# TextNow vs Text Vault

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Text Vault at 77% against TextNow's 38%. Text Vault also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). TextNow's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TextNow sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Text Vault sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TextNow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TextNow has 927K ratings behind it against 23K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of TextNow's written reviews are positive against 77% of Text Vault's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TextNow ships an update every 6 days, Text Vault every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextNow | Text Vault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (927K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textnow-call-plus-text-unlimited/id314716233/reviews)** | [4.4 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-vault-texting-app/id1186010974/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **927K** | 23K |
| Positive reviews | 38.0% of reviews | **77.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | — |
| Size | 397 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [TextNow, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/309561143) | [Phoner Holdings LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895136973) |

## What reviewers say

### TextNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textnow-call-plus-text-unlimited/id314716233)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #12 Top Free · Social Networking, #128 Top Grossing, #147 Top Free (US App Store)

This app provides free nationwide calling and texting, offering a private second phone number or a dedicated business line. It features flexible data plans, including a free option for select apps, and affordable international calling.

**Highlights:** Free nationwide talk and text, Free local phone number, Flexible data plans (daily, weekly, monthly), Low-cost international calling, Second phone line for privacy or business, Free data for select apps

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AdFree Lite | $1.99 | per month |
| Lock Your Number for 1 Week | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Lock Number 1 Week | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Subscription + 14-day free trial | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Lock Your Number for 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Plus | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Number 1 Year | $4.99 | per year |
| Lock Your Number for 1 Year | $4.99 | per year |
| Premium Number 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Ad Free+ | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Ad Free+ & 14-day free trial | $9.99 | per month |
| Verification Codes Unlock | $0.29 | one-time |
| Verification Codes Unlock | $0.49 | one-time |
| 30m Verification Codes | $0.99 | one-time |
| $4.99 in International Calling Credit | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Free service
- 🔒 Ability to keep number
- 👍 Convenient for secondary number
- 👍 Works on multiple devices
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable call/text delivery
- 🐛 Slow and laggy performance
- 🔍 Lack of customer support
- 💸 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Random numbers calling/texting users
- Disappearing messages and call history
- Inability to receive verification codes
- Accounts being locked out for no reason

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to block entire area codes
- Notification for read messages
- Improved call quality
- Better integration with other apps


### Text Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-vault-texting-app/id1186010974)

Protect your real phone number with a private, disposable number for texting. Send and receive messages, including pictures, with temporary or permanent numbers from various countries. Keep your personal information secret during online transactions or when texting strangers.

**Highlights:** Disposable burner phone numbers, Private texting and SMS, International texting, MMS Picture Messaging support, Message deletion for privacy, Caller ID lookup, Do Not Disturb scheduling

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| New Number Offer | $4.99 | per month |
| Different Number Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Virtual Number | $9.99 | per month |
| Alternate Number | $9.99 | per month |
| Different Number | $14.99 | per month |
| 50 Text Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starter Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 100 Text Credits | $5.99 | one-time |
| Number Level 4 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 250 Text Credits | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app
- 👍 Amazing
- 👍 Very Cool texting App
- 👍 Nice
- 👍 Cool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Can't call
- 🐛 Some glitches here and there, other than that...
- 💰 Expensive non functional app
- 💰 Bait and Switch
- 💰 Stupid game don't buy it

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Texts not always delivered

**Requested features**

- Voice messages
- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextNow free?

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

### Is Text Vault free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TextNow or Text Vault?

TextNow is rated higher. TextNow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 927K ratings, while Text Vault averages 4.4 from 23K ratings.

### Do TextNow or Text Vault have ads?

Both TextNow and Text Vault show ads.

### Which is updated more often, TextNow or Text Vault?

TextNow ships an update every 6 days, and Text Vault every 3 weeks. Most recently, TextNow was updated on October 30, 2026 and Text Vault on October 30, 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.*