text+

text+ is an internet-based second-number service for Android and iOS. It fits people who want to keep a personal number private, add a line to a spare phone or tablet, or maintain a separate channel for everyday messages. Its free tier is useful for texting and receiving calls, while dependable number retention and broader calling require paid features.

Overview

text+ provides a real phone number that works over Wi-Fi or mobile data. You can send ordinary SMS and MMS, including photos and group messages, to mobile numbers in the United States and Canada without requiring recipients to install text+. That makes it more practical for a secondary contact number than services limited to in-app users.

Incoming calls are free, and outbound calls are offered at low cost to more than 200 countries. The service is therefore suitable for occasional international calling, but readers who need substantial outbound use should compare the Premium allowances with pay-as-you-go costs. text+ was founded in 2009, is headquartered in Venice, California, and says it joined Truecaller in September 2026.

Key features

SMS, MMS, photo sharing and group messaging cover the everyday tasks most people expect from a spare line. Because recipients use regular mobile numbers, your contacts do not have to adopt a new messaging network. Calls use Wi-Fi or data, allowing a spare phone or tablet to function as a phone line when it has an internet connection.

Premium adds unlimited calls in the US and unlimited calling to Canada and more than 30 countries. It also protects your number during inactivity, adds a custom voicemail greeting and gives subscribers prioritized customer support. Number protection is significant for anyone who prints the number on forms, gives it to clients or expects to return after periods of non-use; without it, the service advises keeping the number active.

In-app blocking and abuse reporting provide basic control over unwanted contacts. text+ says it uses measures intended to protect information but cannot guarantee that transmitted information is fully secure, so it should not be treated as a secure channel for sensitive communications. Users must be at least 13 years old.

Pricing

The free plan keeps the entry cost at zero but leaves outbound calling and number protection outside the tier. Premium's advertised starting price is below $5 per month, with billing terms beyond that starting point not given, so confirm the offer before subscribing.

Platforms

text+ is available on Android and iOS. That coverage suits smartphones and tablets, particularly when a spare device needs a separate line.

Who it's for

Choose text+ for a personal second number, privacy between personal and other communications, or ordinary US and Canadian texting without asking contacts to install an app. It is also a sensible fit for light inbound calling and occasional international use. Look elsewhere if your work depends on a permanently retained number without paying, or if you require a communications service designed for strong confidentiality.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Regular SMS and MMS reach US and Canadian mobile numbers, so recipients need no separate app.
• Free inbound calls and a free messaging tier make a second number inexpensive to maintain initially.
• Premium combines number protection with unlimited calling in the US, Canada and more than 30 countries.
• Blocking and abuse reporting offer direct tools for handling unwanted users.

Cons

• Outbound calling is paid on the Free plan, limiting its usefulness as a no-cost voice line.
• Number retention during inactivity is a Premium benefit, which matters for long-term contact numbers.
• The Premium trial has no stated duration, making the evaluation window unclear.
• text+ cannot guarantee full security for transmitted information, so sensitive conversations need another channel.

Alternatives

TextNow is the closer choice if you need Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web or Windows support, with a free plan offering unlimited talk and text when paired with an active TextNow SIM; its Unlimited Plan costs $35.99 a month.

CallHub suits organizations managing contacts and campaign calling across web, desktop, mobile and API, with a paid model, free plan and trial.

Impactive is aimed at organized outreach, offering web access, pay-as-you-go messaging and 1,000 included form responses per month.

Empower App is for approved political and labor organizations needing organizer and activist smartphone apps.

OutreachCircle provides a free Supporter Action Hub on Android, iOS and web.

FreeMessaging.ai is a web service with no monthly software subscription for its standard offering, while carrier, number and compliance costs remain separate.

UpVote Campaigns uses quote-based pricing for Android, iOS and web.

Blu Txt offers full-service and self-service plans with no setup fees or minimums and pay-for-use pricing.

For more options, browse Peer-to-Peer Texting Software.

Verdict

text+ is a strong fit for anyone who wants a second Android or iOS number for regular US and Canadian texting, free inbound calls and occasional internet-based communication. Premium becomes the sensible choice when number continuity, unlimited regional calling or prioritized support matters. Choose another service if you need a no-cost outbound calling line, broader platform coverage or stronger assurances for sensitive communications.