You don’t need to spend a bundle or carry around two phones to have a second number. Not only do most modern smartphones now let you set up another line using a second SIM card or an eSIM, but there are also plenty of apps that provide even easier — and more affordable — ways to get a second number.
Whether you’re a freelancer looking to separate your business and personal calls or you just prefer to avoid giving out your personal number to strangers, a second phone number app is a great solution. You can be up and running in minutes, and these range from free to around $10 per month, depending on how much of a commitment you want to make. Many also offer pay-as-you-go plans that are great for more infrequent users.
After all, while there are plenty of tools to block annoying spam calls and messages, it’s even better to avoid them in the first place by limiting who has access to your primary phone number. Most of these apps also make it easy to switch your second number to a new one, so you can use a temporary number when signing up for things like contests and seminars, internet dating, or booking a trip and then discard it when you’re done with it. That’s not nearly as easy to do when using an eSIM for a second cellular line.
Here are the best options for apps that will give you a second phone number for whatever reason you need it.
Vyke
A blend between a second phone number app and a messaging app, Vyke is the app to grab if you’re looking for both a second number and a new chat app. You can pick numbers from a variety of different countries and create up to four different numbers at once. Calling and messaging other Vyke users is free, but it’ll cost you to message and call other numbers through the app. There’s a surcharge when buying credit, although you can buy a subscription for $4 per month or $20 annually if you prefer. Some reviews do mention issues with getting WhatsApp and other services to accept the second phone numbers, though, so keep that in mind if this is your aim.
Onoff
Speed is the name of the game for Onoff, and it claims to be able to get you set up with a second number in seconds. You can choose from a number of different countries to register your second number, and it comes with visual voicemail and even the choice to market yourself as a “VIP number”. However, there doesn’t seem to be an option to create more than one additional number, and some users have complained about calls being dropped. It costs $8 per month or $18 for an entire year.
Numero eSIM
A solid option for business people and frequent travelers, Numero leans on eSIM capabilities to offer some excellent utility when you’re abroad and when you need a second phone number. You can choose from 80+ countries for your second number and use it to register on WhatsApp and other platforms. The eSIM capabilities are equally impressive and offer custom package deals for 12 countries and data in over 150. You can pay a monthly fee for a U.S.-based second number, but anything anywhere else is going to rely on purchased credits, so keep that in mind if you’re intending to use this for an international number. Plans start at $3,50 per month or $19 annually for a U.S. number.
Phoner
Phoner has it all: It offers personal and business second phone numbers, reverse phone number lookup, phone call recording, anonymous caller lookup, and private texting and calling. Phoner supports international calling and texting in over 40 countries, SMS and MMS, as well as phone call recording. You get free texting and cheaper calling rates between Phoner users. Make your new phone number long-term for your business or use Phoner as a temporary disposable phone and generate as many numbers as you need. Phoner offers subscription plans starting at $10 per month for premium numbers. There’s also a $15 one-time charge if you want to pick your own number.
Sideline
Sideline is a business-oriented app that provides a second phone number as well as calling, texting, and voicemail features, designed for workplace collaboration. All calls are cellular and use your existing carrier plan. Texting includes SMS, MMS picture messaging, and group messaging. Pro features include a team number that allows you to split a single number among multiple devices. The app lets you build a unique identity with vanity phone numbers, where your name or product is spelled out. You can choose area codes to find an available local number for your region and employ auto-reply via text or MMS. An enterprise account lets you manage company phone numbers on employee devices. Additional features include custom caller ID, business voicemail message and greeting, voicemail to text, and auto voicemail. You can pick a new Sideline phone number and port numbers from a burner number, Google number, Smartline, Line2, or other services. Sideline is updated often with bug fixes and interface enhancements. Sideline’s business focus means it’s pricier than most options on this list, with plans starting at $15 per month, but it’s also packed with more features, so Sideline delivers solid value if you need everything it has to offer.
Google Voice
Google Voice is a great choice for getting a free second phone number. If you have a personal Google account, Google Voice will give you a phone number for calling, text messaging, and voicemail that you can use with your smartphone or computer. It will even sync across devices for on-the-go connections and message management. The app automatically filters out spam and blocks designated numbers. You can arrange personalized settings for forwarding calls, text messages, and voicemail. All communications are stored and backed up so you can search your history. Google Voice provides advanced voicemail transcriptions and lets you call international destinations without extra charges for international minutes. Google Voice calls are placed via the app’s access number using standard minutes from your cell plan. Google Voice only works for personal Google Accounts in the U.S., although it’s also available as a paid add-on for Google Workspace accounts in some markets. Text messaging is not universally supported. Updated versions now support marking group messages as spam.
