Text Me ships a free second phone number with texting and calling to over 40 countries, plus a paid tier that lifts limits on US and Canada calls. The free model works, but it has the same wear points the rest of the category has. Ads sit between actions. Earning calling credits by watching videos eats time. The dedicated US or Canada number sometimes runs out and the app issues a new one. And some users want a number that survives port-out to a real carrier later, which Text Me does not support.
If any of those reasons pushed you to look around, the second-phone-number category gives you real choice. The seven Text Me alternatives below cover free apps with dedicated US numbers, low-cost burner lines, privacy-first temporary numbers, and an eSIM option for daters or travellers who want a real virtual line in their dialler.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TextNow | Free unlimited US/Canada calls and texts | Yes | Free with ads | Free real phone number, no top-up needed |
| Google Voice | Trusted second line tied to a Google account | Yes (US) | Free | One number rings any device |
| TextFree | Free texting and calling with a US number | Yes | Free with ads | Pinger-backed network, stable numbers |
| Hushed | Privacy-focused temporary numbers | No | Pay as you go | Numbers in 60-plus countries |
| Burner | Disposable numbers for short tasks | No | Subscription tiers | Easy to burn and replace a number |
| 2ndLine | Second US/Canada number, US/CA only | Yes | Free with ads | Same network as TextNow, separate line |
| eSIM Plus | Virtual eSIM line with real carrier numbers | No | Pay per data/voice plan | Adds an eSIM number to your dialler |
Why people leave Text Me
The reasons repeat in store reviews and second-phone forums. Ad density on the free tier is high, with full-screen ads between calls and texts on lower-tier devices. The credit-by-watching-videos system is slow, especially for users who only need calls to a couple of numbers. Numbers can be reassigned if you go inactive for a while, which breaks confirmations from services that texted the old number. Coverage in specific countries varies, and some users say SMS verification messages for banks and ride-share apps do not arrive reliably. And for users who actually want a number they can keep, port out, or tie to a SIM, Text Me’s VoIP model has a ceiling.
Each app below addresses at least one of those issues.
The 7 best Text Me alternatives in 2026
1. TextNow, free real number with stable US/Canada coverage
TextNow is the closest direct match to Text Me’s free-tier promise, and the bigger of the two networks. It gives every account a free dedicated US or Canada number, unlimited texts and calls inside North America, and the same VoIP-over-WiFi-or-data model. Reliability for SMS verification is generally better than Text Me’s, and the app is the default starting point for anyone who wants a no-cost second number on Android.
Where it falls short: the free tier shows full-screen ads between sessions, similar to Text Me. Calls outside North America are paid, with credit purchased in-app.
Pricing: Free with ads, plus paid ad-free and Premium tiers that lift limits.
Migrating from Text Me: No port-in from Text Me. Open TextNow, pick a number, set up forwarding from accounts that still text the old number until you switch them over.
Bottom line: Pick TextNow if you want the same model as Text Me with a larger active network and slightly more reliable verifications.
2. Google Voice, the safe second line for a Google account
Google Voice is the right pick if you want a second number tied to an account you already trust. The free tier gives US residents one dedicated US number that rings any device signed in to the same Google account, handles voicemail with transcription, and integrates with the rest of Google’s services. Text Me vs Google Voice is ad-supported VoIP versus an integrated number tied to your main identity provider.
Where it falls short: Google Voice is US-only for the free number, and signups outside the US require workarounds. The product gets thin updates compared to standalone competitors.
Pricing: Free for US personal use. Google Workspace business plans add additional Voice tiers with international calling.
Migrating from Text Me: No port-in from Text Me. Set up Google Voice, switch any services tied to the Text Me number to the new line manually.
Bottom line: Pick Google Voice if you want a stable, ad-free second line tied to your Google account.
3. TextFree (Pinger), free texting on a different VoIP network
TextFree is run by Pinger, one of the older VoIP-text providers, and offers a free US number with unlimited texts plus a generous block of free calling minutes. It sits in roughly the same product slot as Text Me, but on a different underlying network, which sometimes makes the difference for users whose banks or services fail to deliver SMS to Text Me numbers. Text Me vs TextFree is Text Me’s app polish versus Pinger’s older but reliable carrier integrations.
Where it falls short: the UI is older than Text Me’s, and free calling minutes are limited unless you watch ads or pay.
Pricing: Free with ads. Premium tiers remove ads and lift calling caps.
Migrating from Text Me: No port-in. Get a TextFree number, redirect services manually.
Bottom line: Pick TextFree if Text Me’s SMS verification reliability has been the issue for you.
4. Hushed, privacy-focused temporary numbers
Hushed is built around privacy: short-term or long-term numbers in more than 60 countries, ad-free, paid by usage or by subscription. The product fits people who use second numbers to keep their main line off public listings, dating sites, marketplaces, and short-term work contacts. Text Me vs Hushed is free ad-supported general use versus paid privacy-first numbers with regional coverage Text Me cannot match.
