7 Text Free alternatives worth installing in 2026
Text Free gives away a real US or Canadian phone number for free, which is the whole appeal. The problem is the trade-offs: ads inside the conversation list, numbers that expire if you don't open the app often enough, blocked verification codes from popular services, and very limited international texting. The TextFree Plus subscription removes ads but the price approaches Google Voice and Burner — both of which avoid the verification headaches.
This guide covers seven Text Free alternatives we tested for picking up a second phone number in 2026. Each one solves at least one Text Free pain point.
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TextNow | Free US/Canada number | Yes | Free, paid tiers optional | Free unlimited talk and text in the US |
| Google Voice | Personal Google users in the US | Yes | Free | Voicemail transcripts and free US calling |
| Hushed | Short-term burner numbers | 3-day trial | Paid, low-cost number plans | 300+ area codes across 40 countries |
| Burner | Multiple disposable lines | 7-day trial | Paid subscription | Burn and replace numbers in seconds |
| Sideline | Small businesses | 7-day trial | Paid per-line monthly | Auto-reply and team numbers |
| TextMe | Free texting with international | Yes | Free, paid credits optional | Free texting to 200+ countries |
| Line2 | Business cloud phone | 7-day trial | Paid monthly per line | Business hours and IVR |
Why people leave Text Free
Ads in the inbox. Free TextFree shows full-screen and banner ads. They appear when you open the app, when you send a message, and sometimes between messages. Heavy users describe the experience as exhausting.
Numbers that expire. If you don't use a free TextFree number for several days, it can be recycled. Users on Reddit consistently mention losing numbers they treated as semi-permanent.
Blocked verification codes. Banks, ride-hailing apps, and some major social platforms refuse to send SMS verification to TextFree numbers because the carrier prefix is on a known VoIP list. Workarounds exist but rarely stick.
Limited international reach. TextFree's free plan covers US and Canada texting. Outbound international calls and texts require paid credits, and rates compare poorly to dedicated international apps.
Number portability gaps. You can't port a TextFree number into a real carrier easily. If you've used the number for years, leaving means giving it up.
The 7 Text Free alternatives
TextNow — best truly free second number
TextNow is the most popular free phone number app in North America. Unlimited talk and text within the US and Canada, real local area codes, voicemail, and SMS picture messaging — all on the free tier. The app has been around since 2009, so verification-code services are generally more lenient with TextNow numbers than newer VoIP apps.
The free tier is ad-supported but the ads are less aggressive than TextFree's. TextNow vs. Text Free on free-tier usability, TextNow wins on a steadier number assignment and a less intrusive ad load.
Where it falls short: International calling requires paid credits, and TextNow's premium tier (which removes ads) sits in the same price range as Google Voice — except Google Voice has no ads at all on the free tier for personal accounts. Number recycling still applies if you're completely inactive for 30 days.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited US/Canada talk and text, ad-supported, real phone number
- Paid: monthly tiers remove ads and add international minutes
- vs. Text Free: comparable free coverage; TextNow has the better track record for keeping numbers active
Migrating from Text Free: No direct migration. Sign up for TextNow with the same email, pick a new number, and update contacts. Numbers from one VoIP service don't transfer to another.
Bottom line: Pick TextNow if you want the lowest-friction free second number in North America. Skip it if you need a number for service verifications more than personal use.
Google Voice — best for personal Google users in the US
Google Voice is the closest thing to a real, no-cost second number for personal accounts in the United States. Free domestic calling, free SMS to US numbers, voicemail transcription, spam filtering, and integration with Gmail and Google Contacts. No ads, no recurring fees, no number expiry as long as the account stays active.
For US users already inside the Google ecosystem, this is the obvious upgrade from Text Free. Google Voice vs. Text Free on day-to-day usability — no ads, cleaner UI, voicemail-to-text, and the number behaves more like a "real" line because Google's prefixes are widely whitelisted by services that block other VoIP providers.
Where it falls short: Personal Google Voice is US-only. International calling is paid per minute. Some banks and verification services still reject Google Voice numbers, though far fewer than reject TextFree. The setup requires a one-time $20 number reservation if you want to keep your existing line, and porting in from another carrier is a separate process.
