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iPlum and Textline are popular business communication platforms, albeit with different functionalities.
iPlum offers a comprehensive, all-in-one solution, providing a second phone line with robust calling, texting, and voicemail capabilities.
Textline, on the other hand, is a text-first platform built for high-volume SMS communication and team collaboration.
In this head-to-head comparison, we delve into the features, pricing, and ideal use cases.
By the end, you’ll have the information you need to decide which platform is best for your business communication and budget.
Let’s dive right in.
iPlum vs. Textline—What Do Users Say?
In the section below, we will look at what customers have to say about iPlum and Textline based on their experiences.
Textline Reviews
Textline earns praise for being easy to use and efficient for frequent texting.
However, several users point out gaps in navigation, real-time updates, automation, and cost for smaller businesses.
❌ No real-time message updates
"You have to refresh the web page or app to see new messages. Also, hitting the back button exits the app completely." — Alaria R., G2
❌ Limited app navigation
"You can’t be inside a conversation and go back to the overview without closing the app." — Alan G., G2
❌ Missing desktop integration options
"I wish they had a desktop app that could integrate with local databases without needing platforms like HubSpot or Salesforce." — Pattrick L., G2
❌ Pricing may be high for small teams
"Pricing can be high for small businesses, and some users wish it offered more advanced customization."— Stephany C., G2
❌ Limited automation features
"It may not offer as much in terms of advanced automation features compared to some other customer support platforms." — Jany M., G2
❌ No read receipts or message editing
"Would be great to see if a message has been delivered or read, and to edit a message after sending." — Verified User, G2
On the positive side, Textline users had this to say.
✔ Easy to use
"The interface is clean and simple. Took us just a few minutes to get started." — Emma S., G2
✔ Great for high-volume texting
"We message daily all day. If we run into issues, I can chat with a real person who responds quickly." — Charity R., G2.
iPlum Reviews
iPlum users love its ease of use, call reliability, HIPAA compliance, and responsive support. Many, from solo providers to remote teams, say it’s a cost-effective tool that gets the job done.
✔ HIPAA-compliant and secure
"I started using iPlum to help with my HIPAA compliance... I can send and receive text messages without worry." — Mihaela Born, Trustpilot
✔ Ideal for remote teams
"Assigned numbers to team members in minutes... they can use their own devices and stay organized and secure."— Vidur Gupta, Trustpilot
✔ Professional call routing and voicemail
"The voicemail-to-text feature has been a major time-saver... the customizable call flow settings give us the flexibility we need." — Victor G, Trustpilot
✔ Reliable number porting
"Transferred my number with ease... staff was very helpful and made sure I had what I needed."— Reli Shor, Trustpilot
✔ Clear, reliable call quality
"I've never had a dropped call, and the connection stays strong whether I'm on Wi-Fi or mobile data."— J.A., Trustpilot
✔ Easy to navigate and use
"It's easy to use and keeps my business and personal calls separate. Highly recommend." — Angela Sanders, Trustpilot
✔ Helpful, responsive support
"Customer support was very responsive—10 minutes for an answer—and they guided me through porting from Skype." — David Campbell, Trustpilot
⚠️ Difficulties with the TCR process
"I didn’t notice the TCR registration requirement until later." — Sufian, Trustpilot.
For starters, texting is a national-level requirement for TCR. We’ve indicated on our dashboard that you need to register before sending texts. Be sure to contact iPlum if you need help with TCR registration.
iPlum vs. Textline—A Feature Breakdown
iPlum and Textline, while offering business communication features, they’re noticeably different, as outlined in the section below.
But first, a quick comparison table.
Range of Texting Features
Texting has become a standard way to reach customers, clients, and staff. It’s fast and boasts a high open rate.
That said, here’s how Textline and iPlum compare on texting features.
Textline
As stated, Textline is a texting-first platform.
It comes with group and one-on-one messaging, scheduled messages, templates, and customer surveys.
You can also send mass messages and create automated responses triggered by certain conditions. Textline also allows texting from an existing landline number.
