TextNow: New and Existing Customers: 1GB/Month Free Essential Data (Limited Apps)
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$5 Sim Kit Req'd for New Members
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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:
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
TextNow's New "Free Essential Data" plan provides unlimited talk, text, and 1GB of data monthly for essential apps like email, maps, and rideshare. This plan is free except for a one-time $4.99 fee for the SIM card, and is supported by occasional ads. The first 350MB is at regular speeds, followed by slower speeds up to 1GB. Users can buy data passes starting at $0.99 for 300MB.
Last Edited by MisterDude
May 11, 2024
at
08:43 PM
If you already have a TextNow SIM card but find it no longer works you may need to update your APN settings inside your smartphone. One can use the TextNow support chatbot to get the new APN settings. These settings can also be found online in their support article: https://help.textnow.com/hc/en-us...er-network Once I input the new APN info data worked perfectly on older SIM and sure enough the app is showing my free essentials data because I used the app to activate the SIM several years back. Sweet deal!
As an experienced user of Textnow, those considering it should understand:
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.
For those looking for onetime SMS verification, companies like SMSPool provide numbers you can rent for 24 hours or longer, that are guaranteed to work with the selected service. I needed one for a Claude Ai account initial setup and rented it for 36 cents.
So you're getting the SIM card AND 1GB of data every month, all for a 1 time $4.99 charge? Do the calls and texts use up the 1GB of data? How long will the 1GB/mo of data last for free?
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:
I had a number that I used for 3 years. I made sure to use it at least once every two weeks. Two months ago, with no prior warning from TextNow, it was taken from me and given to someone else. I looked and my last usage had been 10 days before. Very strange. No warning at all. I have a lot of subscriptions who text that number.
Someone mentioned that they contacted TextNow via Twitter and received a favorable response to an issue like yours. It might be helpful to try reaching out to TextNow there for assistance regarding your specific issue. Social media can often be a good, if not the only, way to get quick responses from companies. And although it's been a couple of months since this happened, and most likely there's nothing they can do, it's worth a shot since you have a lot of things connected to that number, so it couldn't hurt to try.
The irony that you can't check account info or essential data 'info' while using essential data because TextNow doesn't consider their own website essential.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ChaChing23
05-12-2024 at 07:02 PM.
Quote
from BeigeIdea523
:
How fast does the SIM card get delivered for Hello Mobile? Do they FedEx it or does it take a more than a week?
The SIM card was delivered in two days.
No, they did not send via FedEx.
No, it did not take more than a week.
I ordered on Tuesday, Oct 31 at 5:26 PM.
My SIM card was shipped the next day, Wednesday, Nov 1 via Amazon Shipping/Amazon Logistics.
My SIM card was delivered on Thursday, Nov 2 at 6:30 PM.
The irony that you can't check account info or essential data 'info' while using essential data because TextNow doesn't consider their own website essential.
My God, how stupid can some companies be?
I think most of these companies eventually go under, like FreedomPop, etc., so I believe they're trying to squeeze as much money as they can out of us while offering a completely free service to stay afloat that much longer?
Here are the selling points that tipped the decision for me:
• Unlimited text
• Unlimited calls
• 500 MB per month data (phone sits on desk and uses WiFi, so very little data need - but I could take it out of the house, if needed in an emergency and get by for a month).
• Taxes and fees are INCLUDED. This is a big one. Most of these low-cost plans have taxes and fees added AFTER the price you are quoted. Hello Mobile's $5/mo INCLUDES taxes and fees.
• MONTHLY billing. Most low-cost plans you have to buy several months (3, 6 or 12 months) at a time. Hello Mobile bills you MONTHLY. So you can leave at any time.
• Bills to a credit card, so I get cash-back on that, too.
• Second month is free.
The SIM card was FREE. The SIM card was shipped to me in two days. I ported in a line. I was able to install and activate by myself. Just me and their website - quite easy.
