Textnow://receive_verification_code

Before I only need to pay like 7$ per year to gain this feature. But now it changes to this steep price. If this keeps on why would I just use my regular phone number.

I will be moving out of Canada for an indefinite period of time.
I will be disabling my primary phone plan. However I would like to have a Canadian phone number available, mainly to receive verification codes to login to various accounts like bank acconts, CRA My Account, etc.
I have TextNow but I don't think their number lets you receive verification codes.
What's the best solution in my case? I don't need a number for using data or calls. I just need a number for receiving texts, and also be able to receive verification codes for logging into accounts.

It's been almost 2 weeks that I'm trying to login in to my Telegram account. My TextNow ( free version ) works perfectly, I can receive that annoying message about verification code but I'm not able to recieve call from Telegram to recieve the code, not even voice message.
I also tried to login on my pc and still didn't work. Same thing. Do you guys have any tips for that? Tried to reinstall both of them on my cellphone, same thing.

I have opened a Wealthsimple cash account 2 weeks ago, and ordered a physical card already.
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But this week i suddenly found i am forced to validate with a Canadian phone number. Buy My wife and i share the same number (to save phone costs) and my number has been registered with her account.
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Now whenever i try using the same i got "number already in use". I also tried a lot of apps (textnow, talkphone...etc) but either it breaks on my phone or not able to receive verification code (same error, invalid number or already in use).
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So any idea on getting a free phone number simply for this purpose? i don't want to pay for it, only want a free one for this profile setup thing. Only needs to receive verification code, no need for calls/other texts.

I know textnow and 2nd line you can 'secure your number' or 'purchase your number for 30 days' by paying $5-10 bucks or something and then supposedly they can receive verification codes. Anyone know of any other apps that can? Please state if it's paid or not. Thank you.

I need the cheapest solution to receive SMS verification codes and was considering using textnow. Unfortunately, someone on another subreddit informed me that even if I pay for the service to receive SMS verification on textnow, I might not receive the text messages.
I'm willing to pay $5CAD or $6CAD for annual service. Is there an alternative like or similar to textnow that I can pay for that will allow me to receive SMS verification text messages?

As I do not have a phone (nor do I intend to get one for the foreseeable future), I have been using Textnow on my computer for a good year or so. However, recently I have run into a problem where, if I were to get a verification code, I'd get this message:
"Get verification codes with Lock In Number 🔐
Verification code messages can only be accessed securely by upgrading your account.
Tap on the link below to lock in your number now. You must be on app version 21.8 or above for the link to work.
textnow://receive_verification_code
The TextNow team"
I have tried to figure out how to upgrade my account to no avail, despite my efforts of searching for a solution. This brings me to my question, how exactly I can upgrade my account? Have I been doing something wrong, or is it impossible to upgrade/receive verification codes on PC?

I just wanted to warn the community on an elaborate phishing scam that is happening right now with VOIP (voice over internet protocol) services that utilize a non-VOIP number in conjunction with a VOIP number to provide free texting and calling without WiFi.
Last week, I had received an email to call fraud detection services, and after confirming that the email was valid, and the phone number was indeed card detection services, I proceeded to call them. After calling card detection services, I was put on hold and soon after, someone had picked up and greeted me to be card detection services. What was odd about the call was that I heard a massive amount of people talking in the background (unusual for card detection services due to privacy), and the guy asked me for my full card number, the expiration date, and the verification code. I immediately hung up and questioned wtf just happened, so I called card detection services again, using the same number, but this time I was greeted by a real fraud detection representative. She told me that I indeed did call them, and the record do show that I was put in a wait list, but for the entire 44 minutes she confirmed that my call never reached a representative.
This is very concerning so I decided to contact apple, along with my service provider to see what happened. It turns out that the VOIP service that I was using (TextNow) uses 2 phone numbers when you put in their SIM card to take advantage of their free texting and calling service. Instead of going into TextNow and calling with my regular VOIP #, I used my phones default dialing which automatically uses your phones network # , this is the second phone number that TextNow creates when you insert their SIM card. TextNow confirmed that this number should appear inactive if you try to use your phones default dialing, but it’s actually a number that your VoIP uses while you are not on WiFi. However, for some reason, this number is being activated and allows your phone to make calls. Mine deactivated right after this instance.
So somehow, i was able to use that non-VoIP number to make a call (TextNow confirmed this shouldnt have happened and they are unaware of how I was able to make a call with that number), and while utilizing that number, my call was intercepted mid-call.
They knew the number I was calling on, and they knew the place I was trying to call. My call was intercepted while I was in the wait list (music was playing).
I hope this helps someone mitigate this elaborate phishing attempt.

