# TextNow Adds Free "Essential" Data to Its Already Free Talk & Text
**URL:** https://forums.rwusers.com/t/textnow-adds-free-essential-data-to-its-already-free-talk-text/874
**Category:** News
**Created:** [May 8, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://forums.rwusers.com/t/textnow-adds-free-essential-data-to-its-already-free-talk-text/874 "2024-05-08T15:27:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rolandh](https://forums.rwusers.com/u/rolandh)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://forums.rwusers.com/t/textnow-adds-free-essential-data-to-its-already-free-talk-text/874/1 "2024-05-08T15:27:28Z")
The catch is TextNow’s service requires use of its app rather than the native Phone app and is supported by advertising. Last I played with it, I found the ads annoying. Still, if one is in the market for an emergency backup service on T-Mobile’s network, free is a tough price point to beat. 😄
[https://www.textnow.com/blog/introducing-free-essential-data](https://www.textnow.com/blog/introducing-free-essential-data)
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### Author:  [@cbwahlstrom](https://forums.rwusers.com/u/cbwahlstrom)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://forums.rwusers.com/t/textnow-adds-free-essential-data-to-its-already-free-talk-text/874/2 "2024-05-08T16:07:40Z")
I’ve used TextNow for a number of years now. “Essential Data” was added to my account ~6 months ago. I’ve been pretty happy with it, but I don’t use it as my daily driver. I have the app installed on multiple phones and use it as a forwarding destination for several VOIP numbers. You can also send/receive calls/texts from a browser if you wish.
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### Author:  [@rolandh](https://forums.rwusers.com/u/rolandh)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://forums.rwusers.com/t/textnow-adds-free-essential-data-to-its-already-free-talk-text/874/3 "2024-05-08T17:58:07Z")
> [@cbwahlstrom](#):
>
> “Essential Data” was added to my account ~6 months ago
Yup, it was previously added to certain accounts. I don’t know what the criteria for that was. The good news, it’s now available to all including new subs.
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### Author:  [@rolandh](https://forums.rwusers.com/u/rolandh)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://forums.rwusers.com/t/textnow-adds-free-essential-data-to-its-already-free-talk-text/874/4 "2024-05-12T16:29:22Z")
Are TextNow numbers still housed on Bandwidth’s network?
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### Author:  [@cbwahlstrom](https://forums.rwusers.com/u/cbwahlstrom)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://forums.rwusers.com/t/textnow-adds-free-essential-data-to-its-already-free-talk-text/874/5 "2024-05-12T17:50:39Z")
My TextNow number currently shows it’s an Onvoy number.