TextBehind vs Inmate Canteen
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.
Inmate Canteen
Connect with incarcerated individuals through a dedicated communication platform. Send messages, make video calls, and conduct voice calls to stay in touch with loved ones.
- Message inmates
- Video calls
- Voice calls
- Inmate communication
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Contact inmates through the Turnkey's Inmate Canteen. This application serves as a communication platform allowing users to message, video and voice call with inmates.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: TextBehind at 89% against Inmate Canteen's 0%. TextBehind also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, 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 1.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TextBehind has 467 ratings behind it against 85, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of TextBehind's written reviews are positive against 0% of Inmate Canteen's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TextBehind | Inmate Canteen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (467 ratings) — better | 1.2 (85 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 89.2% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 467 — better | 85 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 95 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TextBehind, Inc | TWVending Inc. |
Customer experience
TextBehind
Inmate Canteen
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
Inmate Canteen
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
TextBehind
No in-app purchases
Inmate Canteen
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is TextBehind free?
Is Inmate Canteen free?
Which has better reviews, TextBehind or Inmate Canteen?
Do TextBehind or Inmate Canteen have ads?
Which is updated more often, TextBehind or Inmate Canteen?
Other comparisons