I have the TextNow SIM card, and it's been working fine in my iPhone. However, when I go to Settings and Cellular, I don't see any phone number displayed.
I can't figure out how to find out what the real number is to be able to receive verification codes and the like for services that don't support the TextNow phone number I have.

I'll start off by saying I have textnow, but I also have phone service right now. I'm required to receive a text verification through an app I'm signing up for and I'm using the number I have with my service provider, but it keeps sending the code to my textnow number instead of my regular inbox and I cannot access the code due to needing to pay for the text now number. Any thoughts on why this is happening?

So here is a complete write up for people trying to get promo codes to work but can’t. There are existing user promos out there but most online don’t work. But there are ways around it.
It also contains info for trying to use new user codes again... it’s a super long write up but extremely detailed... step by step. And 100% works. Includes multiple options.
Hope it helps!!!
Yes there are codes and promos that you can use after your first order but it’s extremely hit or miss finding them online. Most of the time they are region locked codes meaning you have to be lucky enough to live in that metro area at the valid dates for it to apply. It has only worked for me like once or twice in like 5 years.
What does work however. Keep an eye on your email. They drop codes there if you stop ordering or using them for a little while. That means BOTH Uber and Uber eats.
That or allow notifications from the Uber eats app on your phone. Usually about one every month or two I’ll get a random notification saying I’m eligible to claim a promo. Usually it’s like 25%-40% off like three orders. The places you can use those codes at are usually restricted too. For example I just had two expire (used one) from last month but it only worked at places that were considered “local eateries” and didn’t have any chain type places on there at all (these promos will literally have a button you can click on saying “show eleigble restaurants”. This isn’t always the case.
Sometimes with the notification ones you get really lucky too. I got one that was $50 off two orders a year ago.
The key to get these? Use Ubereats like a couple of times one month and then totally stop using it or Uber for a month or two. They will send you a promo to try to lure you back. Once you get one, use two or so of the eligible promos they give you (usually come in batches of 2-3 uses) and then stop using it again... a month or two later you will get another notification with a new promotion.
I have done this for over two years now. I rarely pay full price as a result.
Also stay away from those user generated promo codes. For whatever reason, accounts that I have used those one never get any notification promo codes. You can still use a new sign up promo code, just DO NOT use a user generated one. You can tell these ones as they will ALWAYS start with “EATS” and then a dash and usually a name and random numbers and letters or sometimes just random numbers and letters. But again, it will ALWAYS start with “EATS”.
Right now most codes are invalid as they literally just reset most of their promos yesterday.
Sometimes you will also get notification promos for grocery deliveries. These are usually huge discounts. Like $40-$75 off an order of $80 or more. The $75 off one I got once was two uses for orders over $100. I currently have four from last month that are $15 off confidence store purchases of $30 or more. They are desperately trying to ramp up grocery delivery sales so that’s why they have such fat discounts. That and the fact that most items on grocery delivery are up-priced by a dollar or more most times, at least in my area. For example, in store, a Digorno Pizza (standard pepperoni, not stuffed crust or anything) runs like $8.99 right now at Albertsons. That same pizza on ubereats from the same Albertsons is $11.99 a pizza. But if you have a fat $50-$75 off coupon, I really don’t care the price. It more than makes up for it. But you can never find these promos online. They are usually notification only. They used to have codes you can type in for grocery but I haven’t seen those for like 6 months. I think they are curbing off on the grocery discounts now so yea.
Last suggestion, if you can’t get anything to work at all, you can always create a new account. But there are three things you HAVE to do otherwise the code ends up getting invalidated at purchase. What I mean is, it usually lets you add the code at first, but then when you check out, the app says you are not eligible to use the code.
These are the steps to create a new account to successfully use a new user promo code successfully...
You MUST use a brand new phone number. Easiest way to do this? Get the app “textNow”. You can grab a free phone number. It’s gives you the option to pay monthly for a “premium” number for like 7.99 a month. The diff is, the free numbers have been used by a voice over lan number before. Aka it’s a number that’s been used by an app like textNow or google voice already before. Meaning it likely will get spam texts and calls quite often. That’s why it’s free. The premium numbers are numbers that have never been used by a voice over lan/internet service before. So either it’s a totally unused number that’s brand new or it’s a number someone used to own on a traditional premium cell phone provider or land line provider and it just got released cuz the customer ported out and didn’t transfer their number or similiar. Meaning less likely to receive tons of spam calls and texts. Hence the 7.99 a month fee
After that is done, you need a brand new email address that has never been used by a Uber or ubereats account. Easy enough to do. 1 minute to sign up for a new account on gmail. If you don’t do this, and use an email that was already used once before by either Uber or ubereats, you will be able to add a new user promo code but it will invalidate upon purchasing your food order as the system does a backend verification check during payment processing.
Anyways, sorry for the super long post. But this should help.

