How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Google Voice is the best free second number for personal use in the US, with voicemail transcription and call forwarding at no cost.
- TextNow is the best free ad-supported alternative, with unlimited US and Canada calls and texts on its free Flex plan.
- Burner and Hushed are the privacy picks: disposable numbers you can delete when you are done, from about $4.99 per month.
- Pick by how long you need the number and who will call it, not by the flashiest feature list, and check whether verification codes work before relying on a number.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Google Voice | Free personal second number | Free | Yes |
 TextNow | Free ad-supported second line | Free | Yes |
 Burner | Disposable privacy numbers | $4.99 per month | No |
 Hushed | Multiple deletable numbers | $4.99 per month | No |
 OpenPhone | Teams and shared numbers | $15 per user per month | No |
 Line2 | Always-on second line | $9.99 per month | No |
 Sideline | Business second line | $9.99 per month | No |
 Grasshopper | Solopreneur business line | $18 per month | No |
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The best second phone number app
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Google Voice is the simplest free second number for personal use in the US, offering a free number with calls, US texting, voicemail transcription and call forwarding inside a Google account. Spam call filtering cuts robocalls, and the number works across Android, iOS and web, so you can answer from any device.
The limits are geography and scope: it is US primarily, with one free number per personal account, and business features need Google Workspace, listed from $10 per user per month in one comparison and $7.56 per user per month in another, so confirm the current Workspace price. Some services refuse to send verification codes to VoIP numbers, so test code delivery before relying on the number for banking or account recovery. For a free personal second number, Google Voice is the default pick.
What we like- Free US number for personal use
- Voicemail transcription
- Call forwarding
- Spam call filtering
- Deep Google account integration
Watch out for- US primarily
- One free number per account
- Business features need Google Workspace from $10 per user per month
- Some verification codes may not arrive
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
TextNow is the best free ad-supported second line, with a free Flex plan offering unlimited talk and text in the US and Canada and a free phone number. Number lock-in options let you keep a number you like, and low-cost international rates help callers with family abroad. Paid upgrades remove ads and lock in numbers, with a Day Pass at $2.99, Weekly Unlimited at $8.99 and Monthly Unlimited at $35.99 in one pricing list.
Ads fund the free plan, so expect them, and paid data options add up if you use them often. For a free second line without much fuss, TextNow is the closer fit than Google Voice if you want a number with paid flexibility around keeping it.
What we like- Free Flex plan with unlimited talk and text in the US and Canada
- Free phone number
- Number lock-in options
- Low-cost international rates
Watch out for- Ad-supported on the free plan
- Paid upgrades needed for ad removal and number lock-in
- Day Pass $2.99 and Monthly Unlimited $35.99 add up if you pay for data
Starting price$4.99 per month
Free planNo
Burner is the privacy pick for temporary numbers: create a number for selling a car, dating, or a short project, then delete it when you are done, with advanced spam blocking and auto text replies to manage incoming messages. Multiple numbers with SMS, MMS and call forwarding make it easy to run separate numbers for separate purposes.
Pricing varies across guides, from $4.99 per month to a Starter plan at $6.99 per month, so confirm the current plan before subscribing, and only a limited free trial is offered. Coverage focuses on the US and Canada. For disposable numbers with strong spam controls, Burner is the best-known privacy app.
What we like- Temporary numbers that self-destruct
- Advanced spam blocking
- Auto text replies
- Multiple numbers with SMS and MMS
- Call forwarding
Watch out for- Subscriptions start at $4.99 per month, with Starter listed at $6.99 in another guide
- Limited free trial only
- US and Canada focus
Starting price$4.99 per month
Free planNo
Hushed is the right call if you want a number you can delete the moment you are done with it, with multiple private numbers, 300-plus area codes and easy delete-and-replace. It works on Wi-Fi or mobile data, with forwarding to cellular for offline use, and it covers the US, Canada, the UK and 40-plus countries for calling, making it the most international privacy pick here.
Pricing is the most confusing on this list, ranging from $3.99 prepaid to $4.99 per month unlimited and $6.99 pay-as-you-go, with a 3-line plan at $14.99 per month or $139.99 per year, so check the current structure before committing. For short-term or disposable numbers across many area codes, Hushed is the most flexible privacy app.
What we like- Multiple private numbers you can delete and replace
- 300-plus area codes
- Works on Wi-Fi or mobile data
- Forwarding to cellular for offline use
- UK area codes available
Watch out for- Pricing varies from $3.99 prepaid to $4.99 per month unlimited and $6.99 pay-as-you-go
- 3-line plan at $14.99 per month
- Pay-per-number structure can cost more at scale
Starting price$15 per user per month
Free planNo
OpenPhone, now also listed as Quo, leads as the best team alternative for second numbers, offering shared numbers, team texting, AI call summaries and call recording in an interface that feels like iMessage. For a micro-team that needs one business number answered by several people, with Slack integrations and shared inboxes, it is the most team-ready app here.
Pricing is listed at $15 per user per month in several guides, with Starter at $19 per user per month in another, so confirm the current tier. For a purely personal second line, it is more app than you need. For teams, it is the best shared-number pick.
