TextNow vs Google Voice: which second phone number should you get?
Last updated: August 10, 2026
Short answer: Both are free, so the decision comes down to what you're willing to trade. Google Voice is the better long-term number — no ads, reliable, and yours for years — but signing up requires a Google account and an existing US phone number. TextNow gets you a number without already having one, which is why people who can't complete Google's signup end up there, but it's ad-supported and your number can be reclaimed if you stop using it.
Who’s writing this: we make Petitext, which appears as a third option below. We don’t earn anything if you pick TextNow or Google Voice, and for a lot of people one of them is the right call — so the comparison says so plainly.
TextNow vs Google Voice, side by side
| TextNow | Google Voice | Petitext(ours) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing phone number needed to sign up? | No — an email, Google, or Apple account | Yes — a US number to verify with | No — an email address is all it takes |
| App install required? | App or browser, plus a TextNow account | App or web, plus a Google account | No |
| Available from outside North America? | Numbers are US and Canada; availability varies | Not for new signups | Yes — works from any country |
| Time to a working number | A few minutes | A few minutes | About a minute |
| Tied to a permanent account? | Yes — a TextNow account | Yes — your Google account | No |
| Where your conversations live | In the app or web inbox | In the app or web inbox | Your own email inbox — searchable and exportable |
| Can you text first, not just reply? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Short-term use without a subscription | Not applicable — free and ad-supported | Not applicable — free and permanent | Yes — from $1.99/day |
| What happens when you stop | The number may be reclaimed after inactivity | The number stays on your account | The number expires on its own |
| Voice calls | Yes — over Wi-Fi | Yes | No — text only |
| Reliable for verification codes | Often works, not guaranteed | Often works, not guaranteed | No |
| Price | Free, ad-supported | Free for personal use | $1.99/day · $10.99/month |
TextNow and Google Voice details checked against their own sites on August 10, 2026 — TextNow pricing, Google Voice pricing. Prices change; check theirs before you buy.
Choose TextNow if…
- You don't have a US phone number to verify with
- You want a number in minutes without tying it to your Google identity
- You're fine with ads paying for the service
- You want free calling over Wi-Fi and might add a paid SIM later
Choose Google Voice if…
- You're in the US and can verify with a phone number you already have
- You want a permanent number you won't lose to inactivity
- You want no ads, and voicemail transcription that works well
- You want it alongside the Google account you already use
The catch with 'free'
Free has a price in both cases. TextNow sells your attention — ads pay for the number — and a number you stop using can be reclaimed. Google Voice asks for a US phone number at signup and ties the number to your Google identity permanently. Both also assume you can install their app or keep a browser session in their ecosystem, which is precisely the assumption that fails on a locked-down work phone.
The third option: a number with no app to download
Petitext is ours, so weigh this accordingly. It exists for the case the two above don’t cover: you get a dedicated US or Canada number, and every text sent to it arrives in the email inbox you already use. You reply from your inbox and it reaches them as an ordinary text. There’s no app to download, no eSIM, and no SIM card, which is why it works on work phones locked down by an MDM profile, older handsets, and phones with no storage left — and from any country, since all it needs is email.
Where Petitext loses: it has no voice calls — it is text only, so if you need to take calls, TextNow or Google Voice beats it outright. And it is not reliable for one-time verification codes: our numbers are VoIP-classified and many banks and apps reject those. If OTP codes are your whole reason for wanting a number, don’t buy Petitext for that.
Pricing is $1.99 for a day, $8.99 for a week, or $10.99/month on the Monthly Pass — cancel anytime. See plans and pricing, or the full comparison against all four.
Frequently asked questions
Is TextNow or Google Voice better?
Google Voice is the better number if you can get one — no ads, permanent, reliable. TextNow is better if you can't, because it doesn't require an existing US phone number to sign up. Most people choosing TextNow are doing it because Google Voice's verification step blocked them.
Can I lose my TextNow number?
Yes. TextNow numbers can be reclaimed after a period of inactivity, so it isn't the right choice for a number you need to stay reachable on for years. Google Voice numbers are permanent as long as the account is active.
Do I need an app for TextNow or Google Voice?
Both offer a browser version as well as an app, but both require you to create and stay signed in to their account. Neither works from a plain email inbox. If your phone can't install apps at all, Petitext is the alternative — messages arrive as ordinary email and you reply by email.
Are TextNow and Google Voice good for verification codes?
Sometimes, but never dependably. Both hand out VoIP-classified numbers, which many banks and apps refuse for one-time passcodes. Treat any virtual number as unreliable for OTP, ours included.