So here is a complete write up for people trying to get promo codes to work but can’t. There are existing user promos out there but most online don’t work. But there are ways around it.
It also contains info for trying to use new user codes again... it’s a super long write up but extremely detailed... step by step. And 100% works. Includes multiple options.
Hope it helps!!!
Yes there are codes and promos that you can use after your first order but it’s extremely hit or miss finding them online. Most of the time they are region locked codes meaning you have to be lucky enough to live in that metro area at the valid dates for it to apply. It has only worked for me like once or twice in like 5 years.
What does work however. Keep an eye on your email. They drop codes there if you stop ordering or using them for a little while. That means BOTH Uber and Uber eats.
That or allow notifications from the Uber eats app on your phone. Usually about one every month or two I’ll get a random notification saying I’m eligible to claim a promo. Usually it’s like 25%-40% off like three orders. The places you can use those codes at are usually restricted too. For example I just had two expire (used one) from last month but it only worked at places that were considered “local eateries” and didn’t have any chain type places on there at all (these promos will literally have a button you can click on saying “show eleigble restaurants”. This isn’t always the case.
Sometimes with the notification ones you get really lucky too. I got one that was $50 off two orders a year ago.
The key to get these? Use Ubereats like a couple of times one month and then totally stop using it or Uber for a month or two. They will send you a promo to try to lure you back. Once you get one, use two or so of the eligible promos they give you (usually come in batches of 2-3 uses) and then stop using it again... a month or two later you will get another notification with a new promotion.
I have done this for over two years now. I rarely pay full price as a result.
Also stay away from those user generated promo codes. For whatever reason, accounts that I have used those one never get any notification promo codes. You can still use a new sign up promo code, just DO NOT use a user generated one. You can tell these ones as they will ALWAYS start with “EATS” and then a dash and usually a name and random numbers and letters or sometimes just random numbers and letters. But again, it will ALWAYS start with “EATS”.
Right now most codes are invalid as they literally just reset most of their promos yesterday.
Sometimes you will also get notification promos for grocery deliveries. These are usually huge discounts. Like $40-$75 off an order of $80 or more. The $75 off one I got once was two uses for orders over $100. I currently have four from last month that are $15 off confidence store purchases of $30 or more. They are desperately trying to ramp up grocery delivery sales so that’s why they have such fat discounts. That and the fact that most items on grocery delivery are up-priced by a dollar or more most times, at least in my area. For example, in store, a Digorno Pizza (standard pepperoni, not stuffed crust or anything) runs like $8.99 right now at Albertsons. That same pizza on ubereats from the same Albertsons is $11.99 a pizza. But if you have a fat $50-$75 off coupon, I really don’t care the price. It more than makes up for it. But you can never find these promos online. They are usually notification only. They used to have codes you can type in for grocery but I haven’t seen those for like 6 months. I think they are curbing off on the grocery discounts now so yea.
Last suggestion, if you can’t get anything to work at all, you can always create a new account. But there are three things you HAVE to do otherwise the code ends up getting invalidated at purchase. What I mean is, it usually lets you add the code at first, but then when you check out, the app says you are not eligible to use the code.
These are the steps to create a new account to successfully use a new user promo code successfully...
You MUST use a brand new phone number. Easiest way to do this? Get the app “textNow”. You can grab a free phone number. It’s gives you the option to pay monthly for a “premium” number for like 7.99 a month. The diff is, the free numbers have been used by a voice over lan number before. Aka it’s a number that’s been used by an app like textNow or google voice already before. Meaning it likely will get spam texts and calls quite often. That’s why it’s free. The premium numbers are numbers that have never been used by a voice over lan/internet service before. So either it’s a totally unused number that’s brand new or it’s a number someone used to own on a traditional premium cell phone provider or land line provider and it just got released cuz the customer ported out and didn’t transfer their number or similiar. Meaning less likely to receive tons of spam calls and texts. Hence the 7.99 a month fee
After that is done, you need a brand new email address that has never been used by a Uber or ubereats account. Easy enough to do. 1 minute to sign up for a new account on gmail. If you don’t do this, and use an email that was already used once before by either Uber or ubereats, you will be able to add a new user promo code but it will invalidate upon purchasing your food order as the system does a backend verification check during payment processing.
Anyways, sorry for the super long post. But this should help.

