TextNow is basically an app that contains an end-to-end phone service. You get free messages and calls over Wi-Fi. This means you don’t have to pay for calls whether you are at home – or on a Wi-Fi network. TextNow began in 2009 as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.  While TextNow continues to offer that service — there is an app for that. It has now evolved into a full mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).