Call
Call when it is one or two people and the plan is soon. Say the reason in the first sentence. If they cannot talk, do not be wounded. Text the time instead.
All comparisons
Everyday
Call or text to make plans
The medium is part of the plan. A text thread with eight people is how Saturday disappears.
A call is faster when the decision is when and where, and you need a yes from one or two people. It is worse when you catch someone at work. A text is kinder for that, and worse when the thread becomes fifteen messages and no time.
For a group, neither is as clear as a short vote with a deadline. If you have already had the same thread twice, stop adding messages and send one link with the options.
Text
Text when you do not know if they can talk, or the detail is an address they will need later. Ask one question. A paragraph of options is a meeting, not a message.
What actually differs
| Difference | Call | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Minutes, if they answer | Whenever they look |
| Group of six | Painful | A thread with no ending |
| Someone at work | Risky | Usually fine |
| Tone | Easier to hear | Easier to misread |
| Record | You may forget | It is written |
Questions about this choice
What about a voice note?
A voice note is a call the other person cannot interrupt. Use it for tone, not for a question you need answered in the next ten minutes.
When is a vote better than either?
When more than three people are choosing among more than two options. Send one link and a deadline. That is the point of a vote.