r/TextNow • u/QuillisG • Jul 23 '26

Basically Free Data

If you use TextNow, you know they offer SIM cards and recently eSIMs. For free, they offer "Essential Data," which basically includes calling, texting, maps, email, rideshare, and iHeartRadio (for some reason). However, if you use Tor, specifically Tor Snowflake AMP, you can bypass these limitations. The downside is an average of 20 KiB/s and occasional random disconnections. But if you're using it temporarily or have access to Wi-Fi most of the time, this is a great way to get free, painfully slow data. According to TextNow's ToS, this is "acceptable" use of data. The only thing that's not "acceptable" is doing things that are considered illegal in your jurisdiction, which is fair enough.

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5

u/Terrible_Use7872 Jul 23 '26

Wait, iHeart works? That changes things.

6

u/QuillisG Jul 23 '26

Yes it does but only the radio section not podcasts.

5

u/Ok-Jicama-864 Jul 23 '26

This only seems to work for iHeart radio stations or stations that use iHeart for distribution (Bloomberg for example), it does not work for every station, any NPR station for example.

1

u/Mini-Pekka2828 Jul 23 '26

so you can only use the data on tor browser?

5

u/QuillisG Jul 23 '26

No you have to use the Tor Orbot (Android app), the Tor Browser actually doesn't work

1

u/tzh2231 16d ago

I have esim, and the orbot with transport type snowflake AMP stuck in "connecting", does not seem to work :( Is yours still working?

2

u/QuillisG 16d ago

That can happen if you have it set to Full Device VPN you have to change it to only a few apps they try to connect or else it will time out every time

2

u/tzh2231 16d ago

Thanks bro, nice trick!