So here is a complete write up for people trying to get promo codes to work but can’t. There are existing user promos out there but most online don’t work. But there are ways around it.
It also contains info for trying to use new user codes again... it’s a super long write up but extremely detailed... step by step. And 100% works. Includes multiple options.
Hope it helps!!!
Yes there are codes and promos that you can use after your first order but it’s extremely hit or miss finding them online. Most of the time they are region locked codes meaning you have to be lucky enough to live in that metro area at the valid dates for it to apply. It has only worked for me like once or twice in like 5 years.
What does work however. Keep an eye on your email. They drop codes there if you stop ordering or using them for a little while. That means BOTH Uber and Uber eats.
That or allow notifications from the Uber eats app on your phone. Usually about one every month or two I’ll get a random notification saying I’m eligible to claim a promo. Usually it’s like 25%-40% off like three orders. The places you can use those codes at are usually restricted too. For example I just had two expire (used one) from last month but it only worked at places that were considered “local eateries” and didn’t have any chain type places on there at all (these promos will literally have a button you can click on saying “show eleigble restaurants”. This isn’t always the case.
Sometimes with the notification ones you get really lucky too. I got one that was $50 off two orders a year ago.
The key to get these? Use Ubereats like a couple of times one month and then totally stop using it or Uber for a month or two. They will send you a promo to try to lure you back. Once you get one, use two or so of the eligible promos they give you (usually come in batches of 2-3 uses) and then stop using it again... a month or two later you will get another notification with a new promotion.
I have done this for over two years now. I rarely pay full price as a result.
Also stay away from those user generated promo codes. For whatever reason, accounts that I have used those one never get any notification promo codes. You can still use a new sign up promo code, just DO NOT use a user generated one. You can tell these ones as they will ALWAYS start with “EATS” and then a dash and usually a name and random numbers and letters or sometimes just random numbers and letters. But again, it will ALWAYS start with “EATS”.
Right now most codes are invalid as they literally just reset most of their promos yesterday.
Sometimes you will also get notification promos for grocery deliveries. These are usually huge discounts. Like $40-$75 off an order of $80 or more. The $75 off one I got once was two uses for orders over $100. I currently have four from last month that are $15 off confidence store purchases of $30 or more. They are desperately trying to ramp up grocery delivery sales so that’s why they have such fat discounts. That and the fact that most items on grocery delivery are up-priced by a dollar or more most times, at least in my area. For example, in store, a Digorno Pizza (standard pepperoni, not stuffed crust or anything) runs like $8.99 right now at Albertsons. That same pizza on ubereats from the same Albertsons is $11.99 a pizza. But if you have a fat $50-$75 off coupon, I really don’t care the price. It more than makes up for it. But you can never find these promos online. They are usually notification only. They used to have codes you can type in for grocery but I haven’t seen those for like 6 months. I think they are curbing off on the grocery discounts now so yea.
Last suggestion, if you can’t get anything to work at all, you can always create a new account. But there are three things you HAVE to do otherwise the code ends up getting invalidated at purchase. What I mean is, it usually lets you add the code at first, but then when you check out, the app says you are not eligible to use the code.
These are the steps to create a new account to successfully use a new user promo code successfully...
You MUST use a brand new phone number. Easiest way to do this? Get the app “textNow”. You can grab a free phone number. It’s gives you the option to pay monthly for a “premium” number for like 7.99 a month. The diff is, the free numbers have been used by a voice over lan number before. Aka it’s a number that’s been used by an app like textNow or google voice already before. Meaning it likely will get spam texts and calls quite often. That’s why it’s free. The premium numbers are numbers that have never been used by a voice over lan/internet service before. So either it’s a totally unused number that’s brand new or it’s a number someone used to own on a traditional premium cell phone provider or land line provider and it just got released cuz the customer ported out and didn’t transfer their number or similiar. Meaning less likely to receive tons of spam calls and texts. Hence the 7.99 a month fee
After that is done, you need a brand new email address that has never been used by a Uber or ubereats account. Easy enough to do. 1 minute to sign up for a new account on gmail. If you don’t do this, and use an email that was already used once before by either Uber or ubereats, you will be able to add a new user promo code but it will invalidate upon purchasing your food order as the system does a backend verification check during payment processing.
Anyways, sorry for the super long post. But this should help.

