TextNow Review

Introduction

Here at PhoneArena, we don’t shy away from reviewing an assortment of things related to mobile. From the cool smartphones, to some nifty accessories, we love to share our experiences with the various products, services, and apps that we come across. Although it’s not frequently we cover services, we thought that it’d be intriguing to see what TextNow has to offer to consumers.

For those of you wondering, TextNow is the world’s first all-IP, cloud-based mobile phone carrier that offers competitive service pricing and device discounts that’ll make you second guess what you currently have now. The way cell phone service is being offered here in the US is evolving, where contracts are no longer offered – moving instead towards the no-contract model. TextNow has an enticing package that can’t be overlooked, so we thought it’d be a good opportunity to see what it’s all about.

How it works

For one, we have to say that choosing a plan with TextNow is simple, thus, eliminating the confusing options that traditional carriers provide. You should know that its plans are all 100% commitment free, giving customers the flexibility of choosing to stay or go at any time – and there are no penalties in doing so!

Choosing a plan is like figuring out what drink size you want from Starbucks. There are a total of 4 options when it comes to service: tall, grande, venti, and Quattro. Priced respectively at $18.99, $26.99, $39.99, and $59.99 per month, all four plans include unlimited call and texting to the US & Canada, as well as unlimited data at 2G speeds. What’s different, though, is the allotment you get for 3G/4G speeds – so you get 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB respectively.

From a pricing standpoint, it’s hard to deny that TextNow offers some aggressive pricing that undercuts the competition by nearly half the cost. The savings is arguably the single most attractive thing about going with TextNow. Comparing it to what’s offered by T-Mobile and Sprint, you’re still achieving considerable savings with TextNow.

Billed as an all-IP, cloud-based phone carrier, it mainly leverages Wi-Fi as its main mode of connectivity to the cloud. Its supported phones can place and receive phone calls and text messages via Wi-Fi, but it falls back on traditional cellular connectivity when there’s no Wi-Fi present – in this case, it’s the Sprint network.

The supported devices

Perusing through TextNow’s website, they offer a total of 7 smartphones sold directly to consumers. Specifically, its lineup is comprised out of the Motorola Moto G (2013), LG Volt 4G LTE, Motorola Moto X (first-gen), LG Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy S4, and the Samsung Galaxy S5. Indeed, it’s a small lineup, which are sold as brand new or certified refurbished, but what’s most astounding is the pricing that’s attached to them.

For example, the Moto G can be snatched for the hard-to-believe price of $19.99 brand new – whereas the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a sticker price of $399.99. Our particular unit, the LG-made Nexus 5, carries a cost of $169.99 and $199.99 respectively for the refurbished and new models. That’s still pretty competitive!

Not interested in any of the devices? Well, you can actually bring your own device, but they need to come from Sprint, Sprint Prepaid, Virgin Mobile, and Boost Mobile, in order for them to work properly. While this is undoubtedly a pleasant option for those who are existing owners of phones from these carriers, the phones from TextNow are programmed to utilize both the data and cellular networks for calling. Bringing your own phone means that they won’t leverage the data network for calls, so the call quality is impacted outside of Wi-Fi.

Connectivity

One of the biggest decisions about making the switch is knowing that coverage falls under the Sprint network. Even though Sprint has made some great strides in the last year to spread its 4G LTE network, it still largely pales in comparison to the coverage you get from Verizon and AT&T. Carrying it along with us on our travels, it’s often frequent for us to notice that the Nexus 5 switches from LTE back down to 3G – while other devices on us from AT&T and Verizon, generally remain constantly on LTE.

The TextNow app

Needless to say, you gain the best experience using any one of the devices sold by TextNow, but you can still retain service on other devices by using the TextNow app. This, essentially, makes any device capable of sending/receiving phone calls and text messages – just as long as you sign in with your TextNow account. Does this sound familiar? Well, it should because it works on the same premise as Google Voice.

Downloading the app on a Samsung Galaxy S6 Active on AT&T, as well as an Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Sprint, we’re able to utilize the TextNow app to place/receive phone calls and text messages – all of it is down via the cloud. When someone calls our TextNow phone number, it’s routed to all of the phones running the TextNow app. That’s extremely useful, because it means that you can stay in touch no matter what phone you’re using.

Conclusion

It’s almost hard to believe that TextNow offers such value! From its affordable service costs, the discounted phones in its lineup, and the extended use of its app, it’s seriously a comprehensive offering that helps consumers keep connected no matter what. The biggest question, of course, is whether or not you’ll be content relying on Sprint’s coverage. Naturally, LTE coverage is widespread in major cities, but it’s something of a concern for rural areas.

Ultimately, though, we find TextNow’s service as an intriguing prospect that’ll surely make you think twice about what you have. Current Sprint and T-Mobile customers, in addition to the handful of customers using their prepaid services, will really have to think about making the switch considering the unbelievable savings that’s at stake here. However, for those comfortable and rely on the excellent LTE coverage from AT&T and Verizon, it might be tough to make the plunge and switch. Nevertheless, this model is the way service should be done going forward!