TextNow Alternatives in 2024

TextNow is a popular free phone service that operates as an over-the-top (OTT) service, meaning it uses Wi-Fi or data networks instead of traditional cellular networks. It provides users with a unique phone number, allowing them to make unlimited calls and texts in the US and Canada.

TextNow operates through Wi-Fi or mobile data, making it accessible and cost-effective for users who want to communicate without high fees.

1. Free Global Calling 
   TextNow allows users to make free voice calls to any number within the U.S. and Canada using Wi-Fi or cellular data. While calling outside North America is only partially free, the platform offers affordable rates for calls outside the US, making it a cost-effective option.
    
2. Free Texting
   Users can send unlimited text messages for free to any number in the U.S. and Canada. It operates over Wi-Fi or data, ensuring accessibility without a mobile carrier service. TextNow also supports sending multimedia messages such as photos, videos, and document files, enhancing the texting experience.
    
3. Group Chats
   TextNow supports group messaging, allowing users to create chat groups with multiple contacts. It helps coordinate with friends, family, or small teams, making it a versatile tool for personal and small-scale professional communication.

Businesses are constantly seeking flexible and scalable tools, helping to ensure effective communication and operational efficiency. The need for more often leads them to explore alternatives to TextNow. Here are some reasons alternatives might be better:

TextNow does not offer round-the-clock customer service, which can be a problem for businesses that need immediate help during off-hours or those operating internationally across different time zones.

TextNow does not have video calling, which is essential for businesses that use video for meetings, presentations, or connecting with remote teams. Additionally, TextNow lacks other advanced features that businesses require for expansion, like strong integration with other business tools, professional voicemail services, and support for conference calls.

The TextNow service is primarily designed for 4G and Wi-Fi, which might only partially support the faster speeds and improved reliability of 5G. It can be a constraint for businesses needing high-speed data for real-time communications.

TextNow recycles and reissues phone numbers after a certain period, following industry rules. Therefore, you might not receive verification codes from other platforms for security reasons. This may interfere with integrating third-party tools that require SMS confirmations, which is essential for securing business operations.

The free version of the platform includes ads, which can interrupt and look unprofessional during business communications. You have to pay for a premium version to eliminate these ads. Although TextNow provides some free services, additional features are expensive. Businesses prefer other alternative of TextNow that offer a better mix of features and costs without ads.

Calilio is a unified VoIP service provider tailored for modern businesses, offering a broad range of voice and messaging services. It's designed as a superior alternative to traditional telephony systems, focusing on the specific needs of enterprises. Unlike TextNow, which primarily targets individual users with basic communication tools, Calilio provides business phone system with a more advanced and comprehensive suite within an easy-to-use digital workspace. It is particularly advantageous for businesses looking to enhance communication efficiency and leverage VoIP technology for more robust functionality.

Key Features

Unified Callbox: Calilio's Unified Callbox simplifies the management of all communication channels. It acts as a central hub for calling, messaging, and voicemail and streamlines communication by eliminating the need to switch between platforms.

Web Dialer: The web dialer enables initiating calls directly from the dashboard, ensuring seamless integration into workflows and improving response times without interrupting your work processes.

AI-powered Call Summary: Calilio uses artificial intelligence to provide call summaries, helping businesses quickly understand the sentiment of each conversation. It's essential for making informed decisions, as it allows managers and team members to analyze caller sentiments without listening to every single call recording.

Call Analytics: Calilio provides detailed insights into call volumes, durations, peak calling times, and more. Such analytics help businesses optimize their staffing, better understand customer behavior, and improve overall service quality by adjusting strategies based on real data.

Pros: 

• Affordable plans with a wide range of features.
• Offers customizable feature sets with a large variety.
• Dedicated customer support 24/7.
• Free local or toll-free number with every subscription

Cons: 

• Requires time to utilize the advanced tools provided fully.
• Initial confusion due to many customization options.
• Requires a stable internet connection for its usage.

Pricing: 

Google Voice is known for integrating with Google Workspace, making it a seamless extension for users already embedded in the Google ecosystem. It provides a consistent phone number across multiple devices, particularly useful for professionals who need to manage calls and messages on the go without switching devices.

Key Features 

One Number for All Devices: Google Voice allows you to use one phone number across multiple devices, making it easy to manage calls and messages on phones, tablets, or computers.

Advanced Call Management: It includes screening calls, blocking numbers, and routing calls efficiently.

Integration with Google Workspace: Seamlessly works with other Google services like Gmail and Calendar for better workflow integration.

International Calling: Google Voice offers competitive rates for international calls, making it a good option for global communications.

Pros: 

• Make outbound calls by adding credit to your account.
• Low-cost international VoIP calling.
• Identify the caller before you answer with the caller identification feature.
• No phone number is required for account verification, enhancing privacy.

Cons:

• Sometimes, voicemail transcriptions are inaccurate.
• Numbers are only free within the US, which limits international use.

Pricing:

Ringover benefits sales and customer support teams due to its robust CRM integration capabilities. It offers unlimited calls to over 110 countries, making it a strong candidate for businesses with international clients. The real-time dashboard analytics provide valuable insights into call performance and team productivity.

