texting in Italy with smartphones from US

There's an app called WhatsApp that you could use if you have access to Internet.

Depending on your cell phone carrier, you might consider getting an international plan. I use Verizon and they have an international plan that allows you to use your existing plan as follows: "$10 a day per line in more than 65 countries you can take your domestic Talk, Text and Data allowances with you. You’re only charged on the days you use your device abroad. It's an economical way to stay connected while you travel." Italy is included. So if you use your phone to talk or text, it costs you $10 for that day. If you are in Italy for 10 days and use your phone 5 of those days, it's $50. It sounds a little pricey, but you don't have to rely on wifi to be able to communicate. You could also consider getting a phone when you arrive to use as there are cheap phones/plans available for tourists.

Does Whatsapp work on all smartphones?

Whatsapp works on all smartphones, but make sure everything is set up before you leave the US. I would download the app from the app store and test it out at home. Turn your phone to airplane mode and then turn on wifi and see if you can text each other as well as anyone else you want to text. With your phone set up this way, you will not be charged for data or texts, but you won't send/receive texts unless you are on wifi.

As for the Verizon plan, I think you are correct about when the 24 hours begins. I have only used it in Canada so far and at $2 / day, it's worth it.

Whatsapp is not only good for texts, it also is very easy to use for voice and video calls, sending of photos, and sending of voice messages. Read about it and try it.

It does not work with all smartphones, just reasonably recent ones, the last several years.

I don't believe it works with iPhones before iPhone 4 (or maybe 4s), or with very old Android phones.

It should work with pretty much all reasonably recent and updated iPhones, iPads, Android phones, Android tablets (works fine on my Tab 3), and modern Windows Phones. I don't know if it works with Blackberry or Nokia.

I have an Android phone with ATT, when roaming internationally I can text for 50 cents per text sent, nothing to receive just as a standard cost. A friend has Verizon I believe, he was able to get an international texting package. Moral of the story, talk to your carrier first and see what their options are, if something sounds good, take them up on it. Whats App works in some cases, but for the most part when I texted I did not have wifi. Italy does have common free wifi, but nearly everything is required to have a security code, so sitting at a cafe, you can get the password, walking down the street hoping to skim wifi, probably won't work.