However, its capabilities lean heavily toward outbound texting volume. You won’t find message pinning, message archiving, or voicemail-to-text.
And since it doesn’t offer calling, you must use a separate platform for voice, which splits up basic communication needs.
iPlum
iPlum gives you everything you expect from a texting platform—plus features you’d usually find in more expensive systems.
It supports SMS, MMS, secure texting, message scheduling, templates, and auto-replies.
On top of that, you can archive conversations, pin important threads, and even mark messages unread to follow up later.
What’s more, iPlum allows users to receive texts as email alerts, making it easier to monitor incoming messages from anywhere, even when away from the app.
iPlum also includes broadcast texting, which sends personalized messages to multiple contacts simultaneously.
And, because iPlum combines voice and messaging in one system, it enables you to keep your business communication in one place.
Secure Messaging and Compliance
If your business or industry involves exchanging or storing sensitive client information, you need a HIPAA-compliant communication platform.
Luckily, Textline and iPlum offer secure communication, albeit in different ways.
Textline
Textline has HIPAA-compliant texting plans for healthcare providers.
It encrypts data and secures storage. However, the platform requires patient consent before messaging begins.
On top of that, Textline compliance only applies to messaging. It doesn’t offer HIPAA-compliant calling, voicemail, or fax functions, which many health providers use daily.
iPlum
iPlum offers secure texting, calling, voicemail, and fax under one HIPAA-compliant system.
It provides healthcare professionals with a dedicated second number for private use, with message encryption and audit-ready record-keeping.
You can also use regular SMS or switch to secure text for health-related conversations. iPlum also provides a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for every HIPAA-enabled number.
And, unlike Textline, iPlum covers the full range of daily communication from voice to call and fax. It also supports PHIPA and PIPEDA compliance for Canadian users.
Voice Capabilities
Texting is good for business.
However, your customers will want to call, especially for urgent matters or when seeking clarification. A phone system that ignores voice features, therefore, leaves gaps.
That’s where the difference between Textline and iPlum becomes evident.
Textline
Textline doesn’t offer voice calling. However, if a customer tries to call a Textline number, the call can be forwarded—but only if the number was purchased directly from Textline.
If no forwarding number is set, the caller hears a generic message asking them to text instead.
Sure, this setup may work for businesses that only need texting. However, those needing two-way voice communication, call handling, or voicemail must use additional tools.
iPlum
iPlum is a fully fledged phone system and a top Textline alternative if you’re looking for a platform that provides voice and text.
First, iPlum allows you to make and receive calls using your mobile network or Wi-Fi. That way, you can remain reachable even when your cellular signal is weak or unstable.
In addition, every outbound call shows your iPlum business number, so clients recognize who’s calling before they answer.
And, when a client calls in, you can route them through a phone tree with an auto attendant and extensions. This lets callers reach the right person or department quickly without waiting for a callback. You can also assign extensions to users or departments, giving your business a professional outlook.
iPlum offers voicemail, too. Messages go to the app, and you can forward them to your email so you don’t miss important messages. Meanwhile, the call transfer feature makes it easy to pass a live caller to another associate when needed.
Furthermore, iPlum allows you to block spam callers, assign unique ringtones, and create multiple inbound paths if you’re managing different numbers under one account.
Last but not least, iPlum respects your business hours. You can send calls to voicemail after hours or silence them using the Do Not Disturb feature.
Team Management
The ability to manage users, call activity, and permissions is crucial for effective team management.
Below is a look at how Textline and iPlum enable team coordination, account management, and user administration for small businesses and growing operations.
Textline
Textline gives users shared access to a universal inbox, enabling teams to view and reply to customer messages.
You can also add internal notes and assign conversations to others. Meanwhile, the dashboard keeps conversations organized, and permissions can be adjusted per user.
However, Textline doesn’t offer call management, number assignment, or voice-related permissions. You can’t assign separate business lines or review call logs since calling isn’t part of the platform.
