# TextNow vs Quadly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Quadly at none against TextNow's 17. Quadly also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). TextNow's advantage is ratings volume (927K vs 1) and chart position (#9 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TextNow sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Quadly asks for nothing beyond the download.

Quadly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TextNow has 927K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

TextNow ships an update every 6 days, Quadly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextNow | Quadly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (927K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textnow-call-plus-text-unlimited/id314716233/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quadly/id6759175162/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **927K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 38.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | — |
| Size | 397 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [TextNow, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/309561143) | [Daniel Lim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877159691) |

## What reviewers say

### TextNow

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

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #10 Top Free · Social Networking, #139 Top Free, #178 Top Grossing (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


### Quadly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quadly/id6759175162)

Connect with fellow students on campus through anonymous discussions, course advice, and a local marketplace. Find classmates, share tips, and discover events in a trusted, university-specific environment.

**Highlights:** Anonymous discussion boards, Course and campus information, Student-focused marketplace, Direct messaging and community building, Campus-specific content

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextNow free?

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

### Is Quadly free?

Quadly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TextNow or Quadly?

Quadly is rated higher. TextNow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 927K ratings, while Quadly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do TextNow or Quadly have ads?

TextNow shows ads; Quadly does not.

### Which is updated more often, TextNow or Quadly?

TextNow ships an update every 6 days, and Quadly weekly. Most recently, TextNow was updated on November 1, 2026 and Quadly on October 28, 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.*