I don’t know about you, but I’m all about saving money these days. I’ve sifted through my subscriptions and canceled ones I don’t use. I comb through my bank statements each month. I even invested in a bamboo whisk to make my own matcha lattes.
But I kept hitting a glitch when it came to saving money on my phone’s mobile plan. My big carrier had just increased the price of my plan and added a new monthly fee — but I felt helpless because, well, I need my phone.
I decided to make the jump and give the free TextNow service a try. I knew I could keep my phone and number, two important things to me. I also knew that TextNow offers free unlimited talk and text nationwide, plus what it calls Free Essential Data, which would allow me to check my email and use rideshare apps and maps — also for free with the one-time purchase of a $4.99 SIM card.
An easy SIM setup and Free Essential Data
Credit: Michelle Kehm
After downloading the app, I was prompted to either transfer my existing phone number to TextNow or pick a new number with any national area code I desired, a nice perk. I opted to keep my old number, which would transfer over once I activated their SIM card. In the meantime, I was given instant access to free calls and texts through the app over WiFi with a temporary number.
Since I was looking for an alternative to my big-carrier mobile plan, ordering a SIM card for a one-time payment of $4.99 was a no-brainer. When my SIM arrived by mail, I popped it into my phone and walked through a simple setup.
The TextNow SIM is what would allow me to make calls and texts from just about everywhere, with coverage that mirrored my big carrier. My calls were glitch-free, and the audio quality was robust. It’s worth noting that you don’t use your native dialer when using TextNow — all comms go through the app — so the usage felt a little different at first, but I quickly got used to it and could send photos, sushi emojis, and cat GIFs in my texts, plus get voicemails from my dad.
The SIM also unlocked TextNow’s Free Essential Data plan, which let me check my email from the grocery store checkout line, map my way to the nearest tea bar, and even book a ride to get there.
Add-on data and a 5G network seal the deal
Credit: Michelle Kehm
Using TextNow’s basic free services might be enough for some people, but I typically need more data when I’m operating out of pocket. For those days, TextNow offers an unlimited 1-hour pass for $.99, an unlimited 24-hour day pass for $4.99, or an unlimited monthly pass for $39.99.
I love the flexibility of these options; I don’t always have to commit to a monthly plan to get the service I need. Instead, I can just upgrade for a few hours or a day when necessary. I chose the ad-free month pass and was able to download a work PDF, scroll my socials, and even listen to a podcast episode while at the dog park. I honestly forgot that I was using TextNow mobile data and not my previous big carrier — probably because TextNow uses the nation’s largest 5G network for coverage.
A mobile plan that saves you big money
Credit: Michelle Kehm
All in all, TextNow works like any big mobile carrier but with in-app ads in most plans (that’s how it’s free). It’s a win for students on a budget, parents wanting a free phone plan for their teenagers, and even budget-conscious data hounds like me.
I think I finally may have found a solution to my mobile budget conundrum. TextNow proved to be a reliable alternative to my big carrier, and even if I buy the month pass for $39.99, I’ll be saving money, considering my big carrier just upped the cost of my monthly plan and added fees. Using TextNow, I can manage my own data costs, starting at $0. With savings like that, I can treat myself to fancy matcha lattes again and still stick to my budget.
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