Where it falls short: there is no free tier. Plans start small but they are paid from day one, and pay-as-you-go credit can run out unexpectedly if you do not track usage.
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go credit bundles or monthly subscription tiers per number, with international coverage included.
Migrating from Text Me: No port-in. Choose a Hushed number for the region you want, switch services manually.
Bottom line: Pick Hushed if privacy and country coverage matter more than running on a free tier.
5. Burner, disposable numbers for short tasks
Burner is the closest the category has to a literal burner phone. The pitch is simple: get a number, use it for a task (selling something, dating, a short trip), and replace it when you are done. Numbers can be paused, archived, or burned cleanly without leaving residue on the rest of the app. Text Me vs Burner is a long-term second line versus throwaway numbers designed to be replaced.
Where it falls short: no free tier, and the per-number model can add up if you keep several numbers active. International coverage is smaller than Hushed’s.
Pricing: Paid subscription tiers (Mini, Standard, Premier) that bundle different numbers of lines, minutes, and texts.
Migrating from Text Me: No port-in. Burn the Text Me number, pick a new Burner number, update services.
Bottom line: Pick Burner if you need short-lived numbers you can burn cleanly when a task ends.
6. 2ndLine, North-America-only second number from the TextNow network
2ndLine is run by the same company as TextNow, with one design choice: only US and Canadian numbers, only North-America-focused use. That focus makes it the simpler choice for users who do not need international features and just want a clean second line for a North American number. Text Me vs 2ndLine is multi-country free service versus North-America-only free service on the larger TextNow network.
Where it falls short: completely scoped to US and Canada. Outbound international calls are paid by credit, and the app does not pretend to do anything else.
Pricing: Free with ads. Paid tiers remove ads and lift call limits.
Migrating from Text Me: No port-in. Pick a 2ndLine number, update services.
Bottom line: Pick 2ndLine if you only need a North American second line and want the larger underlying network without TextNow’s extras.
7. eSIM Plus, a virtual eSIM with real carrier numbers
eSIM Plus is the most different option in the list. Instead of a VoIP number that exists inside an app, it installs an eSIM profile on a supported Android phone, which gives you a real cellular number that lives in the system dialler and messaging app. Text Me vs eSIM Plus is VoIP-inside-an-app versus a real virtual SIM line that shows up in your phone settings.
Where it falls short: requires an eSIM-capable Android phone (most flagships from the last few years), there is no free tier, and the numbers are tied to data and voice plans rather than free indefinitely.
Pricing: Pay-per-plan for data and voice, with regional and global eSIM options.
Migrating from Text Me: No port-in from a VoIP number. Install the eSIM profile, get a new line, switch services.
Bottom line: Pick eSIM Plus if you want a virtual line that behaves like a real SIM, not a VoIP overlay.
How to choose
Pick TextNow if you want the closest free swap from Text Me with a larger active network. Pick Google Voice if you want a stable, ad-free second line attached to your Google account. Pick TextFree if Text Me’s SMS verification reliability for banks and apps has been the real problem.
Pick Hushed if privacy and international coverage justify a paid plan. Pick Burner if your real need is short-lived numbers you can replace cleanly. Pick 2ndLine if you want a free North-America-only second line on the TextNow network. Pick eSIM Plus if you want a virtual line that behaves like a real SIM in your system dialler, not a VoIP overlay.
Stay on Text Me if the free tier and the credit-watching system work for you, your country is well-covered, and the numbers you have already shared with banks, ride-share apps, or contacts are stable. Text Me’s strength is breadth of country support on a free tier, and switching often means trading that breadth for a tighter focus.
FAQ
Is there a free Text Me alternative? Yes. TextNow, Google Voice (US only), TextFree, and 2ndLine all have genuinely free tiers with a dedicated number. Hushed, Burner, and eSIM Plus are paid only.
Which Text Me alternative is best for SMS verification? Google Voice is the most reliable, followed by TextNow and TextFree. SMS verification for banks, ride-share apps, and some social platforms still fails on any VoIP number sometimes, which is a category-wide limit rather than a single-app issue.
Which app is best for a burner phone number? Burner is the most literal match, with disposable numbers designed to be replaced. Hushed also fits short-term use, with the bonus of international numbers.
Can I port my Text Me number to another app? Generally no. VoIP-to-VoIP porting is not supported by most apps on this list. Some allow porting a real carrier number into the app, but moving a Text Me number elsewhere is not a standard feature.
Why do people leave Text Me? The repeating reasons are ad density, slow credit accrual through video ads, occasional number reassignment after inactivity, and SMS verification failing for some services. The alternatives above each fix one of those issues.
Is Google Voice better than Text Me? For US users who want a stable second number tied to a trusted account, yes. Google Voice has fewer ads, better verification reliability, and tighter integration with other Google services. Outside the US, Text Me’s multi-country support is the bigger draw.
