textPlus

Free texting and low cost calls with a true second number

textPlus is a versatile communication tool that gives you a real U.S. phone number without tying you to a carrier contract. It’s designed for anyone who needs a separate line for work, online selling, dating, or travel, while keeping their primary number private.

The core appeal lies in its flexible second-number system. You choose a U.S. area code and instantly get a verified number that can send unlimited texts to U.S. contacts and handle MMS and group conversations. Calls to you are free over WiFi or data, and outbound calls use a credit-based model, with particularly attractive rates for international destinations. This makes it a handy option for travelers looking to avoid roaming fees or students and freelancers managing contacts in different regions.

The interface is straightforward, borrowing the familiar layout of a standard dialer and messaging inbox. Conversations sync across devices, so you can start a thread on one device and continue it on another without losing history, which is especially useful if you regularly switch between phone and tablet.

textPlus is ad-supported, and that’s one of its main trade-offs. While ads help keep texting free, they can feel intrusive during longer sessions. Some users may also find that call quality depends heavily on network strength; on weaker WiFi, occasional drops or echo can occur. Area code availability is not always perfect either, so you might not always get the exact region you want.

Despite these limitations, textPlus delivers a compelling balance of free messaging, low-cost calling, and privacy-friendly features, making it a solid choice if you need a reliable, no-contract second number.