Comparison

TextNow vs Talking Stick

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

Head to head
About

TextNow

This app provides free nationwide calling and texting with unlimited talk and text on a 5G network. It offers a free local phone number or allows you to keep your own, with flexible data options and low-cost international calling. Enjoy a phone service without bills, contracts, or hidden fees.

Highlights
  • Free unlimited talk and text
  • Nationwide 5G network coverage
  • Free local phone number
  • Flexible data plans
  • Low-cost international calling
  • Second phone line functionality
  • Voicemail-to-text transcription
Features
Read full description

Call and text for free with TextNow, the free phone service with over 100 million users. Get nationwide coverage with unlimited talk and text on 5G—starting at $0/month. Your phone service should work on your terms. No phone bill, no fixed contracts, no hidden fees. What makes us different? • No phone bill, no fixed contracts, and no hidden fees • Get a free local phone number or keep your own for a private second line or business use • Flexible data options: choose the plan that fits your life, and change it anytime • Low-cost international calling to 230+ countries FREE TALK & TEXT NATIONWIDE: NO PHONE BILL, NO FIXED CONTRACTS Stay connected with the TextNow free Wi-Fi calling and texting app, or activate TextNow Wireless on your existing phone to freely call and text without connecting to Wi-Fi. Get started instantly—no new device needed. FREE PLAN Unlimited talk and text on a nationwide 5G network — at $0/month, month after month. Not a trial. Not an introductory offer. Just free phone service, done differently. Activate our eSIM on your phone instantly with no commitments and no hidden fees. DATA PLANS: FLEXIBLE & ON YOUR TERMS Only pay for the data you use with no long-term contracts or commitments. We're the only provider with truly flexible data options. • Free Plan: Unlimited talk and text on nationwide 5G. Included monthly for $0. • Plus Plan: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data—except media streaming & gaming. No ads. • Unlimited Plan: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, and data. No ads. Change your plan anytime in the app. Cancel anytime. No runaround, no fees. Pay what you want, or not at all. SECOND PHONE NUMBER: FOR PRIVATE CALLING & TEXTING, A SEPARATE BUSINESS LINE, & MORE Use the TextNow app as a free second phone line. Perfect for a 2nd line, business phone, side hustles, or personal use. Free calls and texts without an extra phone bill. INTERNATIONAL CALLING: LOW-COST ACROSS 230+ COUNTRIES Have friends and family overseas? TextNow offers free calls to Mexico and Canada with low-cost international calls to 230+ countries, with rates starting at less than $0.01 per minute. WHY TEXTNOW? • Call and text for free immediately when you download the TextNow app—no bill, no fees • Activate on your existing phone and talk and text on a nationwide 5G network without Wi-Fi • Get a local phone number or keep your existing number. Area codes available across most metro areas in the US • Free voice calls, direct or SMS messages, picture and video messaging to the US or Canada • Flexible data options—only pay when you want it • Use on multiple devices including your computer or tablet and effortlessly access calls and texts whenever you need them • Low-cost international calls across 230+ countries • Voicemail-to-text audio transcription and conference calling HOW IS TEXTNOW FREE? There are no yearly or monthly fees to use TextNow. We partner with brands to pay for your phone service (so you don't have to) through in-app ads. Ads won't interrupt your experience. If you don't want ads, upgrade to the Plus Plan or Unlimited Plan to remove them. MORE FEATURES STANDARD FOR ALL USERS • Passcode for safe and private texting and calling • Caller ID • Customizable free text tones, call tones, ringtones, vibrations, and phone backgrounds • Quick Reply to speedily respond to friends • A home screen widget for instant use • Text from your computer and seamlessly synchronize with your mobile device via textnow.com Download the app and take control of your phone service, starting today. Follow us on social for the latest news and offers: • TikTok — @textnow • Facebook — @textnow • Instagram — @textnow • Twitter/X — @TextNow Privacy policy: https://www.textnow.com/privacy Terms of use: https://www.textnow.com/terms

About

Talking Stick

Connect anonymously with Indigenous peers for support and understanding. Access service providers and receive emergency alerts. A safe, confidential space for open conversation.

