TextNow’s mobile service is getting even better with the move to our new GSM cellular network. Our upgraded LTE network offers faster speeds, wider coverage across the US, and compatibility with more devices. Get a GSM SIM card and start calling and texting without limits - for free!
Great! I want to buy one. How do I know if my phone is compatible?
Head over to our Device Checker and you'll be able to enter your IMEI/ESN and the checker will let you know if your device is compatible.
Can I switch if I'm currently active with a CDMA phone?
Yes! If you have a phone that is compatible with both CDMA and GSM, you can activate it with a GSM SIM card. You must ensure that your CDMA phone is unlocked. If you have a TextNow phone then you may be able to unlock it via your phone's settings. The phone must be currently active with us in order for this to work. If you don't see the option you can reach out to us on chat and we can help you with this process.
I switched from a TextNow CDMA SIM to TextNow GSM SIM but I don't have my old plan. What can I do?
No worries! If you've recently paid your bill you can reach out to us via chat and we can assist you with the process of putting you on your old plan. If you were just nearing the end of your billing cycle you can upgrade your Nationwide Talk & Text plan and add data through the main menu of the app. You can upgrade to a 2GB, 3GB, or 5GB plan.
I have my GSM SIM card but I'm having trouble activating it. Help!
We're here to help! We've listed some easy steps to go through that are commonly missed when activating a TextNow SIM card.
- Make sure your device is unlocked. If you receive an error that your SIM card is invalid then your phone may still be locked to the previous carrier. You'll need to reach out to them to have it properly unlocked.
- Reseat the SIM card and ensure Mobile data is on. You can also try toggling Airplane mode for 10 seconds.
- You may need to set the APN. See this article for a closer look at how to manually set the APN.
Chat With Us
If you need some more assistance the next best way for quick help is visiting us on Chat. Our agents are available every day to help you with any questions you might have. Our chat hours are 10am-5:30pm (Eastern), every day. Just look for the little purple bubble at the bottom of any Help Centre page.
For the best experience, chat us from a different device other than the phone that you're contacting us about. That way we can troubleshoot without risking losing the chat.
NOTE: Our Nationwide Talk & Text plan is talk and text only. That means you will not see any LTE icon while using Nationwide Talk & Text, as it's not using a data connection. If you've purchased our Data add-on, you will see the LTE icon as you would normally.