Comparison

Sideline vs Dead Note

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sideline

This app provides a dedicated second phone number for private texting and calling. It offers features like unlimited SMS/MMS, custom voicemail, and auto-reply to help manage communications and keep conversations organized across devices.

Highlights
  • Second phone number with local area code
  • Unlimited SMS, MMS, and text messages
  • Custom voicemail with transcripts
  • Auto-Reply for missed calls
  • Split number across multiple devices
  • Transfer existing phone numbers
Features
Read full description

Sideline gives you a second phone number for calling and texting—so you can stay connected without sharing your real number. Get the app today to keep your personal number private. Whether you're working, selling online, or just want more control over who can reach you, Sideline makes it easy to separate your communications. Get a second phone number, send unlimited texts, and manage calls with powerful tools—all from one app. Sideline works over your carrier network (not VoIP), so your second number is as reliable as your first. Take control of your privacy and communication with Sideline. WHY SIDELINE? Protect Your Personal Number: - Get a second phone number for private calling and texting - Keep your real number separate and secure - Choose a local area code (or an area code of your choice) - Includes Caller ID and custom voicemail - Reliable cellular calling (not VoIP) Private Texting & Calling: - Send unlimited SMS and MMS messages - Use your second number for work, marketplace listings, or signups - Call and text without revealing your personal number - Access your number from multiple devices Stay in Control: - Auto-Reply sends instant responses when you miss a call - Custom voicemail with message transcripts - Port your existing number to Sideline - Block unwanted callers and manage contacts Smart Communication Tools: - Save and reuse frequently sent texts - Add notes to conversations and contacts - Stay organized without mixing personal and business messages USE SIDELINE FOR: - Private texting and calling - Work or business communications - Online buying and selling (Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc.) - Protect your personal number FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is Sideline, and how does a second phone number work? Sideline is a second phone number app that lets you call and text from a separate number on your smartphone. Just download the Sideline app, and your Sideline number will work alongside your primary number, so you can keep personal and secondary communications separate without needing a second phone. Can I use Sideline for private texting and calling? Yes. Sideline is designed for private texting and calling, so you don't have to share your personal phone number with strangers and businesses. Use your second number for work, online selling, dating, or any situation where you want more privacy. Is Sideline reliable for calls and texts? Sideline uses your carrier's cellular network (not VoIP), which means your calls are clear and reliable—just like your regular phone number. You can send unlimited SMS and MMS messages and make calls with confidence. Can I choose or transfer my phone number? Yes. You can select a second phone number with an area code of your choice, or port (transfer) your existing number to Sideline. This makes it easy to keep a number you already use while gaining more privacy and features. Who is Sideline for? Sideline is for anyone who wants a second phone number to keep their personal number private and their communications organized—like professionals and business owners who don't want to carry a second phone, people buying and selling online who don't want to share their real number, freelancers who need to manage client communications—and anyone who values privacy and wants to control who can reach their real number. Do I need to provide a government-issued ID to create a Sideline account? No. You do not need to submit a government-issued ID to sign up for Sideline. Instead, you'll verify your account using two-factor authentication (2FA). DOWNLOAD SIDELINE TODAY Get a second phone number for private texting and calling. Stay connected—without giving out your personal number. LEGAL © 2026 Pinger, Inc. All rights reserved. The TextFree name, associated trademarks, and logos are trademarks of Pinger, Inc. or related entities. Terms of Service: https://www.sideline.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://www.sideline.com/privacy-policy/

About

Dead Note

This app provides a secure and private way to store notes, using your password as the encryption key. Losing your password means losing access to your data, so it's designed for users who prioritize extreme data security.

Highlights
  • Password-based encryption
  • Data corruption on invalid password
  • Private note storage
  • Multi-language support
Features
Read full description

