail-to-text, text scheduling, and HIPAA compliance for healthcare and legal teams.
- Premium Plan — $19.99/user/mo: Includes everything in Professional, plus call recording and one-year archiving.
How to Port Your Number to iPlum
Porting or transferring your TextNow number to iPlum is straightforward, as explained in the video below.
Want to port your TextNow number to iPlum? Click the link below to get started.
2. Phone.com
Phone.com is a decent TextNow alternative if you’re looking to get past the service’s limitations.
It offers features beyond TextNow's capabilities, such as call forwarding, voicemail, and menus. You also get a phone number, mobile app access, and SMS.
Compared to TextNow, Phone.com feels more like a “real” business phone system, more so when you consider that the latter lacks admin tools and can’t guarantee call reliability.
That said, Phone.com does have some trade-offs. Plans can become expensive as you add features, and the interface isn’t always the most intuitive for non-technical users.
While Phone.com is better than TextNow in almost every way, it is not as robust or cost-effective as iPlum. That’s especially true when it comes to secure texting, voicemail transcription, or managing work hours through a mobile-first setup.
If you need a phone system with just enough features, Phone.com is worth considering. However, for small businesses that want secure, streamlined communication without add-ons, iPlum still leads the pack.
Phone.com Pricing
Phone.com pricing is available in three tiers as follows:
- Basic — $18/mo/user
- Plus — $27/mo/user
- Pro — $40/mo/user
Note: Phone.com starts at $18/month per user, which is double the cost of iPlum’s $8.99/month per user Standard Plan. Even its $40/month Pro tier costs twice as much as iPlum’s $19.99/month per user Premium Plan.
3. Talkroute
Talkroute is a good alternative to TextNow if you're looking for a more structured phone system for small businesses.
It offers core calling features like number porting, call forwarding, basic call menus, and voicemail. There's also SMS support and mobile apps.
Talkroute is more business-ready compared to TextNow.
However, it still has limits. Its setup focuses more on routing calls than helping you manage day-to-day communication from your phone.
It doesn't offer encrypted texting, business texting templates, or auto replies based on business hours.
Furthermore, Talkroute still feels built around desk-based workflows. And while it's a better alternative to TextNow, it's still limited if your work involves sensitive information.
And that’s the difference iPlum brings. It offers secure messaging, voicemail transcription, call recording, and compliance tools without leaving a hole in your wallet.
So, if you're moving away from TextNow, Talkroute is a worthwhile option.
However, if you're looking for a full-featured business line that works from anywhere, iPlum is the best TextNow alternative.
Talkroute Pricing
Talkroute pricing is available in four tiers as follows:
- Basic — $19/month
- Plus — $39/month
- Pro — $59/month
- Enterprise — Custom pricing
Note: Talkroute’s entry plan costs $19/month, over 2x the price of iPlum’s $8.99/month Standard Plan. At Primmum Plan, iPlum caps at $19.99/month, while Talkroute jumps to $59/month, a 195% difference for similar business calling features.
4. Textline
Textline is a worthy alternative to TextNow for small businesses that rely heavily on text messaging. It offers group messaging, two-way SMS, message templates, auto-replies, and a shared inbox.
Compared to TextNow, which doesn’t offer basics for business use, Textline brings more structure.
It’s built for customer messaging and includes automation tools to help streamline replies and message routing. That alone makes it more dependable for client communication than TextNow.
Still, Textline has its limits. It’s a text-only solution. You won’t get calling, voicemail, or true compliance features, such as HIPAA support.
Additionally, the service doesn’t offer number extensions, secure voice options, or voicemail transcriptions.
So, while Textline handles messaging well, it isn’t quite a complete business phone system.
iPlum, on the other hand, offers small businesses features that TextNow and Textline don’t, including secure calling and texting, voicemail tools, business-hour settings, and built-in compliance.
Textline Pricing
Textline pricing is available in four tiers as follows:
- Limited — $20/agent/month: Minimum 3 agents required.
- Standard — $30/agent/month: Minimum 3 agents.
- Pro — $50/agent/month: Minimum 5 agents.
- Enterprise — Custom pricing
Note: Textline pricing starts at $20/agent/month, with a 3-agent minimum, bringing the entry cost to $60/month, and that’s without messaging fees, which can push it to $60–$95/agent. In contrast, iPlum pricing starts at just $8.99/month with no minimum users, making it over 80% cheaper upfront.
5. Google Voice
Google Voice is an alternative to TextNow you can consider if you need a basic phone system that can reasonably handle business use. It offers call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and texting.
Unlike TextNow, Google Voice is built for everyday business use. You can block spam and manage calls with tools like auto attendants and ring groups.
TextNow, by comparison, is limited to basic texting and calling, with no control or structure for business communication.
That said, Google Voice works best if you're already deep in the Google ecosystem.
Furthermore, it's not built for encrypted conversations or industries that require HIPAA support, unless you obtain a Google Workspace subscription.
Plus, you won't get call recording unless you're on the Premier plan. And even then, features like message templates or auto-replies based on business hours are missing.
iPlum, by comparison, offers secure texting, call recording, voicemail tools, and compliance support.
Thus, for small business owners seeking a phone system that's simple, secure, and flexible, iPlum remains the best alternative to TextNow.
Google Voice Pricing
Google Voice pricing is available in three tiers as follows:
- Starter — $10/user/month.
- Standard — $20/user/month.
- Premier — $30/user/month.
Note: To get call recording and HIPAA-related features, Google Voice requires the Premier plan at $30/user/month, plus a Google Workspace subscription that costs another $6.30 to $22/month per user. That brings the total to $36.30–$52/month, while iPlum offers secure calling, texting, and compliance tools for just $19.99/month.
Best Alternatives to TextNow: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Is Better Than TextNow?
iPlum is better than TextNow if you need secure calling, encrypted texting, voicemail tools, and compliance features. It’s built for business use, unlike TextNow, which lacks structure, call reliability, and essential tools for professionals.
Is TextNow Not Free Anymore?
TextNow is still free for calling and texting over Wi-Fi, but mobile data costs extra. A Month Pass with 10GB of data is $39.99, and that doesn’t include business features like call recording or secure messaging.
Which Countries Can Use TextNow?
TextNow only works in the U.S. and Canada. While that works depending on your needs, iPlum supports roaming, works in over 200 countries, and offers service in 23 languages, making it a more flexible option for global users.
TextNow Alternatives: Why Choose iPlum Over Competitors
TextNow free call is a reason enough to use the platform. However, “free” also means sacrificing important business features.
If you want to switch from TextNow due to its limitations, iPlum is a good option.
It’s affordable, business-ready, and built with the features professionals and businesses need.
And unlike other TextNow alternatives, iPlum is minimalist without sacrificing functionality. Plus, you don't need add-ons to use it.
The service works right from your phone, making it ideal for freelancers, remote teams, and small business owners.
While platforms like Phone.com, Talkroute, Textline, and Google Voice offer improvements over TextNow, they don’t deliver the same value as iPlum.
Getting started with iPlum is easy.
Simply click the button below to sign-up!
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and may not reflect the most current features or capabilities of the products or companies mentioned. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the official sources of each company.
