Where can I get a virtual phone number?

If you mean a second phone number that works through an app or web browser, there are several good options:

• Google Voice — best if you’re in the U.S. and want a simple personal/second number. A free option is available for personal use, though you generally need an existing U.S. number to verify the account.
• TextNow — offers U.S./Canadian numbers and a free, ad-supported tier; good for casual personal use.
• Hushed — useful if you want a temporary or disposable number, with short-term plans available.
• Quo (formerly OpenPhone) — better for a business line, shared team numbers, and professional texting/calling; plans start around $15/user/month on annual billing.
• KrispCall — worth considering if you need numbers from multiple countries; it supports virtual numbers in 100+ countries.

One important catch: virtual numbers often don't work reliably for bank, financial, or other SMS verification codes.

If you tell me what you need it for—free personal number, business, WhatsApp, receiving verification texts, or a temporary/anonymous number—I can recommend the best option.

You can get a virtual phone number from several cloud-based VoIP providers, telecommunication companies, and mobile apps depending on whether you need it for personal use, privacy, or business operations.

Popular Providers by Use Case

• Google Voice: Best for free or low-cost personal and light business use in the U.S. It links to your existing phone number and works over Wi-Fi or cellular data via the Google Voice Platform.
• OpenPhone / RingCentral: Best for growing businesses and teams needing shared numbers, call routing, and CRM integrations. You can sign up directly through RingCentral or OpenPhone.
• Grasshopper: Best for entrepreneurs who want a dedicated business line with extensions forwarded to their personal cell phone. Plans and free trials are available at Grasshopper.
• Dialpad: Best for AI-powered transcriptions, real-time analytics, and virtual PBX phone systems. Learn more at the Dialpad Virtual Phone Number Page.
• TextNow: Best for a completely free or budget-friendly alternative supporting talk and text via a dedicated app. Details can be found at TextNow.
• Twilio: Best for developers or enterprises looking to provision and manage global numbers programmatically via API. Explore options at Twilio Phone Numbers.

If you tell me what you plan to use the number for (personal privacy, a solo business, or a multi-person team) and your budget , I can recommend the exact provider and plan for you.

You can get a virtual phone number from various VoIP (Voice over IP) and cloud communication providers , depending on whether you need it for personal privacy, a small business, or international calling.

Top providers categorized by your specific needs include:

• Grasshopper — Ideal for entrepreneurs and small businesses wanting to separate business calls and texts from their personal device without buying extra hardware. You can explore plans and pricing directly on the Grasshopper Virtual Phone System website.
• Dialpad — Great for unified communications, offering AI-powered transcriptions, video meetings, and business texting alongside your virtual number. Check out options at Dialpad Virtual Phone Number.
• OpenPhone — Popular with startups and growing teams for its clean, collaborative workspace and lightweight CRM integrations.
• Skype Number / Google Voice — Good options for personal use, light business tasks, or securing a secondary local number for cheap inbound/outbound calling.
• Crisp Call or UniTel Voice — Excellent if you need specific international prefixes, toll-free 1-800 options, or advanced call routing.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• Is this for personal use or a business?
• Do you need a local number (specific area code) or a toll-free number?

If you’re in the U.S., there are several easy options:

• Google Voice — probably the best free choice for a normal second number. You can choose an available U.S. number and use it for calls, texts, and voicemail.
• TextNow — offers a free U.S./Canadian number with calling and texting, supported by ads. It works through the app or web browser.
• Hushed — good if you want a more private or temporary second number. It offers U.S., Canadian, and U.K. numbers and doesn't require your real number to be associated with the Hushed number.
• Quo (formerly OpenPhone) — better suited to a business number, with call routing, shared inboxes, texting, and team features.

My quick recommendation: For a free personal second number, start with Google Voice. For privacy/temporary use, try Hushed.

If you tell me what you need the number for (calls, texting, WhatsApp, receiving verification codes, business, dating, privacy, etc.), I can tell you which option is most likely to work.

You can get a virtual phone number from a variety of providers depending on whether you need it for personal privacy, a small side hustle, or a full-scale business.

The best options are organized by use case below:

Free & Low-Cost Personal Options

• Google Voice: Best for personal use, freelancers, or light business in the US. Offers a free secondary number linked to your existing mobile phone or web browser, with free calling/texting in the US and voicemail transcription.
• Textfree or TextNow: Good if you just need a quick, free second number strictly for basic texting and calling over Wi-Fi or data.

Small Business & Professional VoIP

• OpenPhone: Highly rated for startups, remote teams, and solo entrepreneurs. Gives you local or toll-free numbers, collaborative shared inboxes, and CRM integrations starting at an affordable monthly tier.
• Phone.com: Excellent for custom vanity numbers, flexible business packages, and reliable customer service with standard features like call routing and virtual receptionists.
• Grasshopper: Great for entrepreneurs who want a professional business line that forwards straight to their existing personal cell phone without needing new hardware.

