Comparison

Pinger vs Second Texting Number

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

Head to head
About

Pinger

This app provides a free U.S. phone number for unlimited calling and texting to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It offers features like voicemail, group chat, and MMS messaging, functioning as a reliable alternative to a traditional phone line.

Highlights
  • Free U.S. phone number
  • Unlimited calling
  • Free texting (SMS)
  • Voicemail
  • Group chat
  • MMS picture & video messaging
Features
Read full description

Make free calls with a real U.S.phone number on the original free calling and texting app. Pinger comes preloaded with free calling minutes that can be used to call anyone in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. After that, minutes are free to earn or cheap to purchase. SMS messages are also free. On top of free calling and SMS, additional features include voicemail, group chat, MMS picture & video messaging, emoji, ringtones, and more. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING “It’s like having a real phone number from the carrier. Except FREE.” –Nick “I started using this app back in 2007 on my iPod touch 3rd generation... Works every time, voice calls are clear, and no one knows it’s an app and not an actual phone. Highly recommended.” –Scott “I have used this app as my main phone number for years. It is just as reliable as an actual phone number.” –Kay “I’ve tried several, but hands down, Pinger is by far the best. Why? Simple: It works. Period.” –Tuc “I would rate this like 100,000,000 stars but can’t :/ only 5.” –Molly “Great to have a backup number especially when you travel abroad.” –Milo —— © 2020 Pinger, Inc. All rights reserved. The Pinger name, associated trademarks, and logos are trademarks of Pinger, Inc. or related entities. Terms of Service: https://www.pinger.com/privacy-policy/terms-and-conditions/ Privacy Policy: https://www.pinger.com/privacy-policy/ Subscriptions are automatically billed monthly or annually to your iTunes Account and auto-renew unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Payments are charged to your iTunes account upon confirmation of purchase. You can turn off auto-renew or manage subscriptions in your iTunes & App Store account settings. Cancellations take effect at the end of the active subscription period. Any unused portion of a free trial period (where available) is forfeited when purchasing a subscription.

About

Second Texting Number

Protect your personal number by using a private, disposable phone number for calls and texts. Choose your own number in any area code and receive verification codes without revealing your identity. Manage your privacy with features like auto-response and custom voicemail.

Highlights
  • Unlimited texting and calling
  • Choose your own number
  • Protect your privacy
  • Receive verification codes
  • Separate contacts
  • Auto-response
  • Custom voicemail
Read full description

Safely text & call anyone while protecting your real number. Give out a number that can't be linked back to yours. Guaranteed. Unlisted provides privacy for you and your phone number with supercharged private numbers. UNLIMITED TEXTING & CALLING Send & receive unlimited texts, calls, and picture messages to any US or Canadian number CHOOSE YOUR OWN NUMBER Pick a phone number in any area code. Get as many as you need. PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY Unlisted numbers aren't linked to you or your real number. Protect your privacy when you need to give out a number. CRYSTAL-CLEAR CALLING Enjoy excellent call quality via either an internet (VoIP) connection or your carrier's phone network RECEIVE VERIFICATION CODES Our numbers can receive verification and 2FA codes for registering new accounts anywhere SEPARATE CONTACTS Store contacts that live only in the app and won't appear in your iPhone's contacts DO NOT DISTURB / OPEN HOURS Set a schedule so you only receive calls and notifications when you want them AUTO-RESPONSE Set up a message that will automatically get sent to anyone getting in touch with you OUTGOING CALLER ID If you want, set a name to appear when you call someone INCOMING CALL OPTIONS Decide whether to answer incoming calls on your phone, forward them to another number, or send them to voicemail CUSTOM VOICEMAIL GREETING Set a custom voicemail greeting for each of your numbers. Or keep the generic default if you prefer to stay anonymous. PRIVACY-FIRST: NO ADS, NO TRACKING We don't show ads or do anything with your data that you wouldn't expect. We definitely don't let any 3rd parties do this either. DEDICATED, US-BASED TEAM We're a dedicated US-based team who loves working on Unlisted every day. In fact, we rely on Unlisted numbers every day for our own needs. We promise to never sell your data, show you ads, or betray your privacy. Since 2012, customers have trusted us to provide them new phone numbers for all of their needs, and we hope you will too. If you ever need help, or have something you'd like us to add to Unlisted, please send us an email at support@getunlisted.com. We offer dedicated support and respond personally to each and every email. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS All plans come with a free trial. You can cancel the trial any time and you won't be charged. Please note that certain functionality may be restricted during the free trial in order to prevent abuse. This may include texting limits or blocks on receiving verification codes. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed from the App Store app. HELP Access the Help Center in the app's menu or email support@getunlisted.com LEGAL & FINE PRINT Terms Of Service: https://www.getunlisted.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.getunlisted.com/privacy IMPORTANT: Works in the US and Canadian only. You can only call and text with other US & Canadian numbers. Not for 911 emergency services.

