TextNow: Call + Text Unlimited

Category

Description of App

From the iTunes appstore:

FREE TEXTING, FREE PICTURE MESSAGING, FREE CALLING, AND FREE VOICEMAIL

DEDICATED PHONE NUMBER
Give your friends your very own phone number!

UNLIMITED TEXT AND PICTURE MESSAGING
You can send as many texts and picture messages as you want - FREE!

TURN YOUR IPOD OR IPAD INTO A PHONE
Works on your iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone

IS IT REALLY FREE?
There is no catch. No yearly or monthly fees! It is completely free!

HOW CAN ALL OF THIS BE FREE?
The app comes with a few ads. If you don't like ads, you can purchase a subscription to remove them.

OTHER AWESOME STUFF
- Customize the look and feel of the app
- Tons of wallpaper, color schemes, and ringtones to choose from
- Use your own pics as wallpaper
- Customize your own voicemail greeting
- Make your own signature
- Super fast
- Bluetooth support for iPhone users

PEOPLE WHO LOVE TEXTNOW
"If you want an unlimited texting without the high priced carrier based texting plans, then Textnow is the app for you." 4/5 rating --AppAdvice

"anyone needing an unlimited number of texts, we’d recommend TextNow as our app of choice" --AppAddict

"Just as fast sending/receiving as regular texts for me (including people who don't have the app)." -tbm248, MacRumors

I CAN'T FIND MY AREA CODE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Functionally, it makes no difference which area code you pick. As long as your friends are in the USA, they will not be charged any long distance.

Version

4.4.38

Free or Paid

Free

Apple Watch Support

Not Known

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

iOS Version

8.2

Accessibility Comments

Works great on older devices with older iOS. Is a bit slower on newer devices like my iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 with iOS 8.2.

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads most page elements.

Button Labeling

Most buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver, but the interface could be easier to navigate and use.

Other Comments

The only problem I have found with voiceover is that the number pad when making a call does not read the number buttons. 1 through 0, pound and star don't read. However, the call button is accessible. A way to get around this is to compose a message to the person you want to call, and press the call button from within the conversation screen.

Options

Comments

By Jesus R on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 19:50

Just wanted to let you all know that if you go to the textnow website and log in with the same username and password, you can text accessiblely from the website as well. I am using windows, but I see no reason why this wouldn't work on mac as well. While texting might be accessible, Phone calling is not.

By The podcast junky on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 - 19:50

I'm thinking about switching to this service. I was just wondering if there were any updates in accessibility to this app.

By Jesus R on Friday, October 21, 2016 - 19:50

Hi there,
No, I don't believe there are any big updates to this app. I would use the other TextNow app though, TextNow Plus rather than this one. The apps almost mirror each other now, but this one has keypad problems. The other app does not, and you have the benafit of having access to Voicemail.
I hope this helps.