TextNow jumps from Android and iOS to Windows Phone. Unlimited text messaging for the US and Canada

By Sam Sabri
last updated

It seems like every few days we’re getting some official new apps on Windows Phone. From small names to big names, everybody wants to stake out their spot in the Windows Phone Store. TextNow is the latest of those to make the jump from Android and iOS to the greener pastures of Windows Phone. How does unlimited texting sound to you?

TextNow is a fairly popular app on both Android and iOS. Since I haven’t used either of those as a daily driver in nearly three years I’m just learning about how popular TextNow is on those platforms. In the iOS App Store alone it has over 155,000 reviews! The current version of the app is even hovering over a 4 star average review. Not bad at all. Clearly this app has quite the install base. So what’s the deal with TextNow?

You get unlimited texting, your own unique phone number, and you can take it anywhere.

With TextNow you can send and receive unlimited text messages within the USA and Canada, free of charge. You get your own unique number that you can do the receiving for both calls and texts. It works on the web or a variety of mobile apps.

After you download the app you can sign in with either Facebook or by creating an account the old fashioned way – email. After that you select an area code and TextNow will give you your own unique number. It’s an easy set up process. After that you can blast your new number to all your social networks to get people up to speed on your new digits. From there you can access your contacts within the app and text away.

You’ll want to go into the settings to remove the signature that the app automatically inputs after your messages. Just delete the whole thing to have that “I-sent-this-from-a-phone-and-not-some-machine” vibe.

So who is TextNow for? Anybody that wants to stick it to the carriers by sending texts via data and not SMS. Or anyone who needs a burner number to text their locale dealer (you know who you are). The app isn’t bad, it’s clearly just not for me. But I’m stoked to see another big and popular app from the iOSDroid world hit the Windows Phone Store.

You can download TextNow for free (it’s ad-supported). It looks like you can only grab it for Windows Phone 8. Hit up the Store, use the QR code below, or swipe to the right in our app. (P.S. Grab it for Windows 8 in the Windows Store (opens in new tab)!)

Thanks for the tip JD!

37 Comments
  • Sweet. Seems like the perfect app for Craigslist transactions so I don't risk my real number becoming the victim of spam.
  • Yeah! Give this number to all those shady people in your life. Anything from Craigslist. People you meet in Las Vegas. Etc.
  • That's the only reason I'd consider this app, since I have unlimited SMS.
  • Do you meet a lot of shady people in Las Vegas?? :P
  • Vegas rules.
  • He does if he is doing it right!
  • I<p>Hausa Sjs side jf usage sure&nbsp;<img alt="smiley" height="20" src="http://www.wpcentral.com/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/ima... title="smiley" width="20" /></p>
  • how can i remove the signature on text now.. im not using  a smartphone.. i downloaded it on my laptop and im using acer aspire s7 but it wont go away.. i use a small phone and not  a smart phone.. how can i remove it on my application .. setting couldnt be found anywhere on this application... i just want that sent free from textnow.com out... .. i downloaded it on windows store on my laptop...help me out
  • Official❕❗Official❕❗Official❗❕❗❕❗
  • YES YES YES!!!!!
  • I wonder what else we'll get today⁉⁉⁉⁉
  • Hmmm... Do you know something?
  • A few things...
  • WhatsApp 3.0 pllllllllllz
  • Its also on Windows 8!! :)
  • Thanks!
  • You're welcome! :)
  • Good that only USA & Canada were mentioned at the start. Did not need to read any further
  • Slow clap for you sir.
  • CANADA! CANADA! CANADA!
  • That was intentional, so we wouldn't have complaints from everyone international. 
  • Yes we need it for "after hours" Sam. Lol!
  • ;)
  • Yes windows phone is growing slowly but surely :)
  • The review leaves out the coolest part of Textnow, that you can use email to get push notifications and alerts that normally only go to email. This is great for IT alerts and shipping notification among others like phone voicemail notification etc...
  • Wasn't technically a review. More like "check this app out". Thanks for sharing though! Cool trick with the shipping stuff.
  • You always come up with the best real-world use-cases, Sam.
  • "stick it to your carrier by texting via data instead of SMS" ....
    I'm sure your carrier would prefer you used data for everything, seeing as its more expensive
  • I could be wrong, but I think SMS is more of a rip-off than what you get for data. I'm the only one in my family that refuses to pay for SMS. Its either FB messaging or email for me.
  • Glad to find a like-minded person out there.
  • Isn't texting bundled in with call plans anymore? I just wish carriers would stop this share data thing and go back to unlimited plans for each line. Then have that extra option to pay for adding WiFi devices to use on your data. They say people don't use as much data as we think but yet every move they make is to lower our limits in hope to make more money. Rat bas-turds.
  • AT&T charges $20 a month for unlimited texting for 1 phone (it's $30 for a family plan).  Texting uses a relatively small amount of data, and $20 would pay for an additional 2GB of data.  I currently use metrotalk (google voice client), however I'll try text now as google chooses not to support Windows phone, and every so often tweaks their interface rendering metrotalk useless.
  • Good for when you dont want someone to have your real number.  For when your phone is disconnected, i can still send texts.  Kids who dont have phones yet but have CHEAP tablets (kindle).  I also have this on my W8.1 computer. 
    Its an official app so good for us.
  • You've made the app and yourself sound kinda creepy.
  • Do I understand this correctly? Instead of paying monthly for unlimited messaging, I'll be able to send free messages over data? Won't that raise my data rate thus raising my bill? Who wants to raise their bill?
  • Hey. Depends on your carrier. Everyone has a different situation based on their carrier and/or plan. Some people (especially abroad) seem to cut SMS if it isn't bundled in their plan and use data/wi-fi for their messaging needs. To each his own. If you have unlimited texting already this app probably isn't for you. It's not really for me either in that regard. But as some people mentioned, it's a good "burner" number for when you have interactions on Craigslist.
  • I find it hard to remove my signature after downloading textnow on windows store.. i use acer aspire s7. i really love the application on my laptop..but so sad anytime i try to send text messages.. i still have the sent free from textnow.com... any help...?