The 7 best apps you can use to get a free second phone number
Just like with any other app genre, however, there is a sea of second phone apps out there, especially ones that are free or have some kind of free starting plan/trial period. That is why we have created this list of the best free second phone apps on iOS and Android for you.
Best apps for a free second phone number on iOS and Android
Are you looking for a way to get your hands on a second phone number? Well, one of the best way to do that is through one of the many free second phone number apps on iOS and Android. This approach usually has much more to offer compared to simply buying a second SIM card for your phone (if it even supports dual-SIM).
A second phone number is exactly what it sounds like — an extra number that you can use in whatever way you deem most beneficial for yourself. These second phone apps tend to come with more functionality and features than a SIM, and you need not worry about going through the whole process the carrier has in store for you, we all know how long those can take. *sigh*.
Just like with any other app genre, however, there is a sea of second phone apps out there, especially ones that are free or have some kind of free starting plan/trial period. That is why we have created this list of the best free second phone apps on iOS and Android for you.
They all share some common features and characteristics, but each one has something to make it stand out from the rest, so make sure you go through all of the options below to see which one fits your needs the most.
Best apps for a free second phone number at a glance:- Google Voice: integrates well with other Google apps
- Talkatone: the simplest and most straightforward
- TextNow: offers conference calling
- FreeTone: great quality video calls
- TextFree: allows customization
What are the advantages of a second phone number?
Like with any other tool, a second phone number can be utilized in multiple ways to make your life easier or more convenient.
Separating your work life from your personal one
This is probably the most obvious example of a situation in which a second phone number can be useful. Your contacts list can quickly become hectic when you are running a business. Plus, it’s hard to keep track of all your connections and maintain a clear border between your personal life and work.
Second phone number apps allow you to divide these two worlds to an extent. You get more privacy and more convenience thanks to features such as automated voicemail and transcription of voicemail, setting office hours, automated replies, and much more.
Privacy and security
A second phone number can act as a buffer that protects your personal details whenever you are in contact with people you don’t trust. If you get a call from an unknown number, for example, it is much safer to call it back via your second phone number.
Most second phone number apps also come with features that protect your privacy, like a number ID detector, the ability to block spam calls, call recording, muting specific contacts, etc.
Cheaper rates for international calls
Many of the second phone number apps offer really good rates when it comes to making calls outside the US and Canada. This makes them a great choice if you have family or friends you want to keep in touch with abroad, or if you yourself are not in your own country.
How to find the best second phone app for you?
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a second phone number app. The first step is for you to determine what exactly you need that app to do for you. After you have figured out what you need, it is time to take a look at the features each app is offering. Some of these features are universal, like voicemail, voicemail transcription/recording, spam detection, and more.
Something you should do on your own, though, is read the “terms of use” and “service level agreement” sections. Many of these applications have specific and unique rules, so it will be useful for you to read them beforehand and know what to expect once you hit install. That way it will be easier for you to notice any discrepancies if they appear.
Speaking of issues, it is also a really good idea to research the app’s reputation when it comes to customer’s service. If you will be using this second phone number for anything that is with high priority or sensitive, it is important to choose one with reliable support.
So, without further ado, let’s check out the apps we think are your best options for a free second phone number!
Best free second phone number apps
Google Voice
- Smart spam detection
- Straightforward and easy to use
- Can be integrated with other Google applications
- Automatic voicemail transcription
- Cannot make calls from the web
- Hasn’t been updated for a long time
- Deletes phone numbers that haven’t been in use recently
- 2nd phone number
- Calls to the USA and Canada
- Text messages to U.S. and Canadian numbers (excluding territories American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Calls and messages outside the USA and Canada
One of the app’s best functionalities is its impressive spam filter. Just like Gmail is really good (most of the time) at sifting through spam emails and regular ones, so is Google Voice with calls and messages.
The app hasn’t received much attention from Google for some time, though, so don’t expect new features any time soon.
Talkatone
- Cheap rates for international calls (US and Canada are free)
- There are no roaming fees
- Gives you unlimited free calls and texts
- Full with ads
- 2nd phone number
- Texts and calls to Canada and the USA
- No roaming fees
- Calling over Wi-Fi
- Premium ad-free plan – $9.99/month
You can get rid of the ads with $9.99 a month for the premium version of the app.
TextNow
- Group texting
- Voicemail transcription
- Conference calling
- Good customer service
- Easy to use
- Free calls and texts are only over Wi-Fi
- Obnoxious ads with the free plan
- 2nd phone number
- Calling and texting over Wi-Fi
- Regular free plan
- SIM activation kit – $0.99
- Ad-free plan – $9.99/month
The worst part about TextNow, like with any other free application, are the ads. If they don’t bother you, then you have nothing to worry about. If you, at some point, start getting annoyed by them, you will have to pay for the Ad-Free plan, which is $9.99 a month.