In case this sounds familiar, this is the post that mentioned this issues about 2 days ago at the time of this post writing.
Long story short, 2 weeks ago I created a TextNow account for my dad and it worked flawlessly that he asked me to help create another one for one of his acquaintances.
A few days right after that I was unable to create any accounts with "sign up with email options" following with a "press & hold verification" and a "An error has occured" with no other explanation.
Tried alternative Google accounts as well as Apple and Facebook but getting to "Area code" is as far as I could go before being greeted with "No numbers available" following with "Something is wrong, go back to textnow.com/login to try again". I also did just that and not only being stuck at login page but I also received a "suspension due to ToS violation".
Something to note here is that I registered my first account 2 years ago, just created for my dad 2 weeks ago and confirmed still working until now. I'm in Southeast Asia and by the time I created the account there were a lot of people from my country left reviews on the Google Play Store when the app isn't technically available in our region. Three days later all those comments vanished completely and now the issues are as mentioned above.
I suspect this is some form of region blocked that just occured just now and there's no statement to explain this since it worked flawlessly up until last week. Does anyone from other part of the world also got this error?

TL;DR, up until 3 days ago, buying a sim card alone with locking the number allowed you to receive verification codes (and I can vouch for that). Now it doesn't. I was personally able to receive verification codes on my sim-card account up until about an hour ago when it suddenly stopped (2022-Feb-18 18:22 UTC), and websites that had just worked no longer worked. FAQ link from their website at the end.
Just a warning. I'm a bit frustrated right now. Here my chat with support, replaced my name with "Me" and theirs with "Them". Now you still have to lock your number for $5/y even if you have a sim card, admittedly still a pretty good deal. just still annoying cause I specifically asked this question 3 weeks ago and they said the opposite was the case
Chat started on 18 Feb 2022, 06:31 PM (GMT+0)
(06:31:58) *** Me joined the chat ***
(06:31:58) Me: I bought a sim card from Text Now, but I was blocked from receiving a verification code from a website. When I request the code, I received the same message from Text Now as before I got the sim card, saying that I cannot receive them without locking my number. However, after receiving the sim card, I was able to receive verification codes no problem. Now, suddenly for websites where the verification code was just working, it no longer works. I also just ported my number, and that may have something to do with it. Thanks!
(06:32:30) Customer Service: We apologize for keeping you waiting. Our operators are busy at the moment, please standby and we'll be with you as soon as possible.
(06:46:10) *** Them joined the chat ***
(06:46:38) Them: Hey Me, thanks for reaching out to TextNow Support! I'm sorry to hear you are having issues receiving verification codes now, but I can definitely look into that for you! Can you confirm the full name (as it shows on the TextNow app under the Name field), email address and Zip code associated with the account please?
(06:47:40) Me: I haven't entered that info in yet
(06:48:11) Me: The email address is ______
(06:48:52) Me: Will it work if I fill it out now?
(06:49:32) Them: Thanks! That's fine that you left it blank. That's all I need verified. I'm very sorry, but verification/short codes are no longer supported on Nationwide Talk and Text (with ads). Moving forward, if you would like to receive verification codes, you would need to upgrade to a paid wireless plan, or purchase Lock Your Numbea Premium number. You can upgrade by tapping on Add Data or My Store/My Offers on the TextNow app. Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns!
(06:50:45) Me: When did this policy change? cause I just talked to a support person less than a month ago who told me just the opposite, that a sim card would allow me to receive verification texts?
(06:51:04) Me: Also, just earlier today I was able to receive verification codes
(06:52:22) Them: That would have changed this week I believe. So you would now need a paid account to be able to receive those messages. More information can be found here: https://help.textnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500002893921-Does-TextNow-Support-Verification-Codes-
(06:55:09) Me: Of course. Kind of frustrating that got changed so suddenly. I just checked, that was three weeks ago I talked with support where they said just the opposite. It was kind of the whole point I got the sim card
(06:56:08) Me: Well anyway, thanks for the information. It would be nice if there was a transition period of something for this. Like, new accounts/sim cards would require locking, but people who got sim card before the policy change had some time before that went into effect.
(06:57:09) Them: You're welcome, and I am sorry again about that change. Yes, everyone number would need a paid account to receive those verification codes. Was there anything else I could answer or help out with today?
(06:57:37) Me: Nope that's all. Have a nice day.
(06:58:31) *** Me has rated the chat Good ***
(06:58:31) *** Me has commented: Rep was nice, but I'm frustrated with the policy change about sim cards and verification codes. ***
(06:58:31) *** Me left the chat ***
NAME Me
EMAIL redacted
PHONE redacted
LOCATION redacted
URL https://help.textnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500002893921-Does-TextNow-Support-Verification-Codes-
DEPARTMENT Texting Issues
SERVED BY Them
RATING Good
COMMENT Rep was nice, but I'm frustrated with the policy change about sim cards and verification codes.

