Provider comparison
Choose Google Voice if you are in the US, already have a US mobile number to link, and want a free, ad-free second line tied to your Google account. Choose TextNow if you want a free number without linking another one and do not mind ads. Both are internet-based services, so some apps may refuse them for verification codes.
As of September 2026. Based on public information — see the sources at the end of this page.
Updated By PhoneBorn TeamEditorial policy
Side by side
| Feature | Google Voice | TextNow |
|---|---|---|
| Price (basic use) | Free for personal accounts; Workspace plans are paid | Free with ads; optional paid subscriptions |
| Who can sign up | Personal accounts: users in the US only | Primarily US users |
| What you need | A Google account plus an existing US mobile or landline number to link | An email or social sign-in |
| Number | US number you choose by area code | US number assigned in the app |
| Ads | No | Yes on the free tier; ad-free options are paid |
| Inactivity | Google may reclaim a number after about 3 months without calls or texts | Inactive numbers can be recycled; a paid “Lock In Number” add-on prevents this |
| Line type | VoIP | VoIP in the app; optional SIM for cellular service |
| Verification codes | Often refused by apps that block VoIP numbers | TextNow says most codes work with its SIM or Lock In Number subscription |
| Calling | Free calls to US and Canada; paid international | Free calls to US numbers over Wi-Fi; paid international |
| Best for | A tidy, ad-free US second line inside Google | A free number for casual calls and texts |
As of September 2026; features and prices change, so check each provider's current terms. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners; PhoneBorn is not affiliated with them. Spotted an error? Email support@phoneborn.com — see our editorial policy.
Which to choose
Google Voice personal accounts are available only to users in the United States. During setup you must link an existing US phone number, and Google does not accept VoIP numbers for that step — you need a regular mobile or landline number. If you already have a US carrier line, setup takes minutes. If you do not, you cannot complete it. Google Workspace customers can get Voice in more countries (including Canada, the UK and several EU countries), but that is a paid business product.
TextNow has no linking requirement. You install the app, sign in, and pick a number. That makes it the easier choice for someone who does not already have a US line, and the reason it is popular with students and people who want a free extra number quickly. TextNow is focused on the US: according to a support notice reported by third parties, its cellular coverage outside the United States ended after 30 July 2026, although the app continues to work over Wi-Fi.
Free numbers are a limited resource, so both services take back numbers that are not used.
Google's policy says it may reclaim a Google Voice number if you do not appear to use the service as intended — for example, no calls or texts for a period of three months — and it notifies you by email first. Making a call or sending a text every so often is enough to keep it.
TextNow recycles inactive numbers too, and does not publish a fixed period; its help centre says usage patterns decide and a warning is sent first. Brand-new numbers need to be used straight away. For people who want certainty, TextNow sells a Lock In Number subscription that keeps the number regardless of activity.
The lesson is the same for both: if a free number is tied to an important account, a lost number can mean a lost account. See number recycling for why this matters.
Both services route calls and texts over the internet, and phone-number lookups usually report their numbers as VoIP. Banks, marketplaces and many social apps check this and may refuse VoIP numbers or never send the code. Short-code SMS, which many services use for codes, can also be unreliable on internet numbers.
TextNow addresses this directly: it says you can receive most verification codes after activating a TextNow SIM card or buying Lock In Number. Google Voice does not make a similar promise, and results vary by service. If receiving codes is your main goal, test the specific app you care about before relying on either — and read our explainer on why apps reject some numbers.
Our take
Google Voice and TextNow are great for everyday conversations in the US. Where they struggle is verification: many sign-up flows check the line type and refuse VoIP numbers, and both services reclaim numbers that sit unused. If you need a number mainly to receive codes and keep accounts recoverable — in the US or any of 200 countries — PhoneBorn sells real mobile numbers, not VoIP, on 1, 3, 6 or 12-month plans (From $1.80/month on the 12-month plan). Works with WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, Telegram, Instagram, TikTok and 110+ apps — and if it ever doesn't in the first 7 days, we replace it free. It is paid and crypto-only, so for free calling these apps remain the better fit.
FAQ
Sources
We run PhoneBorn, so we have an interest; we rely on public information, avoid quoting competitor prices and correct errors when told.
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Real mobile numbers in 200 countries — From $1.80/month on the 12-month plan. Email-only sign-up, crypto payments, SMS and calls included.