Again, for businesses that require full visibility into both calls and texts or want tighter control over individual lines, you will need to pair Textline with another tool.
iPlum
iPlum offers a centralized setup to manage voice and text lines across your business. You can add users under one account and assign each person their own number.
In addition, the platform allows you to view message logs, track call activity, and adjust settings for each line via the admin dashboard.
You can also route calls by department, set custom voicemail greetings, and control ringing hours for each number.
If you need a shared setup, iPlum also supports shared numbers. You can assign one number to multiple users, allowing them to handle calls, texts, or voicemails together. This works well for clinics, customer service, or any operation where several people respond from a shared line.
iPlum vs. Textline—Pricing
Let’s now look at how much you’ll expect to pay for iPlum and Textline.
How Much Does iPlum Cost?
iPlum costs $8.99 to $19.99 per user per month, depending on your plan, as follows
Standard Plan – $8.99 per user per month
Includes mobile app calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail, auto-replies, business hours, and phone tree.
Professional – $14.99 per user per month
This plan builds upon the Standard plan, offering web-based calling and texting, secure encrypted texting, voicemail transcription, group and broadcast messaging, text archiving, and HIPAA compliance with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for healthcare.
Premium – $19.99 per user per month
Offers everything in the Professional plan, plus call recording and compliance features for finance, insurance, legal, sales, and support sectors.
How Much Does Textline Cost?
Textline costs $20 to $50 per agent per month, depending on the plan, with additional fees for messaging volume and industry surcharges. Minimum seat requirements apply to each plan.
Limited – $20 per agent per month
This plan requires a minimum of three agents. It offers basic texting features, a 90-day message history, and an optional web chat.
Standard – $30 per agent per month
This plan builds on the Limited plan with support for multiple departments, a three-year message history, admin controls, and HIPAA compatibility.
Pro – $50 per agent per month
The Pro plan adds unlimited message history, time-based automations, and priority support. It requires at least five agents.
Enterprise – Custom pricing
The Enterprise offers unlimited users, quarterly reviews, and personalised account management services. It also includes HIPAA compliance with webchat add-ons available.
How Does iPlum’s Pricing Compare to Textline?
iPlum offers significantly more value at a lower cost. iPlum’s Professional plan costs $14.99 per user, compared to Textline’s Standard plan at $30 per agent—that’s over 50% less per user.
Even iPlum’s highest plan is $19.99, which is still cheaper than Textline’s mid-tier plan. iPlum also includes calling, secure texting, voicemail, and HIPAA compliance, all in one app.
Textline charges more than double for similar messaging features and doesn’t offer calling.
On top of that, Textline requires a minimum of 3 to 5 agents, whereas iPlum is suitable for both solo professionals and teams.
How to Port Your Number to iPlum
Porting your existing number to iPlum is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Watch the video below for a step-by-step breakdown.
iPlum vs. Textline—Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Similar to Textline?
Several business texting platforms offer features similar to Textline. That said, iPlum is one of the best Textline alternatives if you’re looking for something similar to Textline, but with voice capabilities.
What Does Textline Do?
Textline is a business texting platform that lets companies send, receive, and automate SMS and MMS messages. It’s built for customer communication, team messaging, and basic support workflows.
How Do I Enable Texting on iPlum?
Here’s how to enable texting on iPlum. Log in to the iPlum portal, go to Dashboard → Users → Click Login ID → Settings → Text Options → Enable and Save. This reactivates texting if it’s been disabled.
Why Choose iPlum Over Textline?
Textline is a robust communication platform for businesses that use SMS-only communication.
However, it leaves important gaps, especially around calling and voicemail.
iPlum combines voice and text in one system, with secure messaging, business-grade calling, voicemail, fax, call routing and a collection of over 50 features.
In addition, iPlum also supports HIPAA compliance, making it a good fit for healthcare, legal, and professional service providers. Best of all, it’s cost-effective.
With plans starting at $8.99 and no minimum user requirements, iPlum works for both solo professionals and growing teams.
So, if you’re looking for a phone system that’s built for business, iPlum is a good alternative to Textline.
Click the link below to get started with iPlum.
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.