Password = encryption key. Invalid password = Invalid encryption key. Invalid encryption key = data corruption. 密码 = 加密密钥。 密码无效 = 加密密钥无效。 无效的加密密钥 = 数据损坏。 Hasło = klucz szyfrowania. Nieprawidłowe hasło = Nieprawidłowy klucz szyfrowania. Nieprawidłowy klucz szyfrowania = uszkodzenie danych. Пароль = ключ шифрования. Неверный пароль = Неверный ключ шифрования. Неверный ключ шифрования = повреждение данных. Contraseña = clave de cifrado. Contraseña no válida = clave de cifrado no válida. Clave de cifrado no válida = corrupción de datos. Passwort = Verschlüsselungsschlüssel. Ungültiges Passwort = Ungültiger Verschlüsselungsschlüssel. Ungültiger Verschlüsselungsschlüssel = Datenbeschädigung. 암호 = 암호화 키. 잘못된 암호 = 잘못된 암호화 키입니다. 잘못된 암호화 키 = 데이터 손상. كلمة المرور = مفتاح التشفير. كلمة مرور غير صالحة = مفتاح تشفير غير صالح. مفتاح التشفير غير صالح = تلف البيانات. पासवर्ड = एन्क्रिप्शन कुंजी। अमान्य पासवर्ड = अमान्य एन्क्रिप्शन कुंजी। अमान्य एन्क्रिप्शन कुंजी = डेटा भ्रष्टाचार। Mot de passe = clé de cryptage. Mot de passe invalide = clé de cryptage invalide. Clé de cryptage invalide = corruption des données. סיסמה = מפתח הצפנה. סיסמה לא חוקית = מפתח הצפנה לא חוקי. מפתח הצפנה לא חוקי = שחיתות נתונים. Senha = chave de criptografia. Senha inválida = chave de criptografia inválida. Chave de criptografia inválida = corrupção de dados. パスワード=暗号化キー。 無効なパスワード=無効な暗号化キー。 無効な暗号化キー=データの破損。 Şifre = şifreleme anahtarı. Geçersiz parola = Geçersiz şifreleme anahtarı. Geçersiz şifreleme anahtarı = veri bozulması. Heslo = šifrovací klíč. Neplatné heslo = Neplatný šifrovací klíč. Neplatný šifrovací klíč = poškození dat. Wachtwoord = encryptiesleutel. Ongeldig wachtwoord = Ongeldige coderingssleutel. Ongeldige coderingssleutel = gegevensbeschadiging. Κωδικός πρόσβασης = κλειδί κρυπτογράφησης. Μη έγκυρος κωδικός πρόσβασης = Μη έγκυρο κλειδί κρυπτογράφησης. Μη έγκυρο κλειδί κρυπτογράφησης = καταστροφή δεδομένων. Mật khẩu = khóa mã hóa. Mật khẩu không hợp lệ = Khóa mã hóa không hợp lệ. Khóa mã hóa không hợp lệ = hỏng dữ liệu. Jelszó = titkosítási kulcs. Érvénytelen jelszó = Érvénytelen titkosítási kulcs. Érvénytelen titkosítási kulcs = adatsérülés. Parolă = cheie de criptare. Parolă invalidă = Cheie de criptare nevalidă. Cheie de criptare nevalidă = coruperea datelor. Lösenord = krypteringsnyckel. Ogiltigt lösenord = Ogiltig krypteringsnyckel. Ogiltig krypteringsnyckel = datakorruption. Wagwoord = enkripsiesleutel. Ongeldige wagwoord = Ongeldige enkripsiesleutel. Ongeldige enkripsiesleutel = datakorrupsie. Password = chiave di crittografia. Invalid password = Chiave di crittografia non valida. Chiave di crittografia non valida = danneggiamento dei dati. ... Profit!

Screenshots

Sideline4 screens
Dead Note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sideline at 4.4 against Dead Note's 3.7. Sideline also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 3) and chart position (#22 vs unranked). Dead Note's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sideline sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Dead Note asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sideline holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sideline has 15K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Sideline versus Dead Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidelineDead Note
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (15K ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews35.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings15K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
Best chart rank#22 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB12 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperPinger, Inc.ar-generation

Customer experience

Sideline

All ratings14,817 ratings
Positive83.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews234 reviews
Positive35.5%
Neutral11.5%
Negative53.0%

Dead Note

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

Sideline

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Text messages not delivering properly
  • Missed call notifications not working
  • Billing and account management issues
  • Compatibility problems with VPNs and other apps

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to separate business and personal contacts
  • Web/desktop messaging functionality
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Improved search and organization tools
  • More customization options

Dead Note

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Sideline

Subscriptions10
  • Sideline Standard EarlyAdopter$0.991 Month
  • Sideline Standard - Early User$2.991 Month
  • Voicemail to Text$2.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • No Ads$2.991 Month
  • Sideline Subscription$14.491 Month
  • Sideline - Monthly plan1 Month trial$14.491 Month
  • Sideline Pro – Monthly Plan7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Sideline Pro – Monthly1 Month trial$14.991 Month
  • Sideline$99.001 Year
  • Sideline - Yearly Plan1 Month trial$129.991 Year
None

Dead Note

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sideline free?
Sideline is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dead Note free?
Dead Note is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sideline or Dead Note?
Sideline is rated higher. Sideline averages 4.4 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Dead Note averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Sideline or Dead Note have ads?
Neither Sideline nor Dead Note shows ads.

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