textplus.com

What It Is

text+ is an app-based mobile communications service from textplus, Inc. Its core value proposition is giving users a free second phone number on their existing phone, tablet, or WiFi connection, with support for SMS, MMS, and voice calls. It is closer to a consumer-oriented virtual carrier/VoIP communications app than an enterprise email or SMS API platform.

Core Features and Coverage

In terms of channels, the main content clearly includes SMS, MMS, and voice calling. There is no mention of email, IM, or enterprise messaging channels. For coverage, SMS/MMS can be sent for free in the United States and Canada. Voice calls can be made to numbers worldwide, with examples on the site showing rates from 2¢/minute to destinations such as Canada, Mexico, China, and the United Kingdom. Premium also extends unlimited calling to selected international destinations, including Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy, but whether a specific number is covered needs to be confirmed in the app’s dial pad.

Pricing and Performance

The pricing model is fairly straightforward: the app is free to download, there are no registration fees, SMS/MMS in the United States and Canada are free, and domestic and international calls are billed by the minute starting from 2¢/minute. Premium includes unlimited calling in the United States and Canada, unlimited calling to selected international destinations, an ad-free experience, priority support, and custom voicemail. However, the main text does not disclose the specific Premium subscription price. On performance, the official site describes the service as “reliable,” but does not publish SMS delivery rates, call connection rates, latency, SLA, or availability data, making it difficult to evaluate by enterprise communications platform standards.

Pros, Cons, and Best-Fit Users

The advantages are its low entry cost, practical second-number use case, free North American texting, competitive international calling rates, and availability on both iOS and Android. The drawbacks are the lack of information on APIs, webhooks, SDKs, CRM integrations, and similar capabilities, making it unsuitable for business scenarios that require bulk SMS, verification codes, marketing automation, or observability. It is better suited to international students, cross-border family communication, short-term travel, privacy separation, and lightweight second-number needs.

Compliance and Access from China

For compliance, the site provides links to 911 disclosures, law enforcement information, privacy policy, security, child safety, and terms of service, but the main content does not include specific certifications or data protection details. Access from China is not explained, so it is not possible to determine whether it can be reached directly. Even if the app can be installed, voice and SMS performance may be affected by network conditions, app store availability, and payment methods. Chinese users who need stable enterprise communications may want to consider API platforms such as Twilio; for personal communication, they can compare Skype, Google Voice, TextNow, or common IM tools.