WIGGWIGG vs TextNow

Name: WIGGWIGG
Author: WIGGWIGG

Feature Comparison

	WIGGWIGG	TextNow
Canadian Phone Numbers		Numbers use US area codes, even in Canada
Multiple Numbers per Account
Spam Filter & Block List	5-layer detection with a per-call filter log. Your block list always enforces; automatic strict blocking is opt-in and rolling out.	Block list + report-junk; network firewall (Enea), no user-facing scoring
Advanced Call Routing	Business hours + per-contact rules + holiday overrides + forward/voicemail/auto-reply ($3/mo per-number add-on; free default-action picker on every number)	Basic forwarding to a US/CA number (premium only)
Call forwarding to your real phone		Paid tier (Ad-Free+)
Rings on all your devices	Web and mobile ring together
Choose your caller-ID name	Set it per number
Zero-Knowledge (passwords & identities)
Password Manager
Identity Management	Each identity is one compartment: its own number, vault, and contacts
Web App
Mobile App	Friends & Family beta today; broad access with summer 2026 Early Access
US Phone Numbers
Free Trial or Free Tier
Canadian Company
911 on every number	Free, default-on, CRTC-registered	Free; hands off to native dialer

Why choose WIGGWIGG over TextNow?

Privacy-first, no ads

TextNow's free tier is ad-supported, and usage data helps target those ads. WIGGWIGG has no ads and no data collection for targeting. Revenue comes only from subscriptions.

Built-in password manager

TextNow is just a phone service. WIGGWIGG combines phone numbers with a secure password manager, organized by identity. TextNow doesn't offer zero-knowledge encryption or password management.

Zero-knowledge encryption

WIGGWIGG encrypts your identity data and passwords on your device before they reach our servers. TextNow doesn't offer this level of privacy protection.

Identity compartmentalization

Create separate identities for work, personal, dating, and more. Each identity gets its own phone number, password manager, and contacts.

Filter log you can actually read

TextNow blocks numbers you flag and runs a network-side firewall (Enea) you never see. WIGGWIGG runs five inbound layers (STIR/SHAKEN, neighbor-spoof, carrier reputation, community signals, your personal lists) and shows you the verdict per call.

Routing that adapts to your week

TextNow's call forwarding is a flat handoff to a single US/Canada number, premium tier only. WIGGWIGG ships per-day-of-week business hours with separate active and inactive actions, multiple prioritized rules, and date-based holiday overrides with the Advanced Routing add-on.

Why invest in WIGGWIGG?

TextNow offers a free ad-supported tier with carrier-level service. WIGGWIGG adds privacy-first identity management: phone numbers, passwords, and contacts organized by identity with zero-knowledge encryption. If you want to support an independent Canadian company building that future, WIGGWIGG is where that's happening.

Different ambitions, different products

TextNow is becoming a full mobile carrier with 5G and SIM cards. WIGGWIGG is building identity infrastructure. Different goals, different products. Choose based on what you actually need.

Subscriptions, not ads

TextNow's free tier is funded by advertising and data collection. WIGGWIGG is subscription-only. Your usage data isn't packaged and sold to fund the service.

Privacy that doesn't depend on a plan upgrade

TextNow offers more privacy on paid plans, but the architecture wasn't built for it. WIGGWIGG's zero-knowledge encryption is the foundation, not a premium add-on.

Two Canadian startups, different paths

TextNow (Waterloo) and WIGGWIGG (Quebec) are both Canadian. TextNow is venture-backed and scaling toward becoming a carrier. WIGGWIGG is bootstrapped and focused on privacy-first identity tools, bilingual from day one.

Spam filtering and routing as one decision

TextNow keeps spam handling on the network side and call routing on a separate (premium) toggle. WIGGWIGG ties them together: five inbound layers run on every call, your filter log shows the verdict, and per-contact business-hours rules decide whether each call rings, voicemails, auto-replies, or rejects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TextNow really free?

Yes, TextNow offers a genuinely free tier with ad-supported calling and texting over WiFi. Their paid plans add SIM/eSIM with 5G cellular service. WIGGWIGG includes 2 free identities with our password manager. For phone numbers, we offer a 7-day free trial, then each number is $7/month.

TextNow has real carrier service. How does WIGGWIGG compare?

TextNow offers real carrier service with SIM/eSIM and 5G. WIGGWIGG offers both forwarding (incoming calls arrive over your cellular network, no internet needed) and in-app calling (VoIP over WiFi or data). TextNow offers carrier-level service with SIM/eSIM. WIGGWIGG focuses on privacy-first identity management with zero-knowledge encryption.

Are both TextNow and WIGGWIGG Canadian companies?

Yes! TextNow is based in Waterloo, Ontario. WIGGWIGG is based in Quebec. Both are subject to Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA).

Can I use WIGGWIGG on mobile like TextNow?

WIGGWIGG's mobile apps are in Friends & Family beta today (TestFlight and internal Android), and broad access opens with summer 2026 Early Access. Currently, our web app works great on mobile browsers for calls and texts. TextNow has native mobile apps and can even replace your primary phone service with a SIM card.

Does TextNow show me why a call was flagged?

TextNow's spam handling is a manual block list plus a network-side firewall (their Enea partnership) that you don't see or control. WIGGWIGG surfaces a per-call filter log: STIR/SHAKEN result, neighbor-spoof verdict, carrier reputation, community signals, and your personal lists, all visible in-app.

Can I set business hours for my TextNow number?

TextNow's call forwarding is a flat handoff to a single US/Canada number, available only on premium tiers. WIGGWIGG ships per-day-of-week business hours with separate active and inactive actions (forward, voicemail, auto-reply, reject), multiple prioritized rules, and date-based holiday overrides, all encrypted at rest.

Different goals, different strengths