I just had a chat with a rep from Text Now. I'm posting the transcript just incase it answers any questions yall might have. Hope it helps. I replaced my name with "Me" and theirs with "Them" for privacy sorry if that's confusing. Also all the time stamps are PM GMT.
I asked questions about your number staying active with a SIM card, locking the number with a SIM card, porting a number your SIM card, the number being classified as VoIP or not, and changing the username linked to your account.
Chat started on 28 Jan 2022, 06:35 PM (GMT+0) = 10:35 am PST
(06:35:17) *** Me joined the chat ***
(06:35:17) Me: Hello, when I port my old phone number from Verizon to my textNow, will that number still be registered as a mobile number, or will it get changed to a VoIP number? Also, is it possible to change my username? Thanks!
(06:35:49) Customer Service: We apologize for keeping you waiting. Our operators are busy at the moment, please standby and we'll be with you as soon as possible.
(06:57:45) Me: And I didn't mention, I'm considering buying a SIM card and then porting my old number.
(07:10:45) *** Them joined the chat ***
(07:11:56) Them : Hey Me, thanks for reaching out to TextNow Support! I'm sorry to hear about the confusion, VoIP numbers are mobile numbers, but yes, it will be provisioned to be used Voice Over Internet Protocol, so no worries about the number not working in the TextNow app once you port in. You have to buy a SIM card to submit a port request, I do apologize that wasn't clear. Until the SIM is active, the request cannot be submitted.
(07:12:04) Them : Usernames cannot change, no.
(07:13:06) Me: Hmm, I was hoping my number would stay as a normal mobile and not be registered as a VoIP number, because some sites I use don't allow VoIP numbers
(07:13:15) Me: Its not possible to keep it as a mobile number?
(07:13:38) Them : VoIP numbers are mobile numbers, but we're a VoIP service, so the number does need to be VoIP to be in our service, yes.
(07:14:48) Me: Ok that makes sense. As far as the username, could the sim card get linked to a new account when I activate it instead of the one I just made?
(07:15:31) Me: Also, when I created the account, there was no way to set the username, it just defaulted to whatever was before the @ symbol in my email, which was kind of annoying, otherwise I could have set it to something I wanted. Just as feedback about the sign up process.
(07:16:03) Them : You don't set the username correct, it's randomly generated, only you would see it unless you're planning on texting email addresses.
(07:17:04) Me: It didn't set my username randomly, it was what my email was
(07:17:18) Me: So the username would appear if I texted people through their emails?
(07:17:51) Them : Yes, exactly, it's randomly generated. There's no way to choose it. Correct, it only shows up if you text email addresses.
(07:18:17) Me: Ok. Last question, Does having a SIM card with the free (with ads) nationwide service allow receiving verification codes, or do you still have to lock your number for 5$/y?
(07:20:04) Them : You're unable to purchase appstore subscriptions once activated, if you want to lock your number, you would need to get ad-free+ or the 2GB addon. Verification codes will arrive if you have an active nationwide talk and text plan, but there isn't a way to make a carrier send ones they won't send.
(07:21:52) Me: Ok. So the messages I receive from TextNow now when I try to get a verification code that say something like "get verification codes by locking in your number", those wont appear if I have a SIM card with the free nationwide service?
