TextNow vs Centennial Connection
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TextNow
This app provides free nationwide calling and texting on a 5G network with no monthly bills or contracts. It offers a free local phone number or allows you to keep your own, with flexible data plans and low-cost international calling options.
- Free unlimited talk and text nationwide
- Get a free local phone number
- Flexible data plans
- Low-cost international calling
- Second phone line functionality
- Voicemail-to-text transcription
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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
Centennial Connection
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Centennial Connection is a student-only social platform built exclusively for Centennial College students. College can feel overwhelming, especially when you are starting somewhere new. Centennial Connection helps students meet people on campus, make friends, find study partners, and build real connections beyond the classroom. Features include: • Swipe through student profiles • Match and chat in real time • Take a compatibility quiz • Filter students by program, semester, and background • Build your student profile • Meet classmates and expand your circle • Report and block system for a safer community To join, students must verify their Centennial College email. Built for students who want college to feel a little more connected.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Centennial Connection at none against TextNow's 10. Centennial Connection also leads on ads (none vs shown). TextNow's advantage is chart position (#9 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. TextNow sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Centennial Connection asks for nothing beyond the download.
TextNow ships an update every 6 days, Centennial Connection every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TextNow | Centennial Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (928K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 38.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 928K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #9 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 397 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | TextNow, Inc. | Vadim Iskakov |
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
Centennial Connection
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
TextNow
- Lock Your Number for 1 Week$1.997 Days
- Lock Number 1 Week7 Days trial$1.997 Days
- Premium Subscription$2.991 Month
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- 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
- $4.99 in International Calling Credit$4.99
Centennial Connection
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is TextNow free?
Is Centennial Connection free?
Do TextNow or Centennial Connection have ads?
Which is updated more often, TextNow or Centennial Connection?
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