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TextNow: New and Existing Customers: 1GB/Month Free Essential Data (Limited Apps)
Free
$5 Sim Kit Req'd for New Membersat TextNow.com
$5 Sim Kit Req'd for New Membersat TextNow.comDeal Details
TextNow is offering 1GB/Month Free Essential Data Plan (Limited Apps) for Free to new and current subscribers. New subscribers may order a Sim Kit for $4.99 (click the Get Sim button on the home page).
Thanks to community member ROB.E.REIN for finding this deal.
Plan Details:
Thanks to community member ROB.E.REIN for finding this deal.
Plan Details:
- With Free Essential Data, you can use most email, calendar, maps, notes, and rideshare apps without needing to be connected to Wi-Fi (see eligible apps on the details page)
- TextNow app required
- Make sure you're logged into an account with an active TextNow SIM card. If you have an active SIM in an area with cellular coverage available, you'll automatically have access to 1GB of Free Essential Data each month.
- 350MB of data per month at regular speeds, then you'll have access to data at slightly slower speeds up to 1GB.
- This is in additional to the free texting/calls from via the TextNow app
Editor's Notes
Written by oceanlake- Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
TextNow is offering 1GB/Month Free Essential Data Plan (Limited Apps) for Free to new and current subscribers. New subscribers may order a Sim Kit for $4.99 (click the Get Sim button on the home page).
Thanks to community member ROB.E.REIN for finding this deal.
Plan Details:
Thanks to community member ROB.E.REIN for finding this deal.
Plan Details:
- With Free Essential Data, you can use most email, calendar, maps, notes, and rideshare apps without needing to be connected to Wi-Fi (see eligible apps on the details page)
- TextNow app required
- Make sure you're logged into an account with an active TextNow SIM card. If you have an active SIM in an area with cellular coverage available, you'll automatically have access to 1GB of Free Essential Data each month.
- 350MB of data per month at regular speeds, then you'll have access to data at slightly slower speeds up to 1GB.
- This is in additional to the free texting/calls from via the TextNow app
Editor's Notes
Written by oceanlake- Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Community Voting
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Top Comments
1) The usage requirement to keep your phone number alive and active seems to vary by area code, yet not specified to the user, although they do send out warning emails. It can vary from once every couple of weeks, to every couple of days. Once you lose your phone number, you can sign up for a new one.
2) Many, if not most of the SMS verification services will not work with Textnow numbers. I'm not going into all the details, but this is not a traditional carrier where your SIM card phone number is governed by the SIM card. In fact while there is a phone number associated to the SIM card, that number isn't usable to the customer. Instead Textnow assigns you another number, which is in effect a voice over IP number that it uses over your wifi connection, or when not present, Textnow's data connection.
3) They are notorious for suddenly cancelling your account if you have any use of a VPN on your phone. Apparently they view this as something non US users do to try to get a free Textnow account from overseas, and so cancel your account, without warning, upon detecting this.
4) The ads that are show on your phone, over time, are becoming more intrusive and more video orientated. Before, I hardly noticed the ads. Now they do bother me.
As such, I don't see this suitable for most people as their main cell number, but instead as something for a second, or backup phone, if you can accept the downsides to this service.
I'm confused....when I go to sign up, I see nothing about an Free Essentials Plan with 1GB data/mo. Where is a link to that? In the app I downloaded, it goes straight to buying the SIM card. When do I pick the plan?
Where does it say anything about a free 1GB data/mo? Don't see that.
Edit: I found this page which explains the types of apps you can use the 1GB of data with. Apparently, it's NOT data that you can use for just anything you want to:
https://help.textnow.co
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239 Comments
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or voip numbers that most services reject as fake?
