textPlus: Free Text & Calls

TextPlus is a texting app that helps to make phone calls and send messages for free. You can connect your friends and family across the world in a few simple steps. After you download TextPlus, you can choose the free basic options or pay for extended services to call internationally.

Pros

You receive a free of charge US phone number. Friends can call you or send messages. It’s up to you what area code to choose. You can exchange MMS, SMS for free, face to face, or with a team. Any US or Canadian phone number works. And your inbound calls are free as well. Outbound calls are not free, but they are inexpensive. And you also receive toll-free calling options across the world.

Cons

You need to pay extra money if you want to have a custom phone number. Sometimes it can be really slow. TextPlus can be hard to explain to old people, so if you're going to get in touch with your great grandmother, you need to download and install the app by yourself.