Pricing:
- Free: US numbers, unlimited US calls and texts, voicemail, transcription
- Paid: Google Workspace Voice plans for businesses, billed per user
- vs. Text Free: comparable on free US calling; Google Voice wins on no ads and number stability
Migrating from Text Free: Set up Google Voice with a new number, then share the new number with your contacts. Text Free numbers can't be ported to Google Voice.
Bottom line: Pick Google Voice if you're in the US and already use Google for email. Skip it if you live outside North America — personal Voice isn't available.
Hushed — best for short-term burner numbers
Hushed is built around disposable numbers. Pick an area code from one of 40+ countries, use the number for a Craigslist sale or a dating app, then burn it when you're done. Numbers can be kept long-term too with a low monthly fee. Calls, SMS, MMS, and voicemail all work over Wi-Fi or data.
For users who want privacy isolation per purpose — one number for online dating, another for marketplace sales, a third for travel — Hushed makes that simple. Hushed vs. Text Free on disposability and international coverage, Hushed wins easily.
Where it falls short: There's no permanent free tier. The 3-day trial gives access to a single US/Canada number; everything past that is paid. Some bank verification codes are blocked, similar to other VoIP providers. The cheapest line plans are cheap, but credits for international calling burn down faster than expected.
Pricing:
- Free: 3-day trial with a single number
- Paid: low monthly per-line plans, plus pay-as-you-go credits for international
- vs. Text Free: not free; Hushed wins on international coverage and on numbers staying yours
Migrating from Text Free: No transfer of numbers. Pick a Hushed number, give it to the contacts you want, and let the Text Free line lapse.
Bottom line: Pick Hushed if you want true burner numbers across many countries. Skip it if "free forever" is the only thing that matters.
Burner — best for multiple disposable lines
Burner is the OG of disposable phone numbers. The name is the product: create a US or Canadian number, use it for one purpose, burn it when you're done. The app supports multiple lines under one account, which is useful if you want separate numbers for work, side projects, online shopping, and dating without switching apps.
For privacy-conscious users in the US and Canada, Burner vs. Text Free is a clear upgrade: no ads, better verification-code reliability, and a cleaner UI. The trade-off is that Burner is subscription-only after the trial — there's no free tier.
Where it falls short: US, Canada, and Australia only — no other international numbers. The 7-day free trial requires a credit card. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled. Number area code availability varies, and the cheapest subscription is single-line.
Pricing:
- Free: 7-day trial
- Paid: monthly subscription per line, with multi-line plans for businesses
- vs. Text Free: paid only; Burner wins on no ads, verification reliability, and multi-line management
Migrating from Text Free: Start a Burner trial, pick a number, share it with the contacts you actually want. Text Free numbers can't be ported in.
Bottom line: Pick Burner if you juggle multiple identities and don't mind a subscription. Skip it outside North America.
Sideline — best for small businesses
Sideline is built by the same team behind Text Free (Pinger), but targeted at small businesses rather than free users. A Sideline number runs alongside your real number on the same phone, supports business hours auto-replies, contact tagging, and team numbers shared across multiple staff. Calls and texts come through the Sideline app, keeping work conversations out of your personal threads.
For solo founders, real-estate agents, freelancers, and side-hustle operators, Sideline vs. Text Free is the move from a free toy line to a real second business number. The interface is purpose-built for sales follow-up — Text Free wasn't.
Where it falls short: No free tier past the 7-day trial. US-only numbers. Group SMS limited to a small number of recipients. The team-number features unlock at the higher tier, which adds up quickly for small teams.
Pricing:
- Free: 7-day trial
- Paid: monthly per-line subscription with business hours and auto-reply; team tiers add shared inbox
- vs. Text Free: paid only; Sideline wins on professional features and reliability for business use
Migrating from Text Free: Sideline supports porting an existing number into the service if the carrier allows it, though Text Free numbers usually can't be ported. Most users pick a new Sideline number and run both for a transition period.
Bottom line: Pick Sideline if your second number is for work. Skip it for personal or one-off uses where free is the priority.
TextMe — best for free international texting
TextMe is the international-friendly cousin of Text Free. The free tier offers a US phone number for talk and text, plus free outbound texting to 200+ countries when both users are on the app. It's been around since 2011 and has 50 million+ downloads. The interface is familiar to anyone coming from Text Free.
