# textPlus vs Ghost

The clearest difference is monetization model: textPlus at free with in-app purchases against Ghost's subscription. textPlus also leads on ratings volume (272K vs 7.7K) and chart position (#83 vs unranked). Ghost's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. textPlus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Ghost sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for textPlus against 4.6 for Ghost. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: textPlus has 272K ratings behind it against 7.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of textPlus's written reviews are positive against 60% of Ghost's.

textPlus ships an update monthly, Ghost every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | textPlus | Ghost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (272K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textplus-text-message-plus-call/id314487667/reviews) | [4.6 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghost-second-phone-number/id6466671844/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **272K** | 7.7K |
| Positive reviews | 40.8% of reviews | **60.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#83** | — |
| Size | 201 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [textPlus, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/306523812) | [Openlife AI Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896485364) |

## What reviewers say

### textPlus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textplus-text-message-plus-call/id314487667)

**Currently charting:** #83 Top Free · Utilities, #140 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Get a free US phone number for unlimited texting and calling over WiFi or data. Save money on mobile plans by using this app to connect with friends and family globally. Offers inexpensive outbound calls and can turn tablets into phones.

**Highlights:** Free US phone number, Unlimited free texting (SMS, MMS, group chat), Free inbound calls, Inexpensive outbound calls, Works over WiFi, Turn tablets into phones

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Bundle Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Keep Phone Number | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Number Bundle Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Number - 1 Year | $0.99 | one-time |
| 40 Minutes | $0.99 | one-time |
| $0.99 in Calling Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 99¢ in textPlus Credit | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 Minutes | $1.99 | one-time |
| $1.99 in Calling Credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| $5.49 in Calling Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| $4.99 in textPlus Credit | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Game-changing app
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Fast and reliable texting and calling
- 💡 Useful additional features
- 👍 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🔋 Frequent ads interrupting usage
- 🐛 Inconsistent call and messaging functionality
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
- 🐛 Frequent glitches and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to get new phone numbers
- Randomly logging users out of accounts
- Delayed or undelivered messages
- Calls not connecting properly
- Incompatibility with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Upgrade options for better features
- Improved notification system
- Reduce intrusive ads
- Expand international support
- Add more customization options


### Ghost

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghost-second-phone-number/id6466671844)

Get a private, local phone number to stop spam and protect your identity. Receive texts, make unlimited calls, and use a temporary number for online sign-ups and transactions without revealing your real number.

**Highlights:** Temporary phone number, Unlimited calls, SMS verification codes, Local area codes, VPN protection, Spam shielding, No contracts or SIMs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (19)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Spam Call Blocker | $4.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| VPN Protection | $9.99 | per 2 months |
| Premium | $14.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $14.99 | per year |
| Pro | $17.99 | per year |
| Multi Plan Plus - 10 Numbers | $19.99 | per 2 months |
| Multi-Plan - 10 Numbers | $19.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $24.99 | per month |
| Pro | $29.99 | per month |
| Premium | $29.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $39.99 | per month |
| Pro | $49.99 | per 2 months |
| Pro | $139.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cuts spam calls
- 🔒 Keeps personal number private
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 👍 Transparent about costs
- 👍 Separate work and personal calls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Verification issues
- 🐛 Unable to send/receive messages
- 🐛 Unavailable area codes
- 🐛 Billing and subscription problems
- 🐛 Unreliable performance

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to delete conversations
- Inconsistent number availability
- Verification texts not received
- Calls not connecting properly

**Requested features**

- Allow multiple numbers and number switching
- Improve 2FA and verification process
- Add more customization and settings options
- Enhance call and messaging capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is textPlus free?

textPlus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ghost free?

Ghost is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, textPlus or Ghost?

textPlus and Ghost are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 272K and 7.7K ratings respectively.

### Do textPlus or Ghost have ads?

textPlus shows ads; Ghost does not.

### Which is updated more often, textPlus or Ghost?

textPlus ships an update monthly, and Ghost every 8 days. Most recently, textPlus was updated on October 14, 2026 and Ghost on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*