Ask anyone that has a teenager and doesn't have an unlimited texting plan whether or not they've been hit with a surprise overage and bet more often then not you'll hear some horror stories. Most people feel that SMS text messaging charges are quite frankly a rip off. People feel that there isn't really any extra cost associated with SMS messaging so why should they charge such outrageous monthly and overage fees? While I can't say whether or not the wireless providers are full of crap, I can give you an alternative way of getting unlimited text messaging for a one-time flat fee!
TextNow offers unlimited SMS and Picture Messaging with a great UI
As you know by now I'm a UI (user interface) freak. Put two apps side-by-side that do the exact same thing, if one looks better and even costs more I'm likely to go with it. However, the price for TextNow is quite reasonable. Here's how it works. You buy the App for $0.99. This gets you 3 months of service, which is actually a good way to try it out first by only spending a buck. Once you're happy, you can then do an in App purchase of $3.99 for a year or (get this) $7.99 for LIFETIME. I just can't imagine spending $3.99 when $7.99 means I'll never have to pay again. However, I guess it's good to have options. You then sign up for your user name @ textnow.me. You have access to your contacts from within the App and for the most part it works just like the built-in iOS Messages App. Great looking UI with a customizable wallpaper screen, sounds and "ringtones" that you can assign to individual contacts. Something I've wanted from the Messages App since day one. You can send and receive all the SMS and picture messages you want. The recipient doesn't need to have an account or even know what TextNow is. Although you don't get a phone number, the messages do come from your "name" that you configure into the App. So people will know who is sending them the text. Also since this App works on the iPad and iPod touch, it means sending and receiving SMS/MMS messages from those devices too.
Awesome Google Voice Integration
One of the surprise benefits of this App for me is that it integrates GREAT with Google Voice. Once you set up your account, you simply forward your Google Voice SMS messages to your textnow.me email address. They show up in the App like the rest of the messages and when you respond they route through Google Voice to appear as if they are coming from your Google Voice number. So in other words this App puts a beautiful user interface on the Google Voice SMS feature.
You can get TextNow here from the 
The Bottom Line
If you don't like paying monthly texting fees, then it's hard not to go with this App and the one-time lifetime fee. If you're a Google Voice user, it's a must have.
TextNow
TextNow provides unlimited SMS and Picture messaging for a single flat lifetime fee.
- Enflick, Inc.
- Get on App Store
- $0.99
All info was collected on 7th July, 2010 when the app was reviewed.
About Terry White
Terry is the co-author of The Best Selling "The iPhone Book" 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th editions. He has been active in the industry for over 25 years and is the founder and president of MacGroup-Detroit, Inc., Michigan's largest Macintosh Users Group, host of the Adobe Creative Suite Podcast and a technology writer - Terry White Tech Blog.
YAY !! YAY !! YAY !! : D
Sarah, thanks for the headsup on this app
does it work outside of the US????
In particular can I send to Australian mobiles?
Nicholas, list of supported carriers here. Not sure if it works with any carriers that they don’t list:
Supported carriers in the US:
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Alltel, Cricket, Metro PCS, U.S. Cellular
Supported carriers in Canada:
Bell, Virgin Mobile, Koodo Mobile, Sasktel Mobility, MTS Mobility
This app is amazing.I love it alot
Terry, how does textnow compares to textfree, which provides a free real phone number that you can give away to your SMS senders? without a real phone numbers, don’t the sender need to use emails only for sending SMS?
Tony, I haven’t tried that one, but at first glance there doesn’t appear to be any Picture (MMS) support, nor does it appear to have the Google Voice integration. Sending to a TextNow user a text simply means the sender sends the message to yourusername@textnow.me instead of a phone number. Type it in once and from that point on you’re on your way.
Terry, MMS support and Google voice integration are definitely nice features, a real phone number for text is useful when the sender does not support email.
Thanks for the info here, its good to have another SMS tool to suit your needs.
Agreed! A real number certainly makes it more compatible. I guess for me that real number is my Google Voice number. That’s the one I give out anyway and now those SMS messages are routing through this app.
Hi Terry,
This is so great! So if you use this you could actually cancel your regular texting through AT&T?
Thanks,
Scott
Hi Terry,
Is there an app available that enables voice control to compose the content of a text?
Thank you,
Linda
This one works nicely:
http://www.bestappsite.com/reviews/business/dragon-dictation/