Best TextPlus Alternative: How TextFree Compares for Free Texting & Calling

text+ (also known as TextPlus) and TextFree are two popular free texting apps that provide users with a free U.S. or Canadian phone number.

Both apps let you send texts, make calls, and stay connected over Wi-Fi or mobile data without a traditional phone plan. But they differ in a few important ways, especially when it comes to free web texting, free U.S. calling, international options, and voicemail features.

In this guide, we’ll compare TextFree vs. text+ across core capabilities and additional features to help you decide which option is right for you.

Quick Answer: text+ vs. TextFree

• Best for international outbound calling: text+
• Best for desktop and cross-device texting: TextFree
• Best for free domestic calling: TextFree

Bottom line: text+ is a solid fit if you mainly text from your phone and want low-cost international calling options to more countries.

TextFree is a strong TextPlus alternative if you want desktop texting, free domestic calling, and a more robust free-plan experience that feels closer to a traditional carrier-style phone service.

What text+ and TextFree Have in Common

Both TextFree and text+ offer:

• Free U.S. or Canadian phone numbers
• VoIP-based communication
• SMS and MMS messaging
• Group messaging
• Basic voicemail capabilities
• Ad-supported free plans
• Verification code support on paid plans

Both services are commonly used as second phone number apps for work, school, online marketplaces, dating apps, privacy, and general everyday communication.

What is TextFree?

Created by Pinger in 2009, TextFree is a free texting and calling app with over 130 million downloads. It gives users a real U.S. or Canadian phone number and makes it easy to text and call over Wi-Fi or mobile data without a traditional carrier plan or SIM card.

Whether you use it as a primary line or a second number, the TextFree app can send unlimited texts, make and receive calls, manage voicemail, and access conversations across phones, tablets, and desktop browsers.

TextFree Pros

• Free U.S. or Canadian phone number
• Unlimited free texts and standard calls in the U.S. and Canada
• Free outbound texting to 30+ countries and inbound texts from anywhere
• Cross-device support on iOS, Android, tablets, and web/desktop browsers
• No SIM card or traditional carrier plan required
• Custom voicemail greeting and voicemail transcription included
• Auto-reply to missed calls and texts
• Easy set-up process

TextFree Cons

• Free numbers expire after 30 days of inactivity
• 2FA code support requires TextFree Plus
• Limited outbound international calling (currently available only to U.S., Canada, Mexico, India, and Singapore)

Who Should Use TextFree?

Choose TextFree if you:

• Need to text from a desktop browser or laptop
• Want free standard calling in the U.S. and Canada without buying credits
• Regularly message contacts outside the U.S. and Canada
• Want more carrier-like calling and messaging features included for free

Best for: Users who want a TextPlus alternative with desktop access, broader free international texting, stronger voicemail features, and more free communication tools.

What is text+?

Launched in 2009, text+ is a free texting app that gives users a second phone number for communication over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

The text+ app offers free texting within the U.S. and Canada, free app-to-app calls, basic voicemail, and low-cost international calling. It is available on iOS and Android, but does not offer a dedicated official desktop browser or web app for sending messages.

text+ Pros

• Unlimited texting with a free U.S. or Canadian phone number
• Free app-to-app calls worldwide and free toll-free calls in the U.S. and Canada
• Low-cost outbound calling to 200+ countries, starting at $.0.02
• Á la carte upgrades for ad removal, number retention, and Premium features

text+ Cons

• Outbound calls to standard U.S. numbers require Premium or calling credits
• Free international texting is not supported outside the U.S. and Canada
• No official desktop or web messaging app
• Free number expiration window is not clearly advertised—users have reported numbers being reclaimed after around 21 days of inactivity
• No voicemail transcription or free custom voicemail greeting
• No Auto-Reply to missed calls and texts

Who Should Use text+?

Choose text+ if you:

• Mainly text from your phone within the U.S. and Canada
• Prefer app-to-app communication with other text+ users
• Want low-cost outbound calling options, including paid U.S. calls and international calling to more countries

Best for: Users who want a mobile-first texting app for U.S. and Canada messaging, free app-to-app calls, and paid calling options for domestic and international calls.

Feature Comparison

TextFree and text+ both cover the basics of free texting, but they differ most in their calling options, device support, and the features included for free.

Visit the TextFree features page for a closer look at the tools and benefits not covered in this comparison.

*text+ does not clearly advertise the exact inactivity window for free number expiration. The roughly 21-day timeframe is based on user reports and may vary.