FreeTone
- Works with Wi-Fi and cellular
- Unlimited free texts and calls in the US
- Group messaging
- Free video calls with good quality
- Location sharing
- You can choose the area code
- Does not require a SIM card to work
- Clumsy and not so intuitive UI
- Annoying ads
- 2nd phone number
- Video calls
- Texts and calls in the US
- Premium plan – $1.99
- Web app (comes with premium plan)
TextFree
- You can choose an area code
- Group texting
- Free image and text messages
- Customizing your phone number
- Too many ads
- 2nd phone number
- Calling and texting
- Basic plan
- Premium plan that gets rid of ads
Which is the best free second phone number app on iOS and Android?
The best second phone number app really depends on your needs. Most of the options we have listed above share some similar features and services, but each one has its own way of handling them and special perks that make it stand out in one way or another. Mostly, it boils down to things like call quality, extra fees, how intuitive the app is, the features it offers, and how flexible it is in terms of plans and subscription tiers.
Thankfully, since they are all free, you have the option to try all of these apps out without worrying about any repercussions, and see which one would fit your needs the best.
We will be testing the call quality of all of these apps, and will be updating this list with new additions, as well as removing some if they change for the worse. Stay tuned for even more information on our hand-picked free second phone applications in the future.
The 7 best apps you can use to get a free second phone number
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- Several apps can get you a free second number for your phone, whether it’s for business or personal communication.
- Google Voice is free with zero ads and has its own web interface as well.
- Other apps offer free second numbers with ads, but the best experience may require a subscription fee.
You don’t have to own a second phone to have a second phone number. Whether you have an iPhone or Android, you can get a second phone number that you can use for a second business or side hustle, to make purchases on Craigslist or to arrange first dates on Tinder without giving away your main number. The secret? There are a variety of apps that can give you a free second phone number, essentially giving you two lines on your mobile phone.
Google Voice
Google has offered its Google Voice service since 2009, but hasn’t kept it as up to date as some of Google’s other apps and websites. That’s a reasonable trade-off, though, for an app that can add a permanent second line to your iPhone or Android phone for free, with no strings attached — unlike every other option here, there are no time limits, in-app ads, or subscription fees. And in addition to using Google Voice on your phone, you can also access calls and voicemail in a web browser as well.
Textfree
Textfree adds a second line to your Android or iPhone for free. After installing the app, you can get a second number that delivers unlimited texting for free and 60 minutes of voice calls per month. And while the ads can be pretty intrusive, you can extend Textfree to be ad-free inexpensively. You can also buy additional time, such as 100 minutes for $1.99. Remember that if you go with the ad-based service, you need to use your number regularly or you’ll lose access to it and need to sign up again with a new number.
Dingtone
You can get a free phone number from Dingtone that includes unlimited voice calls and text messages, as long as you are willing to tolerate in-app ads interrupting your experience. Moreover, if you don’t use the app regularly, you can lose your number. If you want to place international calls, you can purchase Dingtone credits or earn credits for free by doing things within the app, like watching ads or referring other users.
TextMe
Formerly known as FreeTone, TextMe is another second line app that has a free tier of service. Like Textfree and Google Voice, Text Me gives you access to a free number that lets you text and place voice calls within the US and Canada, though like Textfree (and unlike Google Voice) the free service is ad supported. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a permanent number that never requires you to earn credits or pay subscription fees, though the advertising within the app can get annoying.
Flyp
Flyp doesn’t offer a completely free tier of service, but you can try it for free for seven days. If you have a very limited need for a second number, that could be good enough. And unlike most second number apps, Flyp lets you set up any number of additional numbers — up to five — for $7.99 per month each. Each line gives you unlimited text and calling along with customizable voicemail and other features. And each number can have a different area code.
Hushed
Available for both iPhone and Android devices, Hushed offers some features you won’t find in other apps, like the ability to set up a toll-free number. Unfortunately, Hushed doesn’t offer an ongoing free, ad-supported second line, but the first time you use the app, you can get a three-day free trial. Hushed doesn’t capture any payment information, so there’s nothing to cancel after three days — your number simply expires. For regular service, you can get Hushed for as little as $1.99 for a week of voice and text service. If you need to keep the number active for more than that, you can subscribe to a $3.99 per month plan or even get a full year for $29.99.
Sideline
While most second number apps rely on WiFi to give you voice and text service using the internet, Sideline uses your existing cellular service to give you a second number. That means you can’t use this on a phone that doesn’t have a working cellular plan, but it does ensure reliable service using your existing carrier. Moreover, Sideline doesn’t give you the option for a free tier of service; you can choose between the Standard ($9.99 per month) or Pro ($14.99 per month) plans, but first-time subscribers can get a seven-day free trial of either tier. Standard gives you little more than just the second number, while a Pro subscription includes a suite of features like contact list that’s separate from the default one in your phone and text marketing tools.
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he’s also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
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