{"id":10923,"date":"2010-02-01T21:00:18","date_gmt":"2010-02-01T15:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=10923"},"modified":"2026-10-06T15:23:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T09:53:55","slug":"send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Send Free SMS Text Messages from Your Computer in 2026 (Android &#038; iPhone)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Want to send free SMS text messages from your computer? In 2026 the easiest way is to link your own phone to your PC or Mac, so texts go out from your normal number with your existing plan, and you can type them on a full keyboard. Here&#8217;s how to send free SMS from a computer on Windows, Mac, Chromebook and in any browser, for both Android and iPhone users.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-61886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/send-sms-computer.jpg\" alt=\"Send free SMS from computer\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/send-sms-computer.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/send-sms-computer-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/send-sms-computer-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> On <strong>Android<\/strong>, open <strong>messages.google.com\/web<\/strong> in any browser and scan the QR code with the Google Messages app. On <strong>iPhone<\/strong>, use the <strong>Messages app on a Mac<\/strong>, or <strong>Phone Link<\/strong> on Windows. Texts are sent from your phone number and use your normal SMS plan, which is usually free with unlimited-SMS packs.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aea4930e243c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aea4930e243c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Method_1_Google_Messages_for_web_Android_phones\" >Method 1: Google Messages for web (Android phones)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Method_2_Phone_Link_on_Windows_11_Android_and_iPhone\" >Method 2: Phone Link on Windows 11 (Android and iPhone)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Method_3_Messages_on_Mac_iPhone_users\" >Method 3: Messages on Mac (iPhone users)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Method_4_Free_texting_apps_and_services\" >Method 4: Free texting apps and services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#What_about_email-to-SMS_and_free_SMS_websites\" >What about email-to-SMS and free SMS websites?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Is_texting_from_a_computer_really_free\" >Is texting from a computer really free?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Frequently_asked_questions\" >Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Can_I_send_SMS_from_a_computer_without_a_phone\" >Can I send SMS from a computer without a phone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Is_Google_Messages_for_web_safe\" >Is Google Messages for web safe?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/02\/send-free-sms-text-messages-from-computer\/#Can_I_text_from_a_Chromebook\" >Can I text from a Chromebook?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Google_Messages_for_web_Android_phones\"><\/span>Method 1: Google Messages for web (Android phones)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If your Android phone uses <strong>Google Messages<\/strong> (the default on most Android phones, including Samsung), you can text from any computer browser.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>On your computer, open <a href=\"https:\/\/messages.google.com\/web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">messages.google.com\/web<\/a> in Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.<\/li>\n<li>On your phone, open <strong>Google Messages<\/strong>, tap your profile picture, then <strong>Device pairing \u2192 QR code scanner<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Scan the QR code on the computer screen. Your conversations appear in the browser.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Start chat<\/strong>, type a name or number and send. It supports SMS, MMS (photos) and RCS chat.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Your phone needs to be switched on and connected to the internet. Turn on &#8220;Remember this computer&#8221; only on a PC you trust.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Phone_Link_on_Windows_11_Android_and_iPhone\"><\/span>Method 2: Phone Link on Windows 11 (Android and iPhone)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Microsoft&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/sync-across-your-devices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Phone Link<\/a> app comes with Windows 11.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Phone Link<\/strong> from the Start menu.<\/li>\n<li>Choose Android or iPhone and follow the pairing steps. Android uses the Link to Windows app, and iPhone pairs over Bluetooth.<\/li>\n<li>Open the <strong>Messages<\/strong> tab to read and send texts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Android users get the full experience. On iPhone, Phone Link can send and receive SMS and iMessages, but it only shows messages sent while it&#8217;s connected, and it can&#8217;t send group messages or photos.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_3_Messages_on_Mac_iPhone_users\"><\/span>Method 3: Messages on Mac (iPhone users)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you have an iPhone and a Mac, this is the best option:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>On your Mac, open <strong>Messages<\/strong> and sign in with the same Apple Account as your iPhone.<\/li>\n<li>On your iPhone, go to <strong>Settings \u2192 Apps \u2192 Messages \u2192 Text Message Forwarding<\/strong> and turn on your Mac.<\/li>\n<li>Now you can send iMessages and regular SMS to Android users straight from your Mac.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_4_Free_texting_apps_and_services\"><\/span>Method 4: Free texting apps and services<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/voice.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Voice<\/a><\/strong> (US only): a free US phone number that can text US and Canadian numbers from voice.google.com.<\/li>\n<li><strong>WhatsApp Web and desktop app:<\/strong> not SMS, but in India and many other countries most people prefer WhatsApp messages anyway. Open <a href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">web.whatsapp.com<\/a> and scan the QR code with your phone. See our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/05\/stop-whatsapp-disappearing-messages\/\">WhatsApp disappearing messages<\/a> if you use it for groups.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Telegram, Signal and Messenger<\/strong> also have free desktop apps, if the other person uses them too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_about_email-to-SMS_and_free_SMS_websites\"><\/span>What about email-to-SMS and free SMS websites?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Our original 2010 guide explained how to email a text to <code>number@txt.att.net<\/code> and similar carrier addresses. That trick is fading fast. <strong>AT&amp;T shut down its email-to-text gateway in June 2025<\/strong>, and other carriers&#8217; gateways are unreliable and often blocked as spam.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, the free SMS websites that were popular in India, such as Way2SMS and 160by2, no longer offer free texting. Be careful with any site promising free anonymous SMS today. Many are scams or collect your number for spam.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_texting_from_a_computer_really_free\"><\/span>Is texting from a computer really free?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With Google Messages, Phone Link and Mac Messages, your computer simply controls your phone, so each SMS is sent through your mobile plan. In India, most prepaid and postpaid plans include 100 free SMS a day, and messages over internet services like RCS, iMessage and WhatsApp don&#8217;t use your SMS allowance at all.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_send_SMS_from_a_computer_without_a_phone\"><\/span>Can I send SMS from a computer without a phone?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Only with an internet number like Google Voice (in the US) or a paid business SMS service. Free methods for personal use all need your phone to be linked.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Google_Messages_for_web_safe\"><\/span>Is Google Messages for web safe?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, if you only pair it on your own computer. Unpair it on shared or office PCs from the Messages app under <strong>Device pairing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_text_from_a_Chromebook\"><\/span>Can I text from a Chromebook?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Chromebooks have Google Messages built in through <strong>Settings \u2192 Connected devices \u2192 Android phone<\/strong>, or you can use messages.google.com\/web.<\/p>\n<p><em>This guide was first written for QOT in 2010 by guest author Edwin and has been fully updated for 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to send free SMS text messages from your computer? In 2026 the easiest way is to link your own&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":61886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[44,49],"class_list":["post-10923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-computers","tag-guest-posts","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10923"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63243,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10923\/revisions\/63243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}