TextNow alternative
A TextNow alternative that works outside North America
TextNow is free, but it lets only people in North America register and use it, it runs on ads, and a free number that goes unused can be reclaimed. TwinPhone is the paid alternative for everyone else: sign up with an email from outside North America, rent a US or Canada number from $3.19/month that stays yours while the rental is paid, and call phones from $0.02/min to the US and Canada.
- Receives calls and US SMS
- Cannot send SMS
- From $3.19/mo
- Cancel anytime
TextNow vs TwinPhone
| TextNow | TwinPhone | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can sign up | People in North America only | Sign up with an email, from outside North America too |
| Price of the number | Free with ads; Lock In Number is $1.99/week | From $3.19/month, no ads |
| Keeping the number | A free number can be reclaimed after inactivity (TextNow warns first) | Yours while the monthly rental is paid; cancel anytime |
| Calls to the US and Canada | Free | $0.02/min |
| Calls to other countries | Paid international credits; TextNow says some, like Mexico and the UK, are free | Per minute, shown before you dial (UK $0.06 landline, $0.12 mobile) |
| Texting | Send and receive | Receive SMS from US and Canadian senders only; cannot send |
When TextNow is the better choice
- You live in the US or Canada, want free calls and texts, and can live with ads.
- You need to send text messages. A TwinPhone number only receives SMS.
- You mostly call Mexico or the UK, which TextNow says it includes for free.
When TwinPhone fits better
- You live outside North America and TextNow will not let you register.
- You need a US or Canada number that stays yours without having to use it every day.
- You call phones in many countries and want the per-minute rate on screen before the call connects.
- You want a number with no ads in the app or the browser.
TextNow alternative — FAQ
Everything you need to know about TwinPhone.
Not for new users outside North America. TextNow's help centre says the app can be downloaded and used only within North America, and that people outside North America cannot register an account in the app or on its website.
TwinPhone is not free: a number is from $3.19/month and calls are pay-as-you-go from a $10 top-up. If you live in the US or Canada, TextNow's free tier is the cheaper answer. TwinPhone is for the people TextNow does not take and for anyone who wants the number to stay put without daily use.
No. A TwinPhone number receives SMS from US and Canadian senders in your browser inbox, but it cannot send SMS. If sending texts matters, TextNow does that and TwinPhone does not.
No. The number stays on your account for as long as the monthly rental is paid, whether you use it or not. It is released when the rental stops. TextNow, by contrast, reclaims free numbers that go unused and sells a Lock In Number upgrade to prevent that.
Calls to US and Canadian numbers are $0.02/min. Every other country has its own per-minute rate, shown in the dialer before the call connects, and billed by the minute. Calls are paid from a calling balance with a $10 minimum top-up, separate from the number's monthly price.
Sources for the TextNow facts on this page
Read on TextNow's own website on 27 September 2026.
Get a US number from outside North America
From $3.19/month. Receives calls and US SMS. Cancel anytime.
Free to sign up — no card, no subscription