(07:22:25) Them : They shouldn't, correct.
(07:22:31) Me: Cause it appears that the organisation I requested the code from sent the code, but it was blocked by textFree unless I lock the number
(07:22:35) Me: Ok cool thanks.
(07:23:01) Them : I'm sorry to hear about the trouble with TextFree, choosing TextNow instead of them is the right choice!
(07:24:09) Me: well the same thing happened with TextNow unless I lock the number. Or with unless I have the SIM card as your telling me now. But I do think this is better than textFree
(07:24:22) Me: What do you mean I will be unable to purchase stuff after acticvating the sim card? Could I still buy stuff thru my account on the web
(07:24:41) Me: Like locking the number, or other subscription options?
(07:25:34) Them : I mean you can't make app store purchases with an active SIM card. You currently cannot purchase app store purchases on your computer, and getting a SIM card wouldn't allow you to.
(07:26:20) Me: But could I just purchase those subscriptions thru the textnow website without going thru the app store?
(07:28:11) Them : To make purchases via the app store, you need to use the phone app. You cannot connected to the app store from our website no. Once you're active with us, you have to choose Plan addons instead of app store subscriptions.
(07:28:42) Me: ok understood.
(07:28:49) Me: Also, is locking the number even an option after activating the sim card, or does activating the sim card lock the number automatically?
(07:29:28) Them : Locking the number is included in both Ad-Free+ addon and the 2GB addon, I do apologize I was not clear when outlining that earlier.
(07:30:43) Me: so once I have the sim card, is locking the number for 5$/y still an option? Or will the only options then be the 10$/m ad-free+ or the 20$/m add-data?
(07:32:48) Them : So sorry I was not clear!
(07:32:59) Them : We only have 1 plan, the Nationwide Talk and Text Plan. That's free. It uses a data connection that can only be used in the TextNow app. It is paid for by ads being displayed in app. We do not have any other plans. From there you can get one of 2 add ons. Ad Free Plus - Number locking, no Ads, and call forwarding. 9.99$/month. The other one bundles in Ad Free Plus and unlock using your data in other apps. 2GB Add on - 2 GB of high speed data, and then unlimited 2G data per www.textnow.com/fairuse 19.99$/month. There are no other addons to plans.
(07:33:38) Me: so locking the number for 5$/y is not an option?
(07:34:11) Me: *so locking the number for 5$/y is not an option once I have the sim card?
(07:34:40) Them : There isn't a 5$/year subscription, but correct, the only options available for active plans have been outlined above.
(07:36:13) Me: Ok I understand, thanks!
(07:36:31) Me: I think that's all my questions, have a nice day!
(07:37:01) Me: And you've been plenty clear, no worries!
(07:37:22) Them : Excellent! You sure there isn't any further questions at all?
(07:38:25) Me: No I think I just need to process this info and decide what to do.
(07:39:15) *** Me has rated the chat Good ***
(07:39:15) *** Me has commented: Rep was very patient and thorough, answering all my questions fully and respectfully. ***
(07:39:15) *** Me left the chat ***
NAME Me
EMAIL removed
PHONE (XXX) XXX-XXXX
LOCATION Removed City, Removed State, United States
URL https://www.textnow.com/wireless/device-checker
DEPARTMENT Porting
SERVED BY Them
RATING Good
COMMENT Rep was very patient and thorough, answering all my questions fully and respectfully.