Because I vaguely remember having a problem with their free service
ah ha see what I mean, nope, better just to get a $25/year tracfone
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/285030288045
https://slickdeals.net/newsearch.php?q
and yes you can stack them and yes you can move it to another phone, lots of details in old threads
I'm one of those weird people that actually likes the Orbic, boots fast and battery removable
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I think that the required frequency of use does depend on AC, as noted by another responder. I got one insufficient use notice from TN yrs. ago when I had not used the backup phone in over a month. Now I use it as a home WiFi phone every day. When out of the house and using the cell towers (T-Mobile), WiFi and data must still be turned on. Call quality has been very good. As to the ads: No one forces you to watch them before calling or texting as was stated by another. In fact, I can't recall what any of the recent ads were. They are not obtrusive for me. Lots of free WiFi for more data in my area, so TF could actually be my only cell service.
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In addition to what the other user said, when an inter-LATA call terminates on a local phone company's network, that local carrier charges the long-distance provider an "access charge" or "termination charge" for completing the final leg of the call to the called party. Something on the order of $0.0007 to $0.001 per min, depending on negotiated rates. It's a tiny amount, but VoIP has low overhead for final delivery.
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I complained to them on Twitter, but i don't use Twitter that often. I noticed a few weeks later when i checked again that they finally responded, & asked me to contact them & they'd resolve it. I had already gave up using textnow & changed to TracFone by then, so I didn't bother. It was a hassle, so i wouldn't recommend it as a main mobile account.
I noted earlier that I ported in my phone number. I checked a validation app, it shows as:
Phone Type
MOBILE
Phone Carrier
TextNow
Risk Summary
LOW RISK
The phone is not a VOIP phone number. It is operated by TEXTNOW WIRELESS - SVR
This is my ported in phone number. (The one I can also use on the Website for messaging) I've also used it for Zelle and other verifications.
"With Free Essential Data, you can use most email, calendar, maps, notes, and rideshare apps without needing to be connected to Wi-Fi"
https://help.textnow.co
Anyway: I have never personally tried it, but supposedly numbers ported into Textnow are locked in and will not be taken away due to inactivity. Another benefit I heard is 2FA works for senders using 5 or 6 digit numbers. Senders of 2FA using the full 10 digit calling number to a ported in Textnow number does not work.
In other words according to others (because I have not tried this):
1. A ported number into Textnow does not need to be actively used for fear of it being lost. There also no extra fee required to lock down the number.
2. Once your number is ported into Textnow, you can now receive 2FA codes if the call is from XXXXX or XXXXXX. However, codes sent from XXX-XXX-XXXX will still not work.
Even if a number is ported in, the Textnow app is still required for calls and texts.
If anybody previously ported a number into Textnow or will be planning to do so, feel free to post your experience as it compares to a number assigned to you from Textnow.
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"With Free Essential Data, you can use most email, calendar, maps, notes, and rideshare apps without needing to be connected to Wi-Fi"
https://help.textnow.co
Anyway: I have never personally tried it, but supposedly numbers ported into Textnow are locked in and will not be taken away due to inactivity. Another benefit I heard is 2FA works for senders using 5 or 6 digit numbers. Senders of 2FA using the full 10 digit calling number to a ported in Textnow number does not work.
In other words according to others (because I have not tried this):
1. A ported number into Textnow does not need to be actively used for fear of it being lost. There also no extra fee required to lock down the number.
2. Once your number is ported into Textnow, you can now receive 2FA codes if the call is from XXXXX or XXXXXX. However, codes sent from XXX-XXX-XXXX will still not work.
Even if a number is ported in, the Textnow app is still required for calls and texts.
If anybody previously ported a number into Textnow or will be planning to do so, feel free to post your experience as it compares to a number assigned to you from Textnow.
TextNow: New and Existing Customers: 1GB/Month Free Essential Data (Limited Apps)
Free
at TextNow.com
Get Deal at TextNow.com
DetailsPosted 8 Hours Ago
TextNow is offering 1GB/Month Free Essential Data Plan (Limited Apps) for Free to new and current subscribers. New subscribers may order a Sim Kit for $4.99 (click the Get Sim button on the home page.)
Join The Conversation
Share your experience with the Slickdeals community
Share information with the community. Please follow our Community Guidelines and be kind!