FREE SMS/Text to Philppines
What do you do if you run out of load or if your cellphone battery runs dry just when you need to text someone? Or maybe you're in another country and don't want to waste on a P15 SMS reply. Well, here are some alternatives you can use to send FREE SMS/text in the Philippines. I've also pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of each service. Try it out and share your experience through the comments section below. What's the best service for you?
Chikka
Upside
- Been operating for a long time
- Character limit is like regular SMS - 160 characters
- SMS are sent instantly
- Mobile forwarding allows you to receive all your offline
- Use Chikka in different mobile and computer OS as well as via web browser
- Limited FREE text but you can earn more SMS as your "buddy" (the person you sent an SMS) replies
- Smart - 20 FREE SMS
- Globe - 30 FREE SMS
- Sun - 20 FREE SMS
- Replies costs P2.00 for Sun and P2.50 for Globe and Smart although there are bucket plans available
- Registration required but is easy. You may register via mobile number or email or both
- Most mobile phone displays the name of the SMS sender thus making the receiver believe that the SMS did not come from Chikka. The only time the receiver knows that it was sent via Chikka is through another followup SMS by Chikka informing that the SMS was sent by their platform. Mobile phones register the name of the sender because a 4 digit prefix is simply added in front of the sender's number. i.e. 2814+Chikka ID
- To prevent spam, you are allowed to send 2-3 text messages to a number. If that number does not reply, that number will no longer
be able to receive Chikka messages from you
Upside
- Integrated in your Gmail account. NO installation needed
- Easy to send SMS. No registration required (provided you have a Gmail account)
- Recipient of SMS can reply but with a fee. P2.00 for Sun, Globe and Smart
- 138 character limit per SMS
- Limited 50 FREE texts but you can earn 5 extra FREE SMS per reply received. Every 24 hours, you will be given an additional 1 Free text.
- Not very reliable. There are delays and sometimes the SMS isn't sent at all
- Does not notify recipient of SMS the cost per reply and that it came from Gmail. Only shows that the SMS came from your Gmail address
Upside
- Quite reliable. Tried this website a couple of times already
- NO registration required
- Unlimited SMS to any Philippine mobile networks
- Prefix is already ready in the dropdown list
- 100 character limit per SMS
- "Information being stored are the sender's nickname/number, the recipient's number, and the message" There's a risk of the mobile number of your recipient will be sold to spammers
- SMS are sent using an unknown regular Philippine mobile number
- 3 digit captcha is required per SMS sent. Very tiring process
- No way to reply unless you indicate your mobile number and name
Upside
- Quite reliable. Tried this website a couple of times already
- NO registration required
- Unlimited SMS to any Philippine mobile networks
- As stated in the FAQ page "We do not pass your information to any third party. Your information will only be used by the administration if they need to communicate with you"
- The "From" textbox may be left as blank if you want to stay anonymous
- 130 character limit per SMS
- Your IP is being monitored to prevent abuse
- "Any SMS that is not a ‘forward SMS’ in nature and is sent more than 3 times will be tagged as spamming and your account will be deactivated."
- No way to reply unless you indicate your mobile number and name. Reply features are only open to Pakistan mobile phones
Upside
- Quite reliable. Tried this website a couple of times already
- Unlimited SMS to any Philippine mobile networks
- As stated in the FAQ page "Txtmate.com respects the right and privacy of its member and we will not share your identity to any user without your consent. However txtmate.com is not liable for any libelous, threatening, harassing or offensive material contained therein for whatever reason"
- You may receive replies only if you register your mobile number on txtmate.com. Format to send back a reply will be sent after your original SMS - TXT(space)username(space)your message
- Cost per reply is P1.00
- 108 character limit per SMS
- Ads may be placed "We reserve the right to add a small ad to the end of each message you send from our site"
- SMS are sent using an unknown regular Philippine mobile number
Upside
- Quite reliable. Tried this website a couple of times already
- Unlimited SMS to any Philippine mobile networks
- Prefix is already ready in the dropdown list
- Cost per reply is P1.00
- Offers other SMS services for businesses and large groups
- As stated in the FAQ page "Your information, whether public or private, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other company for any reason whatsoever, without your consent, other than for the express purpose of delivering the service requested"
- 134 character limit per SMS
- Doesn't allow you to sent too short SMS (which I find a bit odd)
- Every time you send an SMS, it opens a new tab to SMS R Us Facebook page
- No reply option
- SMS are sent using an unknown regular Philippine mobile number
Upside
- Quite reliable. Tried this website a couple of times already
- UNLIMITED character limit per SMS
- Unlimited SMS to any Philippine mobile networks
- Send individual SMS or group message via SMS and PC (perfect for group announcements)
- Cost per reply is P1.00. Replies can be accessed in your Omytxt! messenger window
- As stated in the TOS page "Omytxt! does not rent, sell or share personal information about you with other people or non-affiliated companies except to provide services you’ve requested, when we have your permission, or under the following circumstances"
- Registration required
- You need to enter each mobile number of your recipient manually on Omytext
Upside
- Unlimited SMS to any Philippine mobile networks
- Available on Android soon
- Available ONLY to Apple gadgets (iPhone, iPad) owners. Not accessible via website
- Not very reliable
- Character limit per SMS is 139 less your indicated senders name. Example: If sender name is "boy" then character limit is 136
- No way to reply unless you indicate your mobile number and name.
- No FAQ or TOS
Upside
- Unlimited SMS to any Philippine mobile networks
- Available on almost all mobile device
- Number received by your recipient is your registered mobile number (not sure how they did this but it's genius). Recipients can easily reply back to your number. Regular text rates apply.
- Used this a few weeks ago without any problems but suddenly stopped working when I updated the app for iPhone. Will update again if it's up and running
- Available ONLY on mobile phones. Not accessible via website
- Registration required
Did I miss on a service? Please feel free to contribute in the comments below and I will update this post continuously.