Which App Is Better for Free Texting?

TextFree and text+ let you send free texts without a traditional phone plan. For unlimited SMS and MMS messaging in the U.S. and Canada, both apps cover the essentials.

text+ is a good fit if you mainly text domestic numbers from your phone. It supports free SMS, MMS, photo messaging, and group messaging within the U.S. and Canada. However, text+ does not support free international texting to numbers outside the U.S. and Canada.

TextFree gives you more flexibility. In addition to free texting in the U.S. and Canada, TextFree supports free, unlimited outbound texts to 30+ countries and can receive texts from anywhere.

Bottom line: Choose TextFree if you need more international texting options than what text+ can provide.

Is TextFree or text+ Better for Free Calling?

Both apps support calling, but their free calling options work differently once you look beyond inbound calls.

With TextFree, you get:

• Free domestic calling within the U.S. and Canada
• Free incoming calls from anywhere in the world
• Free calling to select international countries, including Canada, Mexico, India, and Singapore
• No calling credits required for standard domestic calls

text+ includes inbound calls, free app-to-app calls with other text+ users, and toll-free calls in the U.S. and Canada. However, outbound calls to standard U.S. numbers require Premium or calling credits.

For international calls, text+ offers low-cost per-minute rates, and Premium includes unlimited calling to select destinations, such as Mexico, the UK, and Brazil.

Bottom line: TextFree is better if you want to make standard calls for free without managing credits or upgrading to Premium, especially within the U.S. TextPlus is a better fit if you mainly call other text+ users or want low-cost paid international calling to more countries.

Which App Is Better for a Free Phone Number?

TextFree and text+ give users a free U.S. or Canadian phone number for texting and calling. All you need is an email address to sign up. The main difference is how clearly each app handles number expiration.

TextFree’s policy is straightforward: free numbers expire after 30 days of inactivity. If you upgrade to TextFree Plus, you can keep your number permanently.

text+ also offers free U.S. and Canadian numbers, but its inactivity window is less clear. text+ does not clearly advertise exactly when free numbers expire, though users have reported numbers being reclaimed after around three weeks of inactivity.

text+ also offers paid options, like Keep Your Number, to help prevent expiration.

Platform Availability & Device Support

Both free texting apps are available on:

• iOS
• Android
• Tablets

The biggest difference is desktop access. TextFree has web/browser messaging, while text+ does not currently offer a dedicated official desktop browser or web app for sending messages. That matters if you want to text from a laptop, use a full keyboard, or keep conversations going while working or studying.

Bottom line: text+ is mainly a mobile app, while TextFree is better built for switching between phone, tablet, and desktop.

Privacy & Data Considerations

TextFree and text+ are both VoIP-based apps, which means they use internet, SMS, and calling technology to help users text and call.

TextFree’s free plan is ad-supported. The TextFree app does not sell or share the content of users’ texts or calls with third parties, and it does not use message content to train AI models. Upgrading to TextFree Plus removes ads.

text+ also has ads on its free plan and offers paid ad-removal options. Its privacy disclosures include data collection and sharing practices related to ads, service operation, security, and product improvement, so users should review those details if privacy is a major concern.

Bottom line: Both apps are suitable for everyday texting and calling, but neither is a replacement for end-to-end encrypted messaging.

TextFree vs. text+ Pricing

Both TextFree and text+ are free to download and use, but their paid plans are structured differently.

TextFree bundles its core premium features into one main subscription. text+ offers more à la carte paid options, including Premium bundles, ad removal, and number retention.

TextFree Pricing Plans

text+ Pricing Plans

Calls to text+ destinations not included with Premium are still available at per-minute rates. International outbound calling starts as low as 2¢ per minute, depending on destination.

Bottom line: TextFree offers a more complete free plan and a simpler paid upgrade. text+ may cost less if you only need a specific paid add-on, like ad removal or number retention, but many standard outbound calling features require credits or Premium.

Final Verdict: Is TextFree a Good TextPlus Alternative?

Yes. TextFree is one of the strongest alternatives to text+ for users who want more flexibility from a free texting and calling app.

Final takeaway:

• Go with TextFree if you want a free phone number with desktop texting, free standard calling in the U.S. and Canada, free outbound texting to 30+ countries, and free calling to select international destinations.
• Go with text+ if you want a mobile-first texting app for domestic messaging, free app-to-app calls, and á la carte paid options for calling, ad removal, or number retention.

FAQs about text+ vs. TextFree