Key Features 

Unlimited International Calling: Ringover offers unlimited calling to several countries, making it an excellent option for businesses with international clients or teams.

Real-Time Analytics and Reporting: Ringover provides comprehensive insights into call data, such as call duration, wait time, and agent performance.

Video Conferencing and Screen Sharing: Ringover also directly supports video calls and screen sharing from the browser, facilitating more interactive and productive remote meetings without additional software.

Customizable Voicemail: The Ringover app allows businesses to create tailored voicemail messages that can be adapted for different times or situations, providing a more personalized experience for callers.

Pros:

• Multi-level IVR systems for efficient call management
• Quick and easy setup with minimal maintenance required
• Unlimited international calling to numerous countries
• Seamless CRM integration

Cons:

• Higher costs for premium features
• Limited customization options for larger enterprises
• Dependency on internet quality, as poor connection can affect call quality
• Integration challenges with less common CRM systems

Pricing:

TextMe allows more flexibility for individual users and small businesses. It supports free texts and calls to any number, a feature supplemented by multimedia messaging and video calls. The unique aspect of TextMe is its reward system, where users earn free calling credits, making it an economical option for budget-conscious users.

Key Features

Free Texting and Calling: TextMe offers free texts and calls to any number in various countries, including the U.S., Canada, and numerous other international destinations, using a real phone number provided by the app.

Multimedia Messaging: With TextMe, users can send photos, videos, and voice messages, enhancing the communication experience beyond standard texts.

Customizable Number: TextMe allows users to choose their own unique phone number, providing flexibility and personalization of their communication line.

Pros:

• Offers free basic services, making it an affordable option.
• Simple, user-friendly interface.
• Free calls and texts to certain international locations.
• Allows users to select their own phone number.
• Supports multimedia in messages, including video calls.

Cons:

• The free version includes ads.
• Quality of service is dependent on internet connectivity.
• Potential privacy concerns with personal data usage.
• Some users report delayed notifications or messages.

Pricing: 

Free download 

Phone.com provides scalable solutions designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a mix of traditional and VoIP services, including features like call blocking, voicemail to email, and automated voicemail transcriptions. Its flexible pricing, especially the pay-per-minute plans, allows businesses to scale services according to their needs without overspending.

Key Features

Flexible Call Handling: Phone.com offers advanced call handling features such as call forwarding, hold, transfer, and block, allowing businesses to manage calls according to their specific operational needs.

Automated Attendants: Phone.com includes an auto-attendant feature, which routes calls to the appropriate department or extension based on customizable rules.

Customizable Greetings: Phone.com enables users to customize their greetings, enhancing the professional appearance of their communication system and the personal touch it gives.

Conference Calling: The service supports conference calling, allowing multiple participants to join a single call, essential for team meetings and collaborative sessions.

Pros:

• Offers a pay-per-minute plan, ideal for small businesses with low call volumes.
• Supports international calling to multiple countries.
• Integrates with popular business tools like CRM software.
• Provides advanced features like voicemail transcription, call analytics, and automated attendants.

Cons:

• Setup and interface may be complex for some users.
• Some features are only available on higher-tier plans.
• Customer support can be inconsistent.
• Call quality may vary, especially over poor internet connections.
• Limited customization options for call handling compared to other VoIP services.

Pricing:

TextNow provides users with a free phone number for unlimited texting and calling over Wi-Fi and data, making it a cost-effective solution for those looking to reduce phone bills. However, it has drawbacks, such as frequent ads in the free version, limited customer support, and sometimes unreliable call quality.

Calilio stands out as the best alternative to buy a virtual number, offering a comprehensive suite of basic and advanced features that surpass those of TextNow. It provides an ad-free experience, high-quality voice calls, and texting, even in low-bandwidth areas. Advanced features include voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, detailed call analytics, call recording, live call monitoring, and AI-powered call summaries, making Calilio a comprehensive and reliable communication solution.

When searching for apps like TextNow, consider cost, features, network reliability, user experience, privacy and security, device compatibility, and customer support. Ensure the service offers the necessary features like unlimited texting and calling, voicemail, and multimedia messaging.

Calilio is better than another alternative to TextNow because it offers a great platform for a virtual number. It offers advance features like call forwarding, detailed call analytics, call recording, live call monitoring, and AI-powered call summaries. with ad-free experience. These advanced features make it a comprehensive and reliable communication solution, especially for businesses.

TextMe is a free alternative to TextNow. It provides free texting and calling to any number, multimedia messaging, and customizable phone numbers. However, the free version includes ads, and the quality of service may depend on internet connectivity.

Yes, Calilio provides 24/7 dedicated customer support, ensuring immediate assistance. It is particularly beneficial for businesses that require reliable support to maintain effective communication and operational efficiency.

Many TextNow alternatives, such as Calilio and Google Voice, offer number portability, allowing you to keep your existing phone number when switching services. Check with the specific service provider for their number porting policies.