Have you ever had to sign up for some online service and they asked for your very personal details such as your personal phone numbet? Or found a gig on Craigslist and they asked you to provide a phone number for more effective and convenient communication?
Or on a dating app, you meet someone and you agree to exchange numbers, but you really don’t want to give your real number to a stranger just yet? Or better still, do you need to sign up to yet another social platform like Wechat or Facebook but don’t want to give your number for verification to avoid spam texts and calls?
Whatever reason you want to protect your real identity, there are many options to provide you with a secondary phone number. This article has everything you need to know about TextNow, one of the best free phone services.
What It Is and How It Works
TextNow is an app that utilizes VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology to allow you to send text messages and call from an actual US phone number, as well as use other platforms such as Facebook. Some of their services are free while others are not.
How it works is that you download the app on your device, launch it, create an account login, and you are ready to get started. You can use it on any Android and Apple devices on your iPhone, Tablet, and Smartphone, to send and receive, and text.
Are TextNow Numbers Really Free
As they say, “when the deal is too good, think twice”. Having a free us number may seem too good to be true. However, as long as you are in the US or Canada, you get a free number to make and receive texts and calls.
But, keep in mind that calls outside the US and some locations are not free and you may be charged some cents for them. Just confirm the rates before making a call or sending a text. They also have subscription plans for their premium services.
How To Get a TextNow Free US Phone Number

As said above, the first thing you need to do is create an account. There are two ways you can go about this: Go on to their website and create an account from there or download the app.
Create TextNow Account Via The Web
If you decide to create your account online via the web, go to their main site at textnow.com. At the top right corner of the home page, there are two buttons; “login” and “create an account”, click the latter to sign up.
This will open another window with three options to sign up. That is through your Facebook account, Google account, or Apple. Choose whatever is the most convenient for you and complete the setup by following the on-screen prompts.
Create TextNow Account Via The App
To create your account via the app, go to your browser and search for TextNow APK. Click on the results that will take you to your Google App Store, or the Apple Store, and download it from there. You can also just simply visit Apple or App stores to download the app.
Install, launch, and open it once it is downloaded on your device. The first thing that will show up is to ask you to create an account. Go ahead and click on the “sign up” button and choose how you want to sign up; with your Google, Apple, or Facebook account.
The good thing about signing up from the app is that there is an option to sign up with your email. If you choose it, you will have to enter your email and create a password, then hit “sign up”.
Get a TextNow Free US Phone Number
After signing up, follow the on-screen instructions to generate your TextNow number. You can search by location or area code to choose the listed available numbers. You can then use this number to send and receive messages and calls.
Why get a TextNow US Phone Number
There are many reasons why you may want to get a secondary phone number. One of the main reasons is for security purposes, especially if you just want to verify another app or service online that requires a phone number, but you don’t want to give your personal contact.
Here are more reasons why you can get a TextNow free US phone number;
- Get free unlimited texts and calls in the US and Canada
- Allows picture messages, videos, and audio
- Transcript voice mails, forward calls, and customize ringtones as you like
- Their paid subscriptions are affordable if you ever need to subscribe
Bottom Line
Getting a TextNow free US phone number is relatively easy and fast. All you have to do is download the app on your device and follow the easy prompts to choose your desired number. It comes with a lot of perks, including sending and receiving free texts and calls, cheap data plans, forwarding calls, voicemail transcripts, and more.
Explore Related Articles
- How to Get a Free Phone Number For Verification
- How To Get a Free Google Phone Number
- How to Send Anonymous Text Message From Computer for Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on TextNow free US phone numbers online;