Cloud SIM
If you need multiple phone numbers on your smartphone for international conversations between mobile and landline, Cloud SIM — which offers numbers from the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, and Poland — may be the answer. The service offers low-cost and free rates for calls or text SMS without additional or roaming charges, lets you choose your connection type, and lets you set up your call via either local access (GSM), mobile data, or Wi-Fi to some 200 countries. Cloud SIM facilitates receiving texts and calls to your new number, free text chat between phones worldwide while using Wi-Fi or data, sharing pictures, and using local access from your free minutes while you travel or have no internet. It offers a dedicated voicemail for each separate mobile number. You can buy up to four virtual numbers. New versions let you export and import SMS and chats. Subscriptions start at $6 monthly or $29 for a whole year.
Burner
Burner gives you a second number for calling, texting, and picture messaging. It intercepts calls on your Burner, routing them to your cell phone so no one sees your real number. You can call, text, and manage contacts from within the app and treat it as a long-term second phone number for business or projects or create a disposable phone number for dating, sales, deliveries, shopping, or selling items on Craigslist.
Integrations with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Slack let you archive messages and voicemails or communicate with your team. You can create multiple phone numbers, keep them as long as you want — or burn them anytime. Share your Burner with anyone while keeping your new number secret for anonymous texting. Burner is free to download and comes with a seven-day free sample number. Additional phone numbers are available through in-app purchases or subscriptions. You can use Burner via a prepaid plan or subscription and can change your plan at any time in the U.S. or Canada, except in Puerto Rico. Single-line subscriptions start at $5 per month, although you can get three lines for $10 per month.
2ndLine
2ndLine is a full-featured business phone system that you can use in addition to your personal phone number. The app is available in the U.S. and Canada and lets you call and message from a different number on the devices you and your employees own, either via Wi-Fi or your existing cellular network. You can choose a local phone number with unlimited text and picture messaging, unlimited phone calling, and cheap international calling. Frills like emojis, stickers, and GIFs let you have a little fun, too. It also offers voicemail transcription, caller ID, call forwarding, customizable text and ringtones, and quick replies. You can also add your signature to each text. Passcode functionality lets you keep all calls and messages secure. 2ndLine is also one of the few services to offer weekly subscriptions for those who only need a second number for a shorter time period, although at $5/week they’re pricier than the monthly plans on most other apps. Monthly plans start at $13.
Hushed
Hushed lets you keep conversations private. You get a second smartphone number with this app, including local numbers for more than 60 countries, including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. You can use your second phone number for private calls and texts while concealing your caller ID. When you finish with the numbers, you can burn them. This app features full picture messaging (MMS), text (SMS), talk capabilities, and unlimited texting and calling in North America. Each number comes with call routing, call forwarding, auto-reply messages, and custom voicemail greetings. You can access your account on any device connected to Wi-Fi or data, and you can even use your tablet as a phone. The app offers flexible prepaid plans for 7, 30, 90, or 365 days start at $5/month in addition to pay-as-you-go plans. You can test it out first with the app’s free three-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a second phone number for free?
In the United States, you can get a second phone number for free by signing up for Google Voice. Google will assign you a phone number at no charge, which you in turn can use for calling and texting. It will even sync across all of your Google-enabled devices. Note that you’ll need to be using a personal Google account (Gmail) to get Google Voice for free; it’s a paid add-on for Google Workspace subscribers.
What is the best app to get a second number?
The best app to get a second number in the U.S. is Google Voice. It’s totally free and works seamlessly across all of your Google-enabled devices. However, there are a litany of other great apps for getting a second number if you decide Google Voice isn’t for you, or you live outside the U.S., including 2ndLine, Hushed, Burner, CloudSIM, and Vyke, among others.
What is the best app to get an anonymous second number?
There are a host of apps that will give you a second number that will provide anonymity, including Hushed, Burner, and Phoner.
Should I use a second number app or an eSIM?
Second number apps using your existing internet or cellular connection to route your calls. In most cases, these are voice-over-IP (VoIP) apps that use either Wi-Fi or your cellular data plan. This makes them very easy to set up and relatively affordable, or even free.
By comparison, an eSIM or traditional SIM card (for phones that have two SIM slots) lets you set up an entirely independent plan. This can be a second line on the carrier you normally use or a plan with an entirely different carrier, but you’ll be paying the normal carrier rates. The second plan can be a voice-only plan or also include data, depending on your needs. For instance, you’re unlikely to need a data bucket when setting up a second phone number in your home area, but it can be a great way to avoid roaming charges or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots when travelling internationally.
If your smartphone supports dual SIM cards, either physical or eSIM, the second number is integrated into your built-in phone and messaging apps, so no third-party apps are needed. Incoming calls will ring through on both lines, and iOS and Android let you tag each line so you’ll know which one the person is calling you on. You can also choose which number to use when placing outgoing calls or sending messages, and even assign a default number to be used for each of your contacts.
Generally, using an eSIM for a second line is a much better way to go if you plan to keep the number and you want a service you can rely on. You’ll pay more, but all the best prepaid phone plans can be used as a second number. Still, if you only need a second number temporarily, or for more casual use, a second number app is hard to beat, since most of these will cost you less than $5 a month. Plus, if you’re in the U.S. and using an Android phone, Google Voice is free and it’s tightly integrated into your smartphone’s operating system.
