Even though users are slowly moving away from SMS text messages to other forms of text messaging, such as RCS, SMS text messages still have their uses.
But did you know that it's possible to text someone from your computer? Indeed, many texting websites let you send free SMS messages. And some of them don't even have a registration process.
Below, we'll list some of the best sites to send free text messages to cell phones quickly and easily. So, check them all out and see what works best for you.
1. TextEm
TextEm lets you send free text messages, but you first need to create an account. Although some people may prefer to send a message anonymously, having an account brings some notable benefits.
For example, you can curate a list of frequently used contacts and—depending on the recipient's carrier—get replies back into your TextEm inbox. If the carrier does not support responses to TextEm, you can set up email replies instead.
More than 100 carriers from the US and Canada are supported. If you need to send a message to a number outside North America, it is not the service for you.
TextEm does not support bulk messaging; you cannot send the same message to several numbers at the same time. Don't worry; some of the other services we'll discuss below offer that feature.
2. SendSMSnow
SendSMSnow is another free SMS service that requires you to create an account before you can send messages.
Once you do make an account, you can generate a phonebook of contacts, add profile pictures, and receive replies to your messages in your personal inbox.
SendSMSnow also supports group messaging, though it is not free. For every message you send, you will be charged one cent for every user in the group. For example, a single SMS sent to a 20-person group would cost $0.20.
In theory, the service works with cell phone numbers worldwide. Unfortunately, we have no way to verify the claims, but you can reasonably expect most North American and European carriers to be supported.
Do note that the number of characters in messages is capped at 130, which is the lowest among the services on this list. So, feel free to check out other options if you type lengthy messages.
3. OpenTextingOnline
OpenTextingOnline is a texting website that lets you send free SMS messages online without creating an account.
It works with carriers in about 50 countries. Most of North America and the European Union are covered, but so are some less-common locations like India, Nepal, Panama, and New Zealand. Just be aware that not all the carriers in all the countries are supported. For more exotic locations, you might find only one or two that work.
You can use OpenTextingOnline to attach pictures, videos, and audio content to your SMS. It's a feature that is quite rare among free SMS services.
Because you have the convenience of not having to make an account, you cannot receive replies to your messages. The maximum number of characters per message is 140, which is slightly higher than SendSMSnow.
4. txtDrop
txtDrop is a well-established name in the world of free SMS online. It has been operational since 2013 and, according to its own statistics, has successfully delivered almost 25 million messages in that time.
You don't need to create an account, but unlike OpenTextOnline, you can receive replies in your email inbox if you wish.
txtDrop is also unique in that it offers a macOS widget. If you install it, you will be able to send messages directly from your Mac desktop without needing to visit the official site. And if you run a website, there's even a widget you can use on your page.
The service only lets you send free messages to the US and Canada. Other locations are unsupported, which is a major downside for those looking to send free SMS messages internationally.
5. Send Anonymous SMS
Another way to send free text messages online with no registration is to head to Send Anonymous SMS.
As the name suggests, the service requires no personal details for you to send a free text message. So, if you want to prank your friend, fire off a quick message, or just use a service to contact people anonymously, this service might be the answer.
Unlike the other free SMS sites we've mentioned, you can theoretically spoof a phone number that'll show on the other person's screen when they receive the message. It is unclear how that would work, but it's worth a shot if you're trying to pull off a prank. Just make sure you stay on the right side of the law.
Send Anonymous SMS has a maximum of 145 characters and supports more than 80 different countries around the world.
6. TxtEmNow
Another service we like is TextEmNow. The main reason that it's worth recommending is because of the site's higher character count. Unlike most free SMS sites—which have a limit of around 150 characters—TextEmNow lets you write messages that are up to 300 characters long.
The site's developers also claim they do not log any IP addresses. We can't say whether it's true, but all the other texting sites we have discussed explicitly say they do log IPs (for spam/abuse monitoring), so TextEmNow's approach is a refreshing change.
Technically, you can use TextEmNow to text any mobile number in the world, but as we've seen elsewhere, location-specific restrictions may apply.
7. Globfone
Globfone lets you send local, national, and international SMS text messages for free directly from your computer.
Doing so is a simple five-step process; there is no requirement to create an account. Just add the person's name, select the country code, enter the number, type your message, and hit the send button.
Sadly, you cannot use Globfone to receive replies or to attach other forms of content like pictures and videos.
8. Textport
Textport lets you send and receive messages to/from any US-based mobile number. MMS messages, which are different from SMS, are also supported on both an inbound and outbound basis.
You can choose to send the message from a number in Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Chicago, or Miami, depending on the region of your recipient. MMS and emojis are supported, and you can send up to three messages per session. You can also receive an unlimited number of replies.
9. AFreeSMS
AFreeSMS is an international SMS service that you can use for free. It claims to be one of the fastest free SMS services in the world, but as before, we have no way to verify those claims.
A complete list of global countries is offered in the drop-down list, but it is unclear whether the service has an agreement with network providers in all the locales.
Each message is limited to 160 characters, which is nowhere close to TxtEmNow, but still better than many other options on this list.
10. TextFree
The final entry on our list is TextFree by Pinger. The moment you sign up on the website, you'll be prompted to choose from one of the random US-based TextFree numbers for sending SMS. You can refresh the page if you'd like a different area code or number.
You can choose to import your contacts from Google Contacts or manually type in someone's number and start sending free SMS text messages for free. And, of course, this includes MMS, so feel free to attach any image you like. You can turn on desktop notifications to make sure you're notified when the recipient responds to your messages.
TextFree also has iOS and Android apps, so if your carrier charges too much for messaging, you can always rely on the app to send SMS for free. However, unlike some other options on this list, you can only send picture/video messages (MMS) to contacts residing in the United States. As for text messages, you're limited to North American and South American countries, with Singapore being the sole exception.
Check out our article on the best apps to make free phone calls if you would like more information. Some of the apps even have unlimited SMS capabilities if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Sending Free Text Messages From a Computer
In summary, you can send SMS messages from your computer for free. But the service that's right for you depends on a few factors, such as the recipient's location, character limit, ability to receive replies, anonymity, and privacy.
For instance, most users may not want to sign up for an account to send free text messages. So, make sure the website you pick meets all your requirements before you hit the send button. And when you're texting back on your phone, there are some other easy ways to make texting easier.