What we like- Shared numbers and team texting
- AI call summaries
- Manual and automatic call recording
- Clean interface across mobile and desktop
- 4.7 out of 5 on G2 in one comparison
Watch out for- $15 per user per month is more than personal apps
- Starter listed at $19 per user per month in another guide
- More app than a personal second line needs
Starting price$9.99 per month
Free planNo
Line2 makes sense if you are already on iPhone and want a stronger always-on second line, with call screening, vanity numbers, toll-free numbers and an auto attendant on a budget. Group messaging and customizable caller ID round out a business-friendly package for solo operators who want a professional second line.
Pricing varies from $9.99 to $15 per month across guides, and Android reviews are rougher than iPhone reviews, with one G2 listing at 2.7 out of 5. For an iPhone-based solo business line with screening and vanity numbers, Line2 is a solid pick with eyes open on pricing.
What we like- Call screening and vanity numbers
- Toll-free numbers and auto attendant
- Group messaging
- Customizable caller ID
- Strong on iPhone
Watch out for- Starts at $9.99 per month, with other guides listing $13.75 or $15 per month
- Rough Android reviews in one comparison
- 2.7 out of 5 on G2 in one listing
Starting price$9.99 per month
Free planNo
Sideline is a business second line that uses carrier minutes for calls, with optional Wi-Fi fallback, ensuring reliability without data dependency. Auto-replies, number porting and text marketing features suit small businesses that want a professional second line on the phone they already carry, without relying on data coverage.
Pricing varies across guides, from $2.99 per month for a text marketing tier to $9.99 per month for standard plans, so confirm the current plan. Only a limited free trial is offered, and it is less suited to disposable privacy numbers than Burner or Hushed. For a reliable business second line, Sideline is a practical choice.
What we like- Business features with auto-replies and number porting
- Uses carrier minutes for calls with optional Wi-Fi fallback
- Reliable without data dependency
- Text marketing features
Watch out for- Plans from $9.99 per month, with another guide listing $2.99 per month for text marketing
- Limited free trial
- Less suited to disposable privacy use
Starting price$18 per month
Free planNo
Grasshopper suits solopreneurs who want flat pricing for a business line, with local, toll-free or vanity numbers, voicemail transcription and call screening. One flat monthly price covers unlimited users from Solo Plus, which suits a solo operator who may add a helper later without per-seat surprises.
Pricing runs True Solo $18 per month, Solo Plus $32 and Small Business $70, making it pricier than personal apps, and team messaging features are thinner than OpenPhone's. For a solopreneur who wants a flat-priced professional line with extensions, Grasshopper is the best flat-rate pick.
What we like- Local, toll-free or vanity numbers
- Voicemail transcription
- Call screening
- One flat monthly price with unlimited users from Solo Plus
- 3.9 out of 5 on G2 in one comparison
Watch out for- True Solo at $18 per month, Solo Plus $32 and Small Business $70
- Flat pricing is pricier than personal apps
- Fewer team messaging features than OpenPhone
How we chose
We ranked apps by use case first, since a free personal number, a disposable privacy number and a team business line are different products, then by price, verification features and coverage. Google Voice leads free personal use, TextNow leads free ad-supported use, Burner and Hushed lead disposable privacy, and OpenPhone leads team use. Pricing varies across guides for nearly every paid app, so starting prices above reflect the most cited figure with conflicts noted.
We also weighed verification codes carefully: VoIP numbers from several of these apps may not receive codes from banks and some services, so test code delivery before relying on a second number for account recovery. No app here was used hands-on as a daily second line for this guide.
What to check before you commit
Decide how long you need the number first. A disposable number for a two-week sale needs Burner or Hushed, a permanent personal number needs Google Voice or TextNow, and a business line needs OpenPhone, Line2, Sideline or Grasshopper. Buying the wrong category wastes money and risks losing a number you wanted to keep.
Then test the number before depending on it: call it, text it, check voicemail transcription, and confirm verification codes arrive from your most important services. Check number lock-in terms, since free numbers can be reclaimed if inactive, and confirm international coverage if you call abroad. Finally, read the privacy terms, since a privacy app should not become another data trail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free second phone number app?
Google Voice is the best free personal second number in the US, with voicemail transcription and call forwarding. TextNow is the best free ad-supported alternative, with unlimited US and Canada calls and texts on its free Flex plan.
Can I use a second number for verification codes?
Sometimes. Many services accept VoIP numbers, but banks and some platforms block them. Test code delivery from your most important services before relying on a second number for account recovery, and keep your real number for banking if codes fail.
What is the best disposable phone number app?
Burner and Hushed are the best disposable picks, with numbers you can delete when you are done. Burner starts near $4.99 per month with strong spam blocking, while Hushed offers multiple numbers across 300-plus area codes with easy delete-and-replace.
Do second phone numbers work internationally?
It depends on the app. Hushed covers the US, Canada, the UK and 40-plus countries for calling, TextNow offers low-cost international rates, and Google Voice is US primarily. Check the app's country list before buying for international use.
Can a team share one second phone number?
Yes, with OpenPhone, which offers shared numbers and team texting from $15 per user per month. Grasshopper offers flat pricing with unlimited users from Solo Plus. Personal apps like Google Voice and Burner are built for individuals, not shared inboxes.
Will I lose my free number if I stop using it?
Possibly. Free numbers can be reclaimed after inactivity, and TextNow offers paid number lock-in to prevent that. Paid plans generally keep your number while subscribed. Check the inactivity and lock-in terms before choosing a number you want to keep.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.