# TextBehind vs Pay Tel

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextBehind | Pay Tel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (467 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textbehind/id887689080/reviews)** | [1.6 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **467** | 126 |
| Positive reviews | **89.2% of reviews** | 3.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#206** |
| Size | 55 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TextBehind, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/928543079) | [Pay Tel Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/1593243822) |

## What reviewers say

### TextBehind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textbehind/id887689080)

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.

**Highlights:** Text messages with photos, Custom greeting cards, Electronic money orders, Unlimited inmate reply letters, Secure communication service, Convenient and affordable

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional issues with message/photo delivery
- 💰 Concerns about pricing and value
- 🔍 Lack of transparency around processes

**Reported bugs**

- Login/account issues
- Problems with facility information and updates

**Requested features**

- More up-to-date greeting card options
- Ability to create custom greeting cards
- Faster processing and delivery times


### Pay Tel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay-tel/id1593243820)

**Currently charting:** #206 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Instant message alerts, Unread message count, Current balance visibility, Add funds link, Send photos to inmates

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextBehind free?

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

### Is Pay Tel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TextBehind or Pay Tel?

TextBehind is rated higher. TextBehind averages 4.2 out of 5 from 467 ratings, while Pay Tel averages 1.6 from 126 ratings.

### Do TextBehind or Pay Tel have ads?

Neither TextBehind nor Pay Tel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TextBehind or Pay Tel?

TextBehind ships an update monthly, and Pay Tel every 4 months. Most recently, TextBehind was updated on September 4, 2026 and Pay Tel on September 22, 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.*