People who search for "text free" usually want one of two things: to avoid paying per message, or to text without a phone number of their own. There is no single best answer, but there are five proven approaches.
1. Messaging apps
WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and iMessage are free over Wi-Fi or mobile data. The limit: the recipient must use the same app. Great for friends and family, useless for a plumber who only has a phone number.
2. Wi-Fi texting on your phone
Some carriers and apps send ordinary SMS over Wi-Fi, which helps abroad or indoors with poor signal. It usually still depends on your own number and plan.
3. RCS in your default messages app
RCS is the upgraded text format supported by Google Messages and, on recent iPhones, Apple Messages. Between supporting phones it uses data instead of SMS credit and adds read receipts and high-quality media. Otherwise it falls back to SMS. Read our overview of RCS and the guide to enabling it in Google Messages.
4. Email-to-SMS gateways
Some operators offer an address such as number@carrier-gateway that turns an email into a text. These gateways are being retired by many carriers and are unreliable, so treat them as a legacy trick.
5. A browser SMS service
Web services send an SMS to any phone number from a browser. They are useful when you have no phone with you. Globfone's free SMS is funded by advertising and works with small amounts of Credits; it needs a verified phone number (level 2/3 in the credibility system). Always check that a service is not a subscription trap: here is how to tell.
Which should you use?
- Talking to friends with smartphones: an app or RCS.
- Reaching a business or an older phone abroad: browser SMS or a short call.
- Sharing a file: direct file sharing instead of text.
Frequently asked questions
Can I text a number without giving mine away?
With a browser SMS service the message is sent through the service, not from your SIM, but you still need a verified account, so it is not anonymous.
Why do some "text free" apps show ads?
Ads and sponsors pay for the messages. That is the same model that funds Globfone's free SMS.
Is a free number the same as a free message?
No. A number that can receive replies is usually a paid or ad-supported feature; sending a message is cheaper than keeping a number.
Free Texting Without an App: When a Browser Is the Better Choice
Free Text Messaging Online: How to Send an SMS From Your Browser
How to Send an SMS to a Mobile Phone From a Computer
Calls and Texts Without Your Carrier: Apps Versus the Browser