Comparison

TextNow vs Hit Em Up

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, 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
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

Hit Em Up

Send personalized mass texts and emails to your contacts. Save time by automating outreach with custom inserts and AI-assisted writing. Connect with your audience across multiple platforms like SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp, and email.

Highlights
  • Personalized mass texting
  • AI-assisted message writing
  • Scheduled message sending
  • Smart contact list segmentation
  • CSV contact import
  • Cross-platform messaging (SMS, WhatsApp, Email)
Features
Read full description

Hit Em Up: Mass Texting, Individually Tailored Hit Em Up turns your phone into a relationship factory, churning out stronger connections while you save hours. Imagine having a 5-hour (or more) weekly gift of time. That's Hit Em Up - cultivating your network while you live your life. The Hit Em Up Personalized Mass Text process is simple: 1. Write a message (or let our SmartWrite AI help you write a message based on your intent) using our custom inserts that personalize your message with your recipients' names (Hi ::firstname::!) 2. Select a list of contacts to send your message 3. Watch as Hit Em Up personalizes each message uniquely and personally to each recipient personally and privately! A Revolution in Your Texting and Out Reach: • SmartWrite AI: Your personal wordsmith, crafting bespoke messages at lightning speed. • Scheduled Messages: Be the clockwork correspondent - your messages arrive precisely when they matter most. • Smart Selectors: Your audience architect. Build perfect groups with a few keystrokes, no manual labor required. • Unlimited Tags: The secret ingredients that turn mass messages into personal conversations. Sprinkle liberally for best results. • CSV Contact Import: Your network's welcome mat. Roll out the red carpet for contacts from any source, and start the party immediately. • Template Texts: Your message cookbook. Whip up tried-and-true recipes or save your signature dishes for future feasts. • Fast Send: Your message's hyperdrive. Leap into lightspeed outreach with our advanced sending process. • Personalized Mass Emails: Your communication chameleon. Adapt your personal touch from texts to inboxes seamlessly. Hit Em Up speaks your audience's language - whether it's SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp, or Email. You're fluent on every platform. Take Hit Em Up for a 7-day test flight. No credit card, no risk - just pure networking altitude. Watch your connections soar. Plant Hit Em Up on your phone today. Watch your network blossom with every personalized message you cultivate. Your voice shapes our future. Be sure to leave us feedback either with customer support by pressing the “Help” button or emailing us at feedback@hitemupapp.com --- Hit Em Up is free to download and try for 7 days. We offer both a Standard and Basic membership subscriptions for various features in the following durations: - 1 month - 1 year Subscription prices vary depending on the features, length, and region. All prices and plans with features are clearly displayed within the app. Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings in the iTunes Store/iPhone Settings. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. --- We guard your data like a dragon guards treasure. See our ironclad privacy measures on our App's Privacy Policy: https://www.hitemupapp.com/privacy By downloading Hit Em Up and using it, you are agreeing to our Terms of Service at https://www.hitemupapp.com/terms With Hit Em Up, every time you tap our send button, you plant seeds of connection in garden of your community. Enjoy and welcome to our family!

Screenshots

TextNow4 screens
Hit Em Up4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Hit Em Up at none against TextNow's shown. Hit Em Up also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 38%). TextNow's advantage is ratings volume (921K vs 4.9K) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 16 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Hit Em Up sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TextNow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TextNow has 921K ratings behind it against 4.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of TextNow's written reviews are positive against 71% of Hit Em Up's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TextNow ships an update every 6 days, Hit Em Up fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
TextNow versus Hit Em Up: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTextNowHit Em Up
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (921K ratings) — better4.6 (4.9K ratings)
Positive reviews37.8% of reviews71.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings921K — better4.9K
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#9 — better#134
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size470 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTextNow, Inc.Zakery Kline

Customer experience

TextNow

All ratings921,047 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews3,235 reviews
Positive37.8%
Neutral6.5%
Negative55.7%

Hit Em Up

All ratings4,851 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.8%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews363 reviews
Positive71.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative25.3%

User reviews

TextNow

From 921K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Hit Em Up

From 4.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Time-saving
  • 📱 Personalized messages
  • 🔍 Ability to create groups
  • 📤 Efficient mass texting

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • ⏱️ Tedious to send individual messages
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔍 Issues with contact management
  • 🔄 Unreliable message delivery

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

Hit Em Up

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes
  • Contacts disappearing from groups
  • Verification issues
  • Unreliable message sending

Requested features

4 requests
  • Automatic message sending
  • Scheduled messaging
  • Integration with email and other platforms
  • Improved contact management

In-app purchases

16 purchases

TextNow

Subscriptions12
  • AdFree Lite$1.991 Month
  • Lock Your Number for 1 Week$1.997 Days
  • Lock Number 1 Week7 Days trial$1.997 Days
Show 9 more
  • Premium Subscription + 14-day free trial14 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Premium Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Lock Your Number for 1 Month$4.991 Month
  • 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-time4
  • Verification Codes Unlock$0.29
  • Verification Codes Unlock$0.49
  • 30m Verification Codes$0.99
Show 1 more
  • $4.99 in International Calling Credit$4.99
11 purchases

Hit Em Up

Subscriptions5
  • Hit Em Up Basic Monthly$19.991 Month
  • Standard Monthly Auto Renew$24.991 Month
  • Standard 3 Month Subscription$66.003 Months
Show 2 more
  • Basic Yearly Subscription$71.991 Year
  • Standard Yearly Auto Renew$179.991 Year
One-time6
  • One Week Basic Subscription$13.99
  • One Month Basic Subscription$19.99
  • One Time Standard Upgrade$29.99
Show 3 more
  • Three Month Basic Subscription$49.99
  • Six Month Basic Subscription$59.99
  • One Year Basic Subscription$72.00

Questions

Is TextNow free?
TextNow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hit Em Up free?
Hit Em Up is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TextNow or Hit Em Up?
TextNow is rated higher. TextNow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 921K ratings, while Hit Em Up averages 4.6 from 4.9K ratings.
Do TextNow or Hit Em Up have ads?
TextNow shows ads; Hit Em Up does not.
Which is updated more often, TextNow or Hit Em Up?
TextNow ships an update every 6 days, and Hit Em Up fortnightly. Most recently, TextNow was updated on September 24, 2026 and Hit Em Up on September 22, 2026.
Which is more popular, TextNow or Hit Em Up?
TextNow currently peaks at #9 in the App Store charts, and Hit Em Up at #134. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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