TextMe vs. Text Free on international reach, TextMe wins. The free tier supports texting friends and family abroad without paid credits in most country pairs.
Where it falls short: Like Text Free, TextMe shows ads on the free tier. The verification code reliability is similar — banks and some major apps block VoIP numbers, including TextMe's. International calling still requires paid credits.
Pricing:
- Free: US number, free US/Canada texting, free international texting between TextMe users
- Paid: credits for paid international calls; subscription removes ads
- vs. Text Free: comparable; TextMe wins on international texting, Text Free wins on US numbers' service-verification acceptance rate
Migrating from Text Free: Sign up, get a new number, give it out. Numbers don't transfer between VoIP providers.
Bottom line: Pick TextMe if you mostly text friends or family in other countries. Skip it if you only need US texting and want fewer ads — TextNow is cleaner.
Line2 — best business cloud phone
Line2 is a cloud phone system for solopreneurs and small teams. A real US/Canada number, business hours, auto-reply, an IVR menu, voicemail-to-email, and the ability to forward calls between multiple devices or staff. For a one-person business that has outgrown a free number, Line2 covers the same ground as Sideline with a slightly different feature mix (better IVR, less group SMS).
Line2 vs. Text Free isn't a real comparison — Line2 is a paid business tool, Text Free is a free consumer toy. The relevant question is whether your second number needs auto-attendants and call routing.
Where it falls short: No free tier past the 7-day trial. The cheapest plan is single-line — multi-line and team features cost more. The mobile app is functional but less polished than the web client; some users find it laggy on older Android phones.
Pricing:
- Free: 7-day trial
- Paid: monthly per-line subscription; the Pro tier adds IVR, business hours, and CRM integrations
- vs. Text Free: paid only; Line2 wins on professional call routing and IVR
Migrating from Text Free: Port-in is possible from most US carriers but rarely works from Text Free. Pick a new Line2 number and use it as the business line going forward.
Bottom line: Pick Line2 if you need a cloud phone with IVR and call routing. Skip it for personal use — it's overkill.
How to choose
Pick TextNow if free matters more than anything and you're in the US or Canada. It's the most stable free option.
Pick Google Voice if you live in the US, have a personal Google account, and want a clean, no-ads experience.
Pick Hushed if you want disposable numbers in 40+ countries and don't mind paying a few dollars a month for the flexibility.
Pick Burner if you juggle multiple identities (work, dating, marketplace, side project) on one phone and want them organized.
Pick Sideline if the second number is for a small business with customer follow-up.
Pick TextMe if friends and family abroad rely on free texting and you mostly text app-to-app.
Pick Line2 if your business needs auto-attendants, business hours, and call routing.
Stay on Text Free if a permanently free US number is the only thing you care about and the ads don't bother you. TextNow is almost always a better free option, but Text Free's free tier is still functional if you tolerate the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free second phone number app?
TextNow is the most reliable free second number app for US and Canadian users. Google Voice is also fully free for personal US accounts and has no ads, but only works in the US. Both beat Text Free on day-to-day usability.
Can I receive SMS verification codes on Text Free or its alternatives?
It depends on the sender. Banks, major rideshare apps, and some social platforms refuse to send codes to VoIP numbers, including Text Free, TextNow, Hushed, Burner, and Google Voice. Google Voice numbers tend to be accepted more often than newer services, but no VoIP number is universally accepted.
Is there a free alternative to Text Free without ads?
Google Voice is free and has no ads for personal US accounts. Outside the US, all the alternatives on this list charge to remove ads or run on a paid-only model.
Can I keep my Text Free number forever?
Only if you use the app consistently. Free Text Free numbers can be recycled after extended inactivity. The TextFree Plus subscription reserves the number so it won't be released. Most alternatives have similar policies — pay for a subscription to lock your number.
Which Text Free alternative works internationally?
Hushed offers numbers in 40+ countries and is the strongest match for international use. TextMe supports free in-app texting to 200+ countries. Burner is US, Canada, and Australia only. Google Voice is US-only for personal accounts.
Why do banks reject my Text Free number?
Banks and other regulated services check whether your number is on a known VoIP carrier prefix. Text Free, TextNow, Hushed, and Burner all use VoIP numbers and frequently get blocked. The workaround is to register sensitive accounts with a real carrier number first, then use the VoIP number for everyday calling and texting.
