Comparison

Pinger vs Ring4

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

Ring4

Create a private second phone line for texting and calling without using your personal number. Ideal for online selling, dating, or business, it offers features like call recording and local area codes. Avoid roaming charges by calling over Wi-Fi.

Highlights
  • Multiple private phone lines
  • Call recording
  • Local area codes
  • Private video calling
  • Voicemail
  • Block unwanted calls
Features
Read full description

Start texting and calling on your new private line. Built for people looking for privacy, a local number, and separation between personal and public life. No carrier plan needed. Ring4 can be used like a prepaid phone card. Text, picture message, and call anywhere in the US, Canada, and UK. Avoid using your Cell phone minutes like other apps. Call and text over Wi-Fi to eliminate roaming charges when travelling. Connect a local eSIM and use your Ring4 number anywhere you have cellular data service. Add private video calling, call recording, voicemail, local area codes, and much more – MULTIPLE PHONE LINES: Set up a number for personal, business, and online selling. CALL RECORDING: Start recording on any line and RARE AREA CODES: San Francisco (415), New York (212), Los Angeles (310). What’s the best way to look like a local? Get a rare number that others can’t. Shhhh… VIDEO CALLS: Start video calls when selling online with a one-time link. Great for online selling or sharing a real estate property tour. PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY: Do you trust loyalty programs to not sell your number? You shouldn’t. Receive verification codes (2FA) and promotional messages for your favorite brands with a private second line. BLOCK CALLS: If you're done with your temporary line, or someone is bothering you, simply delete it and grab a new one. No trip to the store, questions from the salesperson, one click, and you're done. VOICEMAIL: Stay professional with a greeting that matches your private second line's purpose. SAVE CELL MINUTES & DATA: Ring4 does *NOT* use your cell phone minutes for calling, like some other apps. Connect to WiFi to make VoIP calls wherever you are. – WHY USE a 2nd PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER? -- ONLINE DATING: Use a second number to text and call without sharing your real cell phone. RENTING: Message tenants, renters, and landlords. Share a room for rent online using a private number, keeping your personal cell phone number confidential. SELLING ONLINE: Keep your cell phone off public listings by texting buyers from a second line you can silence or replace. MARKETPLACE LISTING: Never give your real cell phone number out online. LOYALTY PROGRAMS: Stop loyalty programs from selling your personal cell phone. Signup for online services with your new 2nd line. BUSINESS: Rule #1 of starting a business. Never give out your personal cell phone, and definitely do not put it on your website. This can never be undone, get a 2nd number today for your new idea, your new business before it’s too late. – NO CONTRACTS: Start with a new US or UK temporary number for 7-days. Add a monthly subscription to keep the number forever. (fair use limits apply) FREE INBOUND TEXTS & CALLING: Inbound calls and texts are always free. TRANSPARENT PRICING: Subscriptions unlock 3,000 text messages and calls a month. (counted daily) • 5 credits to start calling in the US or internationally • 5 credits to start a video meeting • 1 credit to send a text message – IMPORTANT: Emergency calls and texts to 911 are not supported. Texts to/from short codes might not always be supported. The trial may include free usage and is intended for one-time use. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS: Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled 24 hours in advance and may be managed by the user in Account Settings after purchase. THE FINE PRINT: Terms of use: https://www.ring4.com/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.ring4.com/privacy-policy – Looking for more than 3 numbers or higher text and calling plans, visit ring4.com/business to learn about our team plans.

Screenshots

Pinger4 screens
Ring44 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Ring4 at none against Pinger's shown. Ring4 also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). Pinger's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (71K vs 2.9K). On price, review sentiment, 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 Ring4 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pinger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pinger has 71K ratings behind it against 2.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Pinger's written reviews are positive against 57% of Ring4's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pinger ships an update every 8 days, Ring4 monthly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Pinger versus Ring4: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPingerRing4
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (71K ratings) — better4.4 (2.9K ratings)
Positive reviews50.2% of reviews56.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings71K — better2.9K
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#177 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size223 MB105 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperPinger, Inc.Ring4, LLC

Customer experience

Pinger

All ratings70,541 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.1%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews333 reviews
Positive50.2%
Neutral7.2%
Negative42.6%

Ring4

All ratings2,922 ratings
Positive83.0%
Neutral4.6%
Negative12.4%
Written reviews519 reviews
Positive56.8%
Neutral5.8%
Negative37.4%

User reviews

Pinger

From 71K 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

Ring4

From 2.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great service
  • 🚀 Cheap and affordable
  • 🚀 Efficient connectivity
  • 👍 Excellent app for business and staying in touch

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Accounts suspended under false terms
  • 🐛 Unreliable service, unable to make calls or send texts
  • 🐛 Deceptive pricing and hidden fees
  • 🐛 Poor customer support and unresponsive

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

Ring4

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Accounts being limited or disabled for no reason
  • Credits not being properly credited
  • Inability to generate new numbers
  • Frequent app crashes and service interruptions

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to port numbers away from the app
  • Improve text messaging functionality
  • Provide a free trial period

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
10 purchases

Ring4

Subscriptions6
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for French Mobile Phone Number - Line #1$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for English Mobile Phone Number - Line #1$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Number - Line #1$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Number - Line #2$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Number - Line #3$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Talk & Text for US/CA Selected Number - Line #1$14.991 Month
One-time4
  • Package of 10 credits$0.99
  • Package of 40 credits$3.99
  • Package of 100 credits$8.99
Show 1 more
  • Package of 250 credits$19.99

Questions

Is Pinger free?
Pinger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ring4 free?
Ring4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pinger or Ring4?
Pinger is rated higher. Pinger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 71K ratings, while Ring4 averages 4.4 from 2.9K ratings.
Do Pinger or Ring4 have ads?
Pinger shows ads; Ring4 does not.
Which is updated more often, Pinger or Ring4?
Pinger ships an update every 8 days, and Ring4 monthly. Most recently, Pinger was updated on October 29, 2026 and Ring4 on October 29, 2026.

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