# Text ON vs ControlHippo

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ControlHippo at none against Text ON's 11. ControlHippo also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Text ON sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. ControlHippo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Text ON ships an update monthly, ControlHippo every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Text ON | ControlHippo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-on-call-now-second-phone/id6443879123/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.4K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 39.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 102 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [APPSTER LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625900371) | [Ankit Dudhwewala](https://appshunter.io/developer/1256873575) |

## What reviewers say

### Text ON

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-on-call-now-second-phone/id6443879123)

Acquire a virtual phone number without a physical SIM card for private calls and texts. Ideal for travelers, online registrations, or a dedicated work/personal line. Offers flexible plans and credit packs for usage.

**Highlights:** Buy virtual US numbers, Send text and multimedia messages, View call and message history, Manage multiple numbers, Flexible tariff plans, Delete message history

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full access (1 week trial) | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Full access (1 month) | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Access (3 months) | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| Full Access (6 months) | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Full Access (12 months, trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| 100 credits | $3.99 | one-time |
| 250 Credits (+50 Bonus) | $6.99 | one-time |
| 500 Credits (+100 Bonus) | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Credits (+200 Bonus) | $19.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Credits (+400 Bonus) | $29.99 | one-time |
| 3000 Credits (+600 Bonus) | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good app
- 🚀 Fast response

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezing issues
- 🐛 Unreliable service
- 🐛 Delivery issues
- 🔒 Account freezing
- 💰 Paid service issues

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to send messages
- Incompatible with some devices
- Purchased credits not credited

**Requested features**

- Whatsapp verification support
- Support for international numbers


### ControlHippo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/controlhippo/id6480262045)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Text ON free?

Text ON is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ControlHippo free?

ControlHippo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Text ON or ControlHippo have ads?

Text ON shows ads; ControlHippo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Text ON or ControlHippo?

Text ON ships an update monthly, and ControlHippo every 6 weeks. Most recently, Text ON was updated on October 27, 2026 and ControlHippo on October 27, 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.*