MARLVEL

textPlus: Text Message + Call vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against textPlus: Text Message + Call's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

textPlus: Text Message + Call
This App
TextNow: Call + Text Unlimited
Nemesis
Text Free: Second Phone Number
Contender
Burner: Second Phone Number
Contender
Google Voice
Contender
Hushed: US Second Phone Number
Peer
WhatsApp Messenger
Peer
Phoner: Second Phone Number
New Kid
Core Identity
DevelopertextPlus, Inc.TextNow, Inc.Pinger, Inc.Ad Hoc Labs, IncGoogleAffinityClick Inc.WhatsApp Inc.Phoner Holdings LLC
CategoryUtilitiesSocial NetworkingSocial NetworkingUtilitiesProductivityUtilitiesSocial NetworkingUtilities
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating4.6 / 54.8 / 54.7 / 54.7 / 54.3 / 54.6 / 54.7 / 54.5 / 5
Ratings Count269,367895,475574,65992,15761,65421,83217,831,52734,277
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateJun 1, 2009May 7, 2009Dec 15, 2010Apr 1, 2012Nov 16, 2010Mar 4, 2013May 4, 2009Apr 9, 2016
Last UpdatedApr 14, 2026Apr 19, 2026Apr 23, 2026May 5, 2026May 1, 2026Mar 26, 2026Apr 27, 2026Mar 30, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentnegativemixednegativeterriblemixed-mixed-
Score25/10045/10028/10015/10045/100-65/100-
Praises
  • Core communication features provide reliable calling and texting utility for international users
  • Free Communication Value
  • Improved Call Quality
  • Utility as a Second Number
  • Reliable call and text quality provides functional utility for users needing secondary communication lines
  • Reliable secondary phone number management keeps personal and business communications organized across multiple devices
-
  • Global communication capabilities allow users to maintain long-distance connections with family and friends effortlessly
-
Complaints
  • Aggressive account suspension policies trigger permanent bans without clear justification or appeal paths
  • Misleading free-to-use marketing obscures mandatory subscription requirements for basic phone number access
  • Verification and Login Loops
  • Data Loss After Updates
  • Misleading 'Free' Branding
  • Paywalled Verification Codes
  • Misleading free trial offers result in immediate unauthorized charges to user payment methods
  • Mandatory identity verification requirements alienate users seeking anonymous or private communication channels
-
  • Account restriction and banning mechanisms trigger frustration due to lack of transparent reasoning
-
Requests
  • Expanded account registration options beyond mandatory Google or Apple single sign-on
--
  • Transparent pricing models that clearly distinguish between free and paid feature sets
  • Integration with native messaging platforms would improve the user experience for daily communication
-
  • Screen sharing with real-time annotation requested to improve remote technical support workflows
-
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Cross-device message synchronization increases user engagement footprint
  • Prepaid international credit model captures high-intent calling corridors
  • Full MVNO status with 5G and SIM support
  • Patented Elastic Calling for network reliability
  • High category rankings (#9 Free, #8 Grossing)
  • Massive social proof with 1.1M+ reviews
  • Strong grossing performance (#11 in category)
  • Unique 24-hour number change capability
  • Privacy-first workflow reduces friction for casual users
  • Color-coded inboxes increase session duration for power users
  • Brand recognition in major tech publications
  • Workspace integration provides frictionless deployment for existing Google users
  • Cross-device sync increases daily utility
-
  • Default-on end-to-end encryption creates high switching costs
  • Massive global network effect sustains daily active usage
-
Weaknesses
  • 0.54 rating gap between Android and iOS indicates platform-specific technical instability
  • Opaque account-ban logic drives high-frequency churn complaints
  • Critical verification loop bugs
  • Data persistence issues during updates
  • Poor customer support accessibility
  • High friction in 'Free' branding vs. paid features
  • Paywalled verification codes driving negative sentiment
  • Technical bugs in account creation/onboarding
  • High refund surge due to misleading trial billing
  • Persistent message delivery failures
  • Subscription-only model limits top-of-funnel conversion
  • Identity verification requirements alienate privacy-focused users
  • Message delivery failures disrupt professional communication
-
  • Unexplained account bans trigger high user frustration
  • Lack of independent multi-device architecture trails Telegram
-
Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumsubscriptionsubscriptionsubscriptionfreesubscription
MomentumMaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenanceActiveActiveIntenseIntenseIntense
Update Cadence4 versions, ~23d avg5 versions, ~8d avg5 versions, ~9d avg5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~10d avg5 versions, ~6d avg5 versions5 versions, ~5d avg5 versions

Compare textPlus: Text Message + Call head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by textPlus: Text Message + Call, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

See methodologyContact support

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0