7 Best TextNow Alternatives for a Second Phone Number (2026)
TextNow is popular for a reason: a free US or Canadian number, calling and texting over Wi-Fi, no phone plan. But “free” comes with strings — ads, recycled numbers, and one big limitation that sends people searching for a TextNow alternative: many apps refuse to send verification codes to TextNow numbers.
Here are seven alternatives, from free options to paid ones, with an honest look at what each does better and worse.
Why look for a TextNow alternative?
- Verification often fails. TextNow numbers are VoIP, and apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and many banks block known VoIP ranges at signup.
- You can lose the number. Numbers on free tiers are recycled after inactivity. If an account is tied to that number, you lose the account with it.
- It lives in an app. Everything runs through the TextNow app, with ads on the free plan. There is no quick browser option.
- US and Canada only. If you need a number from another country — because an app only accepts local numbers — TextNow cannot help.
The 7 best TextNow alternatives
1. SMSZ one-time numbers — best for receiving a verification code
If you wanted TextNow mainly to receive one SMS code, a one-time number does that job directly. Choose the service and country, type the number into the app, and read the code in your browser. No app install, no ads, and you pay only when a code actually arrives — otherwise your balance is refunded automatically.
2. SMSZ rental numbers — best for keeping a second number
A rental keeps one number yours for days or weeks and receives every SMS sent to it. Unlike a free TextNow number, it is not recycled out from under you during the rental — and you can extend it before it ends. Compare both models in one-time vs. rental numbers.
3. 1001SMS — best alternative pay-per-code service
If you wanted TextNow for verification codes, 1001SMS is another service built for that job: temporary numbers from many countries, read the SMS in your browser, pay per use. Compare prices for your specific app with SMSZ before you choose.
4. Google Voice — best free option if you are in the US
Google Voice gives you a free US number for calls and texts, without ads. The catch: you need an existing US number to sign up, and — like TextNow — its VoIP numbers are often rejected for verification. Full breakdown in our Google Voice alternatives guide.
5. Hushed — best paid app-based second number
Hushed sells private numbers with flexible plans, including short-term ones. It is a cleaner experience than a free app — no ads, and the number is yours for the plan length. As with all app numbers, some verification systems still flag its ranges.
6. Burner — best for disposable US and Canadian numbers
Burner is built around temporary numbers you can discard. Good for calls and texting people for a short project; unreliable for app verification, and paid from the start.
7. Free public numbers — best for quick tests
SMSZ’s free numbers are public inboxes: anyone can read the messages. Never use them for real accounts — but for checking whether an app will send an SMS to a virtual number at all, they are the fastest free test there is.
Quick comparison
| Option | Free? | Good for verification? | You keep the number? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMSZ one-time | No — pay per code | Yes — built for it | For one code |
| SMSZ rental | No — flat rental | Yes — built for it | Days or weeks, extendable |
| Google Voice | Yes (US only) | Often rejected | Yes, while active |
| Hushed / Burner | No — paid plans | Hit and miss | For the plan length |
| Free public numbers | Yes | Sometimes | No — shared inbox |
Which one fits your situation?
- “I need one code for one app.” One-time number. Cheapest option that actually works.
- “I need a number buyers can text for a week.” Rental. It survives the whole project.
- “I just want to call and text for free in the US.” That is the one job TextNow and Google Voice do well — stay there.
- “I want to test before paying.” Free public numbers, then a one-time number for the real thing.
Common questions
Is TextNow really free?
The basic plan is free and ad-supported. Premium tiers remove ads and protect your number from being recycled. So the number is free — keeping it reliably is not.
Why did an app reject my TextNow number?
Because it is easy to detect as VoIP. Many apps block VoIP ranges to cut down on spam signups. It is not a settings problem you can fix — you need a number from a range the app accepts.
What is the safest long-term second number?
For accounts you cannot afford to lose — banking, government, your main email — no virtual number is the right answer; use your real one. For everything else, a rental you extend on time is the most stable virtual option, especially combined with app-based two-factor login inside the account itself.
See how SMSZ works, or check live prices across 100+ countries before you decide.
