I tried a free ad-supported phone contract: Here’s how it works

We all need a phone number, but they are not a public good. It costs money. TextNow promises you a free phone number and cell service if you’re willing to watch ads.

It sounds great, but does it do what it promises?

What is TextNow?

TextNow is a mobile app available for Android and iOS that lets you send text messages and make calls over the web for free. If you order a SIM card, you can also get free mobile services and data.

And yes, it’s all true. I downloaded TextNow, created a number, sent messages and made calls without sending money to TextNow. The only time I had to reach into my wallet was to order a SIM card, which cost $5.

However, I can’t say I enjoyed any aspect of the experience; how much you will depend on your tolerance for ads.

How good is TextNow?

Since its inception in 2009, TextNow has been downloaded by millions of people. I understand why.

The app works. Getting the number was painless and I had no problems sending or receiving texts. The app looks like the built-in messaging and dialing app on your phone. I’m pretty sure I could hand this app to anyone who has never used a smartphone and they could figure it out quickly.

Making and receiving phone calls wasn’t a problem even during my limited time trying the service, at least in terms of call quality. Whether over Wi-Fi or the free LTE connection, calls were clear enough for my needs. However, when I called my real number, my everyday phone showed the incoming call as suspected spam. Then when I called my mom, her phone didn’t give her that warning. Your mileage may vary.

If you order a SIM card, you get free “essential” data for email, maps and ride-sharing apps. You can get more and faster data with TextNow, but not for free.

How annoying are the ads?

The app is literally flooded with ads. How you feel about these ads and commercials will determine if this is an app you can live with.

Banner ads appear at the bottom of the app window and are mixed throughout the message list. Some of the contacts in your message list are actually sponsored ads. They are labeled as such, but the label is easy to miss. Some of the ads come from TextNow itself, forcing you to pay for the ad-free version (no, by the way – but we’ll get to that later).

When you initiate a conversion, ads will appear in the message thread. Sometimes you will have to watch the ad in full screen, which is common especially after the call has ended.

Ads make TextNow difficult for me. That said, I consider the price of any ad-free streaming service to be the base price because I don’t put up with ads when I have the choice. Commercials make cable TV unbearable for me. I don’t like ads in podcasts or magazines. There is no way I’m going to put ads in areas where ads haven’t traditionally been, like my dialer or messaging app. That’s a complete non-starter.

Still, I know dealing with ads is better than having no number at all, especially if you’re one of the vast majority of people who, unlike me, would rather use apps with ads than download the paid, ad-free version.

Why you shouldn’t give TextNow any money

TextNow will try to charge you almost every time you use the app. With a few exceptions, you are grossly overpaid.

If you want to lock your number so you don’t lose it due to inactivity (and you’d also like to receive two-factor authentication codes), it’s $2 a week or $8 a month. For this amount, you are not paying for mobile service and still see ads.

If you want to go ad-free, removing ads and locking your number costs ad-free+ $7 per week. That’s $28 a month for an internet number! Whether you decide to order a SIM card or not is a completely separate matter.

This amount is enough to get an unlimited data plan from an MVNO which also gives you faster speeds and also lacks any ads. With the $25 Visible plan, you get unlimited ad-free calls, texts and 5G data for less.

If you’re trying to save money, you can get a Red Pocket plan that locks a number and provides unlimited calling for $10 a month (or around $8.33 if you pay for a year of service in advance). You can get a Tello SIM card for a similar amount.

If you want to use data, the prices are even more outrageous for anything other than rare, occasional use. An hour of unlimited data will cost you a fortune, which is fine if you’re on Wi-Fi almost constantly and need data in an emergency. A day of data (which the fine print says is actually 2GB of high-speed data, which is then capped) is $5. If you only need data for one day a month, the price isn’t great, but it’s bearable. A full month of unlimited data costs $40 and it goes down after the first 10GB! At that point, you’re paying carrier prices while only getting a fraction of the data!

Like the rent-to-own economy in general, TextNow is poised to take advantage of people who can’t afford large upfront payments by allowing them to make smaller payments that add up to much, much more money in the end.

Should You Use TextNow?

TextNow is a sneaky service that I can recommend. On the one hand, if you’re a teenager without access to your own credit card, it makes some sense. I would probably use that in high school.

Likewise, if you’re trying to keep your main line active, it makes sense to have TextNow as a backup solution for when times get tough.

Still, TextNow feels poised to take advantage of people who aren’t aware of how many low-cost MVNOs there are (and the benefits of switching to an MVNO), as well as those who probably can’t calculate how much those small weekly payments actually add up to. In short, the people who could benefit the most from TextNow are also the people I’m most careful about sharing with.

I’d say you’re much better off picking up the nearest Mint Mobile SIM from your local corner store, but if that’s not possible for whatever reason, or you’re just looking for a burner number without actually buying a burner, then – and only then – I’d recommend TextNow.