I need a way to receive verification codes. The number originates from an 8xx number. Google Voice and TextNow are able to receive the codes but Google Voice only allows 1 free number and TextNow only allows 1 number change every 2 weeks.
Are there any free or paid services that would allow more frequent number changes?

So I completed all the offers and submitted my claim for the $1000 paypal reward. But then they asked me 4 verification questions such as

1. "with which of the following streets are you or have you been associated."
2. "which of the following high schools have you attended."
3. Which of the following counties have you been associated with?
4. Which of the following phone numbers have you been associated?

So for the first 2 questions, I recognized none of the choices, so I picked none. I recognized county on 3rd question so picked that one right. For the phone numbers, I recognized none of them. Now I have my own phone number I used for last 10+ years but I have used those textnow and textfree apps years ago, and saw 2 numbers with the right area code and tried searching my emails and apps to see if I could find anything regarding it but nothing so I picked none again but it gave me an error and to try again.
I tried 4 times but again I could not answer the phone number question or it would ask me "what zip code did you live in" and again none of the options matched so I would choose none. I was getting more and more frustrated so for the 5th try I just choose one of the 2 phone numbers that had right zip code but that attempt failed. Then for the 6th try they had a question about "what is the value of your home." I picked 300,000 since it was the lowest number but not even close to actual house worth and then that one went through but it was too late. But the fact that worked is troubling. What house are they associating me with?
I received an email that said: " Thank you for participating in our program. Our system was unable to validate your identity based on the information that you submitted with your request. In order to protect us and our customers from fraud, we are unable to continue processing this claim. For more details, please visit our Terms and Conditions. Please note this decision is final."
What kind of a joke is that. I'm very stressed out over this whole thing. Spent 3 weeks doing these offers and all the time and money down the drain because of a technicality where I didn't remember some obscure phone number I might have used years ago. Apparently I should have googled my name to check online records since I did see 1-2 phone numbers associated that I didn't recognize. I'm just surprised no one really talked about these 4 verification questions and the fact they can disqualify you completely after 5-6 tries and seems like there's nothing you can do about it.
Anything I can do about this? They said I could send an email and management might respond. Should I call again and ask to speak to a manager? Or contact the BBB? Not really sure what to do here.
Edit: I did talk to them over the phone earlier and they said the decision was final and nothing they could do. But I could send an email.

Let's say from my Linux computer I need to open and maintain an Instagram account, Facebook account, Telegram account, and Youtube account for a business but I don't own a phone and don't ever want to.
How do I, for as cheap as possible, get and maintain (for years) a non-VOIP phone number of my own for receiving verification codes on? My main concerns are:

1. I will not need or use this number for anything other than verification if ever prompted.
   
2. I do not want the number to be recycled, end up in someone else's possession, and I preferably don't want it to be vulnerable to a SIM swap attack.
   
3. I do not want to pay more than $10 or so a year since it's never going to be used other than for if I'm ever prompted for verification.
   

VOIP numbers don't work on major services, apparently. So Textnow, MySudo, etc. don't work. Is there a solution?

I’ve been locked out of my account for 2-3 weeks now. Instagram is demanding a phone number for verification. I provide my number and then never receive a code via SMS. I can’t find any means of requesting a code via email. I tried using a TextNow number to verify but those numbers are blacklisted. I am at a loss. Spent hours researching to no avail. All articles discussing this issue have been useless. Apparently Facebook doesn’t believe in support tickets.

Hello,
So after almost weeks of trying all sorts of thing i finally was able to redeem my $50 code! and also was able to make my purchase!
Here is how you do it
NOTE: you do not need a vpn!
Make google/textnow account on pc first is best
1: make a free account on TEXTNOW and get a phone number preferably from 956 area code is Texas worked for me
2: go to Gmail on google browser click on use another account select create a new account3:After creating your account it will ask you for recovery email and phone number which is optional in most cases just keep trying until you get the optional phone number option I recommend you to add an recovery email on top of the phone number you will be using
the phone number is to verify you are in USA otherwise it will not work !
once you have done all the above verify your google account by entering your new phone number in google verification and select call instead of message IF all goes well you will receive a phonecall from google on TEXTNOW answer it and type in the code it will give you to verify
4: you need a secondary andriod phone you are willing to erase everything on factory reset set you phone date and time to pacific standard UTC-8:00GMT look for usa time and date and insert that set region to usa
once all that is done go ahead and connect your wifi and open google with your new google account if its a old andriod wait a bit to update google play then you can redeem your code with no problems
Note: in the purchase tab it will ask you for your zipcode use exactly the same as your phone number area code you used to verify google account !!! you can find fake zipcodes on google
and also insert same phone number you got from textnow
good luck

Trying to receive SMS verifications on Windows. The link it provides does not work: textnow://receive_verification_code
How can I upgrade my account?