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TextNow: 11 Things To Know Before You Sign Up

By
Stetson Doggett
|
Updated:
July 15, 2025
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TextNow plan features and starting price
Mint Mobile 15GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
20
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then 128Kbps

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
4K video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Visible Base
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
25
/mo.
+tax
tax included
Unlimited
high-speed

Deprioritized
5Mbps hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Mint Mobile Unlimited
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
30
/mo.
+tax
tax included
$15/mo first year
Unlimited
high-speed

Deprioritized
10GB hotspot
480p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Visible+
1 Line
1 Line
Verizon
$
35
/mo.
+tax
tax included
Unlimited
high-speed

Unlimited priority
10Mbps hotspot
1080p video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
Mint Mobile 15GB
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
35
/mo.
+tax
tax included
15GB
high-speed, then 128Kbps

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
4K video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!

1. What is TextNow?

TextNow is a prepaid cell phone carrier known as a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO.

An MVNO is simply any cell phone carrier that does not operate its own cellular network.

Instead of building their own networks, MVNOs make agreements with the four big carriers to use their cellular networks for coverage.

In TextNow’s case, it uses the T-Mobile network for coverage.

If you are curious to learn more about how the agreements work between the big carriers and the small carriers, check out my article on how some cell phone plans can cost so much less than others.

For a limited time, get Visible for $20/mo, guaranteed for 1 year, powered with unlimited data. Code: SAVE5
See Deal →

2. What cell phone plans does TextNow offer?

TextNow offers the following cell phone plans to choose from:

Lines
Plan Duration
Discounts
Reset
TextNow 1 Hour Pass
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
1
/mo.
+tax
tax included
300MB for 1 hour
high-speed, then 512Kbps

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
Unknown video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Pay-per-minute int'l calls
-
-
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
TextNow Day Pass
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
5
/mo.
+tax
tax included
2GB for 24 hours
high-speed, then 512Kbps

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
Unknown video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Pay-per-minute int'l calls
-
-
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!
TextNow Month Pass
1 Line
1 Line
T-Mobile
$
40
/mo.
+tax
tax included
10GB for 1 month
high-speed, then 512Kbps

Deprioritized
Included hotspot
Unknown video streaming
Unlimited minutes
Unlimited texts
-
Pay-per-minute int'l calls
-
-
Full Details
Add to Compare
Added!

3. What deals, discounts, or referral programs does TextNow have?

TextNow does not offer any deals or discounts at this time.

4. Does TextNow offer family plans?

TextNow offers the following family plans to choose from:

No, TextNow does not offer family plans. Each line needs its own separate account.

5. Does TextNow have plans for tablets, smartwatches, or hotspot devices?

No, TextNow does not offer plans for tablets, smartwatches, or hotspot devices.

6. How good is TextNow's coverage?

TextNow rides on the T-Mobile network for coverage, so reception in most places is pretty good.

See the full coverage details below:

AT&T coverage information

  • Total coverage: 78.1%
  • Total square miles covered: 2,602,364
  • Total population covered: 330 million people (99.0%)
  • 5G coverage: 43.3%
  • 5G square miles covered: 1,444,381
  • Population covered by 5G: 300 million people (90.0%)

The above information comes from the FCC and from AT&T.

You can check AT&T coverage by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

AT&T Coverage Map
AT&T Coverage Map displayed on CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of the cellular networks.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and see what network is best in your area.

Verizon coverage information

  • Total coverage: 67.4%
  • Total square miles covered: 2,246,127
  • Total population covered: 327 million people (98.0)%
  • 5G coverage: 14.5%
  • 5G square miles covered: 484,321
  • Population covered by 5G: 230 million people (69.0%)

The above data come from the FCC and from Verizon.

Check Verizon coverage in your area using maps such as CoverageMap.com.

Verizon coverage map
Verizon's coverage as shown on CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and see what carrier has the best coverage in your area.

T-Mobile coverage information

  • Network: T-Mobile
  • Total coverage: 46.6%
  • Total square miles covered: 1,551,924
  • Total population covered: 330 million people (99.0%)
  • 5G coverage: 36.0%
  • 5G square miles covered: 1,200,851
  • Population covered by 5G: 326 million people (97.8%)

The above information comes from the FCC and from T-Mobile.

Check T-Mobile coverage in your area by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

T-Mobile coverage map
T-Mobile coverage map as shown on CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage and see what carrier is best in your area.

UScellular coverage information

  • Total coverage: 9.9%
  • Total square miles covered: 329,985
  • 5G coverage: 7.5%
  • 5G square miles covered: 250,946
  • Median download speed: 51.0 Mbps
  • Median upload speed: 15.2 Mbps

The above information comes from the FCC, Uscellular, and crowdsourced coverage data from CoverageMap.com.

Check UScellular coverage in your are by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

UScellular coverage map

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of the cellular networks.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage between carriers and see what network is best in your area.

Dish Wireless coverage information

  • Network: Dish Wireless 5G Network (Boost Mobile native network)
  • Total coverage: 8.9%
  • Total square miles covered: 299,260
  • Total population covered: 210 million people (70%)

The above information comes from the FCC and from EchoStar.

Check Dish Wireless coverage in your area by using third-party maps such as CoverageMap.com.

Dish Wireless coverage map (Boost Mobile native network coverage)
Dish Wireless coverage map from CoverageMap.com

CoverageMap.com is building crowdsourced maps of cellular coverage.

Download the free Coverage Map app for iPhone or Android to compare coverage and see what carrier is best in your area.

7. What features does TextNow support?

TextNow supports:
  • VoLTE
  • WiFi calling
  • Visual voicemail
  • MMS (multimedia messaging service)
  • Hotspot
  • Managing multiple lines from a single account
  • International calling

8. What phones work on TextNow?

Most phones that are unlocked will work on TextNow.

An unlocked phone is a phone that it is not tied to any carrier, contract, or financing agreement. You are free to use the phone on any plan or carrier you choose.

Consider contacting your current carrier to see if your phone is unlocked or what the steps are to get it unlocked.

9. Does TextNow support international calling or data roaming?

TextNow offers pay-per-minute international calls to supported countries. It also supports roaming in Canada and Mexico, but it does not support data roaming in other countries.

Because TextNow uses the internet to send and receive messages and phone calls, you will technically be able to send texts and make calls to US and Canadian numbers anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. However, you will not get true international roaming, so if you leave an area with Wi-Fi then your messages will not be able to go through.

10. What plan add-ons does TextNow offer?

TextNow does not offer any plan add-ons.

11. How do you contact TextNow customer service?

The only way to reach TextNow customer service is to chat with them using the live chat feature on the TextNow support page. This page is also available in the TextNow application.

TextNow

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