Highlights
  • Anonymous peer chats
  • Connect with service providers
  • Emergency alerts
  • Culturally relevant support
  • 24/7 availability
  • No account required
Read full description

Indigenous Peer Support | Anonymous Chat | Emergency Alerts Need support with something you can’t share with friends or family? Feeling stressed, anxious, worried, or alone with your thoughts? Talking Stick is a safe space for Indigenous people to connect anonymously with Peer Supporters—people trained to listen without judgment who understand your culture, language, and lived experience. Talking Stick is: • Free to use • Always anonymous (no email, no phone number, no account or login required) • All peer support is by and for Indigenous people. • A safe, judgment-free space for emotional support, cultural connection, and belonging. Who is this for? Talking Stick is available to members from participating Indigenous Nations across Canada and the United States. Inside the app, select your Nation or Region to access culturally relevant support, services, and emergency alerts. One App. Three Services. 1. Anonymous Chat (Indigenous Peer Support) Start an anonymous (text-based) chat with a trained Indigenous Peer who is ready to listen. Open the Talking Stick app anytime to see who’s available. When online, Indigenous Peers have visible profiles so you can choose who to connect with. Indigenous Peer Supporters are online at different times, day and night, weekdays and weekends, and we strive to have resources available as often as possible Every Peer Advocate you chat with is Indigenous, so you’ll receive support from someone who understands your culture and experiences. No sign-up or personal information required. Open the app, and get started. 2. Community Services (Special Teams) Nervous, afraid, or unsure about how to ask a question about health services, wellness programs, or other program resources available? Search and connect anonymously with service providers and participating community organizations through our Special Teams option. When online, these resources are available to answer your questions and help you find the right services and support. 3. Community Safety (FirstAlerts) Receive emergency and urgent safety alerts directly from participating Nations and Communities, including: • Missing persons alerts (including MMIWG) • Public safety and health emergencies • Evacuations, lockdowns, and urgent updates affecting community members Alerts are optional. You choose to subscribe (turn them on) for your selected Nation or Region. Alerts are sent only by authorized Nations and Community partners. Even if your phone is on silent, you will receive critical alerts to keep you and your loved ones safe. Important Talking Stick is not a crisis service. Indigenous Peer Supporters are not crisis counsellors or mental health professionals and do not provide therapy, counselling, diagnosis, or medical advice. If you are in immediate danger or crisis, please call 911.

Screenshots

TextNow4 screens
Talking Stick4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Talking Stick at none against TextNow's 10. Talking Stick also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (58% vs 38%). TextNow's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (929K vs 1). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. TextNow sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Talking Stick asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Talking Stick holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TextNow has 929K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of TextNow's written reviews are positive against 58% of Talking Stick's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TextNow ships an update every 6 days, Talking Stick every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
TextNow versus Talking Stick: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTextNowTalking Stick
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (929K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.0% of reviews58.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings929K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#9 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size409 MB18 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTextNow, Inc.TryCycle Data Systems Inc.

Customer experience

TextNow

All ratings928,245 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews3,449 reviews
Positive38.0%
Neutral6.6%
Negative55.4%

Talking Stick

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

TextNow

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Talking Stick

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

TextNow

Subscriptions9
  • Lock Your Number for 1 Week$1.997 Days
  • Lock Number 1 Week7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Premium Subscription$2.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Plus7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Premium Number 1 Year$4.991 Year
  • Lock Your Number for 1 Year$4.991 Year
  • Premium Number 1 Month$4.991 Month
  • Ad Free+$6.997 Days
  • Ad Free+ & 14-day free trial14 Days trial$9.991 Month
One-time1
  • $4.99 in International Calling Credit$4.99
None

Talking Stick

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TextNow free?
TextNow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Talking Stick free?
Talking Stick is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TextNow or Talking Stick?
Talking Stick is rated higher. TextNow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 929K ratings, while Talking Stick averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do TextNow or Talking Stick have ads?
TextNow shows ads; Talking Stick does not.
Which is updated more often, TextNow or Talking Stick?
TextNow ships an update every 6 days, and Talking Stick every 2 months. Most recently, TextNow was updated on November 11, 2026 and Talking Stick on November 3, 2026.

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