TextMe App Review

|Textme App is an app that let’s you get a number in the app on your iPhone or Android device instead of having another phone. Here we review it’s features.

Hello there! Today we’re going to be looking at yet another call and messaging app, helping you navigate so many choices. We still think Hushed rules though. 😉

TextMe isn’t an app that plays around. It focuses on providing a range of base services that most of us need on the daily — calling and texting. And TextMe aims to bring the value train to town with unlimited domestic and international calling and real SMS messaging (even if they don’t have the app as well).

So let’s dig in shall we…

TextMe Service – an Overview

We already noted that you get free unlimited texts and calls in the US and abroad. But that’s not all. TextMe also provides you with a “personal” phone number and dedicated voicemail box in much the same way a “normal” cell phone carrier would.

Pictures, Videos and More

But that’s not all. The TextMe App also has functionality for sending and receiving video, pictures, and GIFs. And if you want to really kick things up a notch, you can even keep in touch with friends via video calls and group chat rooms. Pretty neat.

Inviting Contacts

You can invite people from your contacts but if you’re trying to connect with someone who isn’t on your list then the process may prove to be quite tricky. Using the username search function is bugged at the moment and seeing as some devices don’t use SIM cards, you may be out of luck when trying to contact someone.

Call Credits

TextMe offers call credits that you can get through a wide range of methods including watching videos or filling out surveys. You can even buy credits or get a subscription. TextMe has its own web app login feature but thus far we haven’t found it very useful.

Interface

Its interface is rather glitchy and on Android Lollipop, it showed a weird habit of hiding the controls unless you press the back button whenever you change between tabs — and even that solution isn’t guaranteed to work.

What is the TextMe Mobile App?

Screenshot of a cell phone contact

The TextMe Mobile App is a multi-platform messaging app that lets you send messages to any phone number within the United States, Canada, Mexico, and over 100 other countries around the world absolutely free.

App Ratings & Stats

  • Google Play Store: 10 Million+ downloads
  • Google Play Store Rating: 4.3 stars
  • Apple Store: download number unknown
  • Apple Store Ratings: 4.7 stars

App Specifications

  • Seller: TextMe, Inc.
  • File Size: 124.4 MB
  • App Category: Social Networking
  • Languages: English / French
  • Price: Free with in-app purchases and upgrades

In-App Purchases

  • 100 TextMe Credits = $2.99
  • 40 TextMe Credits = $1.99
  • Unlimited calls = $3.99
  • Premium Features = $4.99
  • Get 1 Month Access = $3.99
  • Get this phone number = $1.99
  • 500 TextMe Credits = $12.99
  • Get this phone number = $2.99
  • 1000 TextMe Credits = $19.99
  • Change number = $1.99

Available on Multiple Platforms

Google play, apple app store, and amazon app store icons.

You can even make free voice and video calls to your friends if they install the app. These calls are cross-platform so you can call friends on their iPhone using your Android phone.

All you need to do is sign up, have your friends sign up, and then start messaging each other. The TextMe iPhone app makes texting absolutely free. You can easily send as many texts as you want to any number within one of the supported countries.

Limits on Video Calls

Video calls are limited to contacts who have TextMe installed on their phones though. You can even send pictures, video messages, and voicemails to your friends. The iPhone version of TextMe also supports group messaging with text, photo, and video capabilities.

Push Notifications

You’ll receive push notifications whenever your message has been delivered or read by a friend. To make your conversations more fun and personal, you can utilize an emoji from the large emoji gallery that TextMe provides.

Gallery and Emojis

The gallery comes with over 300 unique emojis and smileys that you can use to add some flair to your messages. You can even share your current location with your friends so that they can easily meet up with you at the local Starbucks or bowling alley.

The Evolution of TextMe, Inc. – who are they?

2011

TextMe was first released in March 2011 with the sole purpose of providing an easy-to-use communication solution that would be free to anyone in the world.

2012

TextMe became the first application to offer SMS, messaging, voice calling, and video calling on both Android and iOS platforms.

2013

In 2013 the coverage of the app was extended to over 100 countries which allowed users to call and text people for free in most countries.

2014

In 2014, FreeTone was launched which was the first application to offer free SMS and voice calls to numbers in the US and Canada. TopTopUp was also released in the same year which allowed users to send mobile top-up to more than 100 countries free of charge.

2015

In 2015, TextMe Up was launched which gave users the ability to have multiple phone numbers on a single device so that they could separate their work and personal lines. TextMe was also officially launched on the web in the same year.

2016

In 2016, free sponsored mobile data was now easily accessed around the world with the latest app from the creators of TextMe — Simkarma. An app that provides free mobile internet to anyone in India.

What can TextMe do?

High Definition Voice and Video Communication

TextMe doesn’t just let you make voice and video calls to your friends, TextMe lets you make high definition voice and video calls. You can get your own TextMe number if you’re in the US, Canada, France or Israel and use it to send and receive calls, SMS messages, and so much more.

Connect with Facebook Friends

You can easily find your Facebook friends and chat with them on TextMe for free. Sending and receiving large media — such as pictures and videos — isn’t a problem. You can even send your photos and videos on Dropbox to your friends on TextMe.

Earn Rewards

You can earn rewards just for using the application and receive TextMe messages on your Google Glass. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have enough time to sign up, just log in with Google+. TextMe works just like any phone carrier and lets you contact anyone — even someone who exclusively uses a landline and doesn’t have the TextMe app.

Countries Available for Service

Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, UK, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Getting Started with TextMe

TextMe is only available as a mobile app, so you can’t actually sign up on their website (which is https://go-text.me/).

So first, you’ll need to head over to the appropriate app store:

  • Google Play for Android devices
  • Apple Play for those devices running iOS software
  • Amazon Kindle store for apps that will run on your Kindle

Using the “Play Store” as an example below, you’ll click on the green “Install” button to download the app to your device.

Prior to finalizing installation, the app will ask for permission to access various files and information on your device in order to function properly. Such information includes your contacts, microphone, camera and other apps.

Once installation has completed you will need to click on “Open” in on your mobile device. This will prompt the app to start up.

Next, click on “Get Started”, which will open the following screen, prompting you to create an account by logging in with your email, or connecting via Facebook or Google directly.

2 people sitting at a table, one is looking at their laptop and the other is on their cell phone

After clicking on “create an account” you will be prompted to select a new phone number. The screen will provide you with multiple options. Tap on one of your choosing and click confirm.

After this step the app will ask you for your email, password, and the answer to two security questions. Once completed, click on “Register” to finalize your registration.

Once inside the app, you’ll see the general user interface which includes:

  • A menu icon in the upper left
  • A chat icon (first on the right)
  • A phone icon for making calls (second on the right)
  • And an address book icon for your contacts (third on the right)

To access and use each of those simply tap on them. They all function in much the same way your normal mobile phone apps work so you shouldn’t have much of a learning curve.

screenshot of texting app

And that’s it. You’re off to the races and can now use your TextMe Mobile App with ease.

Closing Thoughts / Verdict

Overall, the TextMe app is a great option if you need to make international calls for free while being able to separate your business and personal lines. Its video chat and texting capabilities are up to par and ready to meet anyone’s needs.

You can use the app to make as many phone calls as you need by selecting the right subscription for you. The push notifications that tell you once someone has seen your message is also invaluable.

The GUI is very intuitive and easy to use which makes TextMe suitable for anyone — whether or not they’re tech-savvy. All in all, this is a well-rounded app but you should still look at other options before getting the pro plan to see if another app suits your needs better.

Warning: the app doesn’t support emergency calls