textPlus: Text Message + Call

Social

7.0~~/10~~

Our score

★ 4.1 Google Play·50M+ installs

Reviewed by Editorial Team, ScoredApps editorial · updated 2026-09-05

Screenshots

Title art with an incoming call card above the app name

Message list with conversations beside a Calls tab

Group chat with messages and a shared photo

Call screen showing mute, speaker, keypad and remaining minutes

Area code selection listing Arkansas and California codes

Number selection with a countdown holding the chosen line

About textPlus: Text Message + Call

textPlus hands you a real US phone number without a carrier: pick an area code, claim a number, and send texts and receive calls over Wi-Fi or data. It suits a second line for selling things, a first line for a phone with no plan, and international calls billed in credits. It is free and heavily advertising-supported, with a $4.99 monthly bundle and a $9.99 purchase to keep a number.

App information

DevelopertextPlus, Inc.

Version8.3.6 (Android) · 8.6.3 (iOS)

Size125.2 MB (Android) · 211 MB (iOS)

Price / In-appFree

Contains adsYes

In-app purchasesYes

Content rating16+

Requires (Android)Android 7.0+

Requires (iOS)iOS 15.6+

Offline modeNone — texts and calls run over Wi-Fi or mobile data

Interface languagesEN, FR, ES

Store rating (Google Play)4.1 from 541,179 ratings

Installs50M+

Updated by developer2026-08-20

Data checked2026-09-07

Specs come from the official store listings and were last checked on 2026-09-07. Developers change pricing and requirements — check the store page before installing.

textPlus Review: A Free US Number, Paid to Keep

Choose an Area Code, Then a Number

Setup is the strongest part. The app asks for a state or area code — the list runs through every US region, so a 209 California or 479 Arkansas number is a two-tap choice — then offers specific numbers from that area and nearby ones. A countdown holds your selection for a few minutes while you decide, and premium numbers are offered separately. Free texting, free picture messaging and free inbound calls come with it, which is what makes the app usable on a tablet or on a phone with no SIM at all.

$4.99 a Month, or Credits by the Minute

Outbound and international calling runs on credits rather than a flat plan: 100 credits or 40 minutes for $0.99, 100 minutes or $1.99 of calling credit for $1.99. Above that sit subscriptions — a Premium Bundle at $4.99 a month and a Premium Number Bundle at $39.99 a year — and a separate $9.99 purchase listed as Keep Phone Number, which is the one to understand before relying on the line for anything important. The call screen shows a live minutes balance while you talk. Prices are US listings.

A 16+ Rating and Cross-App Tracking

The commercial machinery is heavy for a utility. Apple rates the app 16+, citing advertising, contests, simulated gambling and chat, and states that identifiers are used to track users across other companies' apps and websites. Google Play lists nine collected categories with location, personal information and three others shared with third parties, and the listing carries a Contains ads badge. The store ratings split accordingly: 4.6 on the App Store against 4.1 from 541,000 Google Play reviews, across an install base that has passed 50 million on Android. The Android build was last updated in August 2026, so the app is maintained rather than abandoned.

Pros

Free US number with your choice of area code
Free texting, picture messaging and inbound calls
Works on Wi-Fi, so a SIM-free phone or tablet qualifies
International calling billed in credits rather than a plan
Group chats and picture messages included at no cost

Cons

Advertising is heavy, and the app is rated 16+
Keeping a number is sold as a $9.99 purchase
Nine data categories collected, four shared with third parties
Apple states it tracks you across other companies' apps

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Verdict

For a disposable second line it does the job in about ninety seconds, and choosing your own area code is a real advantage over the alternatives. Read the pricing before it becomes your main line: outbound calls run on credits, the app is rated 16+ for its advertising, and keeping a number is a $9.99 purchase rather than a right. As a throwaway number for selling or signing up, it is hard to beat.

Core function8.0A working US number with texts and inbound calls, delivered without a carrier or SIM.

Ease of use8.0Area code, number, done; the messaging screen looks like any standard SMS app.

Monetisation6.0Ads throughout, credits for outbound calls, and a $9.99 charge tied to keeping the number.

Performance7.5Calls hold up on decent Wi-Fi; quality tracks the connection rather than the phone.

Privacy & permissions4.5Cross-app tracking, nine collected categories, and four of them shared onward.

7.0out of 10 · weighted average of the five scores above

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Frequently asked questions

Is textPlus really free?

The number, texting, picture messaging and incoming calls are free, paid for by advertising — the Play listing carries a Contains ads badge. Outbound calls beyond the free allowance use credits, and keeping a number long-term is sold as a separate purchase, so free covers everyday texting rather than everything.

Can you choose your own area code?

Yes. Setup asks for a state or area code, then lists available numbers from that area and neighbouring ones, with a short countdown holding your choice while you decide. Premium numbers are offered as a paid option. That makes it practical for a local-looking second line when selling or freelancing.

What do calls cost?

Credits are sold at $0.99 for 100 credits or 40 minutes, and $1.99 for 100 minutes or $1.99 of calling credit. Subscriptions run $4.99 a month for the Premium Bundle or $39.99 a year for the Premium Number Bundle. The call screen shows your remaining minutes while a call is in progress.

What happens to the number if you stop using it?

Retention is a paid feature: the store lists a $9.99 Keep Phone Number purchase alongside the subscriptions. Treat a free number as temporary — fine for a marketplace listing or a short project, risky as the contact number on official documents or a bank account.

What are the alternatives?

Google Voice gives a free US number with fewer ads but requires an existing phone number to set up. A carrier eSIM second line costs more but is not going anywhere. This one wins where you want a number immediately, with no carrier and no existing line to verify against.