Screenshots

Pinger4 screens
Second Texting Number4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Second Texting Number at none against Pinger's shown. Second Texting Number also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 50%). Pinger's advantage is chart position (#170 vs unranked) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Pinger sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Second Texting Number sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Pinger against 4.6 for Second Texting Number. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70K and 17K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Pinger's written reviews are positive against 60% of Second Texting Number's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pinger ships an update weekly, Second Texting Number every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Pinger versus Second Texting Number: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPingerSecond Texting Number
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (70K ratings) — better4.6 (17K ratings)
Positive reviews50.5% of reviews59.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings70K — better17K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#170 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size219 MB33 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperPinger, Inc.FathomTel, Inc.

Customer experience

Pinger

All ratings70,108 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.1%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews321 reviews
Positive50.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative42.1%

Second Texting Number

All ratings17,038 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.9%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews265 reviews
Positive59.6%
Neutral6.8%
Negative33.6%

User reviews

Pinger

From 70K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app
  • 👍 Simple and functional
  • 👍 Good app
  • 👍 Works pretty good
  • 👍 Great service, user friendly

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Constantly lock your account due to supposed shady activity
  • 💰 You have to pay $10 a month to receive SMS from apps
  • 🐛 Does not even let you create an account
  • 🔍 Why so many ads since last update??!
  • 🐛 Issues with Pinger

Second Texting Number

From 17K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reliable service
  • 🔒 Maintains privacy
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Useful for business/personal separation
  • 🚀 Clear audio quality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy/buggy performance
  • ⚠️ Unreliable number availability
  • 💰 Expensive pricing
  • 🔒 Difficult to delete account
  • ⚠️ Unexpected charges/billing issues

Bugs and requests

Pinger

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Constantly lock your account due to supposed shady activity
  • Does not even let you create an account
  • Microphone doesn't work, can't hear me on calls
  • Inconsistent, can't make calls sometimes
  • Not dependable, messages don't go through

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to receive verification codes
  • Option to turn off sounds/notifications
  • Fix for not being able to send more than one picture at a time

Second Texting Number

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Texts not being received
  • Accounts being blocked/restricted without explanation
  • Purchased numbers not working as expected

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to log out of devices
  • International calling/texting support
  • Group messaging functionality

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Pinger

Subscriptions8
  • Remove Ads$2.991 Month
  • Voicemail to Text$2.991 Month
  • Pinger Plus Weekly$4.997 Days
Show 5 more
  • Pinger Plan$4.991 Month
  • Pinger Plus Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Pinger Plus Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Pinger Plus Half Yearly$39.996 Months
  • Pinger Plus Yearly$69.991 Year
One-time3
  • 100 minutes$1.99
  • 400 minutes$9.99
  • 1000 minutes$18.99
11 purchases

Second Texting Number

Subscriptions7
  • Unlisted Number: Pay as You Go$5.991 Month
  • Unlimited Texting + Calling3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Unlimited Texting + Calling7 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Second Texting Number7 Days trial$17.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk + Text3 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk + Text7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Unlimited Texting & Calling7 Days trial$39.991 Month
One-time4
  • 100 Text Messages$2.99
  • 200 Minutes$7.99
  • Pay as You Go (Prepay 1 Month)$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Change Your Number$19.99

Questions

Is Pinger free?
Pinger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Second Texting Number free?
Second Texting Number is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pinger or Second Texting Number?
Pinger is rated higher. Pinger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 70K ratings, while Second Texting Number averages 4.6 from 17K ratings.
Do Pinger or Second Texting Number have ads?
Pinger shows ads; Second Texting Number does not.
Which is updated more often, Pinger or Second Texting Number?
Pinger ships an update weekly, and Second Texting Number every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pinger was updated on September 24, 2026 and Second Texting Number on September 23, 2026.

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