# Pinger vs Second Texting Number

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 (#175 vs unranked) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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.

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.

Pinger ships an update weekly, Second Texting Number every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pinger | Second Texting Number |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (70K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinger-call-plus-texting-app/id444741112/reviews)** | [4.6 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/second-texting-numberunlisted/id539640635/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **70K** | 17K |
| Positive reviews | 50.5% of reviews | **59.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#175** | — |
| Size | 219 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pinger, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/299102705) | [FathomTel, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482732721) |

## What reviewers say

### Pinger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinger-call-plus-texting-app/id444741112)

**Currently charting:** #175 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

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:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | per month |
| Voicemail to Text | $2.99 | per month |
| Pinger Plus Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pinger Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Pinger Plus Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Pinger Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pinger Plus Half Yearly | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Pinger Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| 100 minutes | $1.99 | one-time |
| 400 minutes | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1000 minutes | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/second-texting-numberunlisted/id539640635)

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlisted Number: Pay as You Go | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Texting + Calling | $14.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Texting + Calling | $14.99 | per month |
| Second Texting Number | $17.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Talk + Text | $19.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Talk + Text | $19.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Texting & Calling | $39.99 | per month |
| 100 Text Messages | $2.99 | one-time |
| 200 Minutes | $7.99 | one-time |
| Pay as You Go (Prepay 1 Month) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Change Your Number | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Texts not being received
- Accounts being blocked/restricted without explanation
- Purchased numbers not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to log out of devices
- International calling/texting support
- Group messaging functionality


## Frequently asked 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 25, 2026 and Second Texting Number on September 23, 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.*