New AT&T subscribers may soon feel a little pain in their wallets. The carrier recently announced that it is eliminating the cheaper of its text message plans. Once the change is made, new AT&T subscribers who want to send texts will only be able to opt for the $20 unlimited option, as opposed to the soon-to-be-defunct $10 option for 1,000 texts a month. Verizon still offers multiple texting plans, but also charges $20 for unlimited texts. Over two years that adds up $480 on top of what you’re already paying for voice and data.

Now, you could forgo text messages altogether, but you’d be much better off downloading a free text messaging app that keeps that money in your pocket.

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Facebook Messenger

Platforms: iOS
Not every friend is a Facebook friend. Luckily, The Social Network's latest messaging app, Messenger, not only sends and receives FaceBook messages and instant message chats, it can wrangle SMS text messages too. When a new user signs up, the app requests Facebook credentials as well as the host device's phone number. When a message recipient isn't a Facebook friend, the app texts real-life buds using the contact details saved on the phone. Totally free, too.

Additional coverage by Sarah Silbert