TextBehind vs Pay Tel
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TextBehind
Easily connect with incarcerated individuals through text messages, photos, and custom greeting cards. Receive unlimited electronic replies directly to your phone and email, eliminating the need for traditional mail services.
- Text messages with photos
- Custom greeting cards
- Electronic money orders
- Unlimited inmate reply letters
- Secure communication service
- Convenient and affordable
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TextBehind® connects you with every inmate across America using text messages with photos, custom greeting cards and electronic money orders. Unlimited inmate reply letters will be electronically delivered right to your smart phone and email address wherever you are in the world. This reply service is absolutely FREE and UNLIMITED. TextBehind® is a secure nationwide communication service for families, friends and TextPals (pen pals) to consistently stay in touch with their incarcerated loved ones conveniently and affordably. - No more buying envelopes, stamps, paper, print photos or visit the post office and photo print shops. - No visits to money order shops or to hand-write letters by hand.
Pay Tel
Stay connected with loved ones. Receive instant alerts for messages and notifications. Easily view your balance and add funds, or send photos to inmates in eligible correctional facilities.
- Instant message alerts
- Unread message count
- Current balance visibility
- Add funds link
- Send photos to inmates
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The Pay Tel app provides you with easy access to important functionality: Instant alerts for any notifications from Pay Tel™ or your inteleMESSAGE™ contacts. Current unread messages count indicator. Just press to open inteleMESSAGE™. Visibility to your current balance, and a link to the main PayTel.com site for Adding Funds. Send photos to inmates in eligible facilities.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: TextBehind at 89% against Pay Tel's 4%. TextBehind also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.6) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). Pay Tel's advantage is chart position (#206 vs unranked). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TextBehind holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 467 and 126 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of TextBehind's written reviews are positive against 4% of Pay Tel's.
TextBehind ships an update monthly, Pay Tel every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TextBehind | Pay Tel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (467 ratings) — better | 1.6 (126 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 89.2% of reviews — better | 3.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 467 — better | 126 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #206 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.1 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TextBehind, Inc | Pay Tel Communications |
Customer experience
TextBehind
Pay Tel
User reviews
TextBehind
From 467 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and reliable delivery
- 👍 Convenient and easy to use
- 💡 Wide range of communication options (letters, photos, cards)
- 🔒 Responsive and helpful customer service
- 🚀 Timely processing of messages
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional issues with message/photo delivery
- 💰 Concerns about pricing and value
- 🔍 Lack of transparency around processes
Pay Tel
From 126 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📱 Enables communication with incarcerated loved ones
- 📹 Video calling functionality available
- 💬 Messaging feature when working properly
- ✅ App works smoothly after recent updates (per some users)
- 🎯 Easy to add funds/make payments
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Messages fail to send or display
- 🔌 Constant login errors and authentication failures
- ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times
- 🔄 App randomly logs users out mid-session
Bugs and requests
TextBehind
Reported bugs
2 issues- Login/account issues
- Problems with facility information and updates
Requested features
3 requests- More up-to-date greeting card options
- Ability to create custom greeting cards
- Faster processing and delivery times
Pay Tel
Reported bugs
21 issues- App crashes on launch or during use
- Login authentication errors persist across sessions
- Messages fail to send despite payment being deducted
- Messages don't appear in inbox despite being sent
- App logs out randomly while actively in use
Show 16 moreShow fewer
- Typing causes screen to flicker and delete message content
- Blank white screens when trying to view messages
- App won't work when Wi-Fi is enabled (Error 403)
- Incorrect notification counts
- Balance doesn't update after adding funds
- Video call invitations don't pop up or display
- Call connections drop mid-conversation
- Echo/feedback during calls
- Calls ring once then hang up immediately
- Account lockout with 'phone number doesn't belong to account' error
- PIN number errors preventing login
- App won't open on certain devices (iPhone specific issues)
- Messages appear days late
- Duplicate messages being sent and charged
- App freezes when typing long messages
- Website login doesn't sync with app login
Requested features
12 requests- Improved app stability and performance optimization
- Better customer service responsiveness (live chat, phone support)
- Reduced pricing for calls and messages
- Same-day video visit scheduling
- Better message persistence (don't delete on app exit)
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Improved call quality and connection stability
- Wi-Fi compatibility fix
- Better user interface design and navigation
- Automatic message saving/drafts
- Transaction history visibility
- Refund policy for failed transactions
- Faster fund processing and balance updates
In-app purchases
TextBehind
No in-app purchases
Pay Tel
No in-app purchases