Service has been great.
That's too bad if the free essential data doesn't work in Canada; I was hoping to use that for an upcoming trip. Last year TextNow had a very reasonably priced data plan ($11) for Canada that I used, but now that plan is no longer available and it costs $40 per month which is really expensive. I only need 1-2GB for 2 weeks and Airalo is far cheaper at $11 for 2GB for 15 days.
That's too bad if the free essential data doesn't work in Canada; I was hoping to use that for an upcoming trip. Last year TextNow had a very reasonably priced data plan ($11) for Canada that I used, but now that plan is no longer available and it costs $40 per month which is really expensive. I only need 1-2GB for 2 weeks and Airalo is far cheaper at $11 for 2GB for 15 days.
The hourly pass at $0.99 and the daily pass at $4.99 also offer data roaming in Canada and Mexico. This is more expensive than Airalo, just FYI.
As an experienced user of Textnow, those considering it should understand:
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.
Does TextNow Support Verification Codes?
If you live in the United States, you'll be able to receive most verification codes by porting in a phone number from another carrier or purchasing any of the following plans and subscriptions:
Lock in Number
Ad-Free+
Premium Number
Any high speed data plan
Unfortunately, Canadian verification codes are largely unsupported at this time. If you have one of the subscriptions listed above, you may be able to receive some verification codes in Canada but it is not advised to purchase a subscription for that purpose because it is not guaranteed.
Some lucky folks got early taste of some form of cellular data service for a while. Before "Essential Data", there were Redditors who claimed to have 250 MB/month for any use. That was 2+ years ago. IIRC, claims about getting "Essential Data" for "Essential Apps" followed not long after.
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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
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
https://www.textnow.com/get-free-...data-plans
My God, how stupid can some companies be?
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ChaChing23
How fast does the SIM card get delivered for Hello Mobile? Do they FedEx it or does it take a more than a week?
No, they did not send via FedEx.
No, it did not take more than a week.
I ordered on Tuesday, Oct 31 at 5:26 PM.
My SIM card was shipped the next day, Wednesday, Nov 1 via Amazon Shipping/Amazon Logistics.
My SIM card was delivered on Thursday, Nov 2 at 6:30 PM.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
My God, how stupid can some companies be?
Or, just port a number in—several people stated that porting a number in gets rid of the inactivity timer.
Three bucks port out from Google Voice!
https://hellomobile.com/register/plans
Here are the selling points that tipped the decision for me:
• Unlimited text
• Unlimited calls
• 500 MB per month data (phone sits on desk and uses WiFi, so very little data need - but I could take it out of the house, if needed in an emergency and get by for a month).
• Taxes and fees are INCLUDED. This is a big one. Most of these low-cost plans have taxes and fees added AFTER the price you are quoted. Hello Mobile's $5/mo INCLUDES taxes and fees.
• MONTHLY billing. Most low-cost plans you have to buy several months (3, 6 or 12 months) at a time. Hello Mobile bills you MONTHLY. So you can leave at any time.
• Bills to a credit card, so I get cash-back on that, too.
• Second month is free.
The SIM card was FREE. The SIM card was shipped to me in two days. I ported in a line. I was able to install and activate by myself. Just me and their website - quite easy.
Service has been great.
https://www.textnow.com/get-free-...data-plans
https://help.textnow.co
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.
If you live in the United States, you'll be able to receive most verification codes by porting in a phone number from another carrier or purchasing any of the following plans and subscriptions:
Lock in Number
Ad-Free+
Premium Number
Any high speed data plan
Unfortunately, Canadian verification codes are largely unsupported at this time. If you have one of the subscriptions listed above, you may be able to receive some verification codes in Canada but it is not advised to purchase a subscription for that purpose because it is not guaranteed.
https://help.textnow.co
I'm pretty sure @zigner meant account locked, can no longer log in to access the account.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
What I knew a few months ago: https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=