Toll-Free & Global Reach

• 800.com: Specializes in affordable, quick-setup toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, etc.) with advanced text messaging and call analytics.
• TollFreeForwarding.com: Ideal if you need international virtual numbers to bridge communication gaps globally across multiple countries.

If you can share what you plan to use the number for (personal privacy, a small business, or international calls) and whether you need SMS capability , I can recommend the most cost-effective provider for your exact needs.

If you’re in the U.S., you have several good options:

• voice.google.com — Best overall for a free U.S. number. You can call, text, and receive voicemail through the app or web. Google generally requires an existing U.S. number for verification.
• textnow.com — Offers a free phone number with calling and texting over Wi-Fi/data, supported by ads.
• hushed.com — Good if you want a private/second number without associating it with your regular number. It offers U.S., Canadian, and UK numbers and supports calls/texts.
• quo.com — Better suited to a business or professional number, with shared inboxes, call routing, and business features.

My recommendation: For a personal second number → Google Voice. For privacy/temporary use → Hushed. For a business → Quo.

If you tell me what you need the number for (business, WhatsApp, receiving verification texts, dating, privacy, international use, etc.), I can recommend the best one and tell you which services are likely to accept it.

Yes. If you’re in the U.S., there are several good options depending on what you need:

• voice.google.com — Best for a simple personal second number. It supports calls, texts, and voicemail, and U.S. users can generally choose a number by area code. There’s a free personal option.
• quo.com — Better for business use, with calls, SMS, shared numbers, routing, and integrations.
• dialpad.com — A more full-featured business phone system; plans include virtual numbers and calling/texting.

If you just want a cheap/free second U.S. number for calls and texts, I'd start with Google Voice.

If you tell me what you're using the number for (business, privacy/second number, receiving SMS verification codes, WhatsApp, international number, etc.), I can recommend the best option for that specific purpose.

You can get a virtual phone number from various online VoIP (Voice over IP) and cloud communication providers, depending on whether you need it for personal privacy, a side hustle, or a full-scale business team.

Top providers are categorized below by use case:

Free & Low-Cost Options (Best for Individuals & Solopreneurs)

• Google Voice : Great for personal use or solo founders already tied into the Google ecosystem. Offers a free number for US-based Google accounts with call forwarding and voicemail. You can set it up via Google Voice.
• TextNow : Provides a free basic phone number supported by ads, with apps available for calling and texting. Check it out on TextNow.

Small Business & Entrepreneur Options (Best for Professional Lines)

• Grasshopper : Ideal for entrepreneurs who just need a clean, dedicated business line that forwards to their existing mobile phone. Explore features on Grasshopper.
• Dialpad : Offers AI-powered calling, SMS, and video meetings starting at an affordable tier per user. Learn more at Dialpad.
• Nextiva : Combines voice, team collaboration, and productivity tools, making it a strong fit for growing small-to-medium businesses. Visit Nextiva to view plans.

Enterprise & Team Collaboration (Best for High Call Volumes & CRMs)

• RingCentral : A feature-rich, scalable platform that includes robust phone routing, video conferencing, and messaging. Check out plans on RingCentral.
• Aircall : Built heavily for customer-facing support and sales teams that need deep integrations with CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce. Learn more at Aircall.

If you tell me what you plan to use the number for (e.g., personal privacy, customer support, or a small business) and your budget , I can recommend the best specific provider for your needs.

You can get a virtual phone number (a phone number that works through an app or internet connection instead of a physical SIM) from several types of providers. The best choice depends on whether you need it for personal use, privacy, a business, or international calling.

Good options

• voice.google.com — Good for a free U.S. second number (personal use), with calling, texting, and voicemail. It’s especially convenient if you already use Google services.
• openphone.co — Good for small businesses, freelancers, and shared team numbers with texting and collaboration features.
• dialpad.com — Better for businesses that want features like call routing, analytics, and AI-assisted call tools.
• ringcentral.com — A more full-featured business phone system for teams.
• grasshopper.com — Designed for solo business owners who want a professional business number without a traditional phone system.
• textnow.com — A budget option for a second U.S. number, with free and paid options depending on features.

Choose based on your goal

• Free personal second number: Google Voice or TextNow
• Keep your personal number private: Google Voice, Hushed, or similar second-number apps
• Business line for one person: Grasshopper or OpenPhone
• Team/business phone system: Dialpad, RingCentral, or OpenPhone
• International presence: Look for providers that offer numbers in the countries you need; availability varies by country.

If you tell me your country, whether you need free or paid, and what you’ll use it for (calls, texts, WhatsApp, business, verification, privacy, etc.), I can narrow it down.

You can get a virtual phone number from several reliable providers depending on whether you need a free personal line or an advanced business phone system.

Top Providers for Virtual Phone Numbers

How to Get Your Number

If you let me know whether you need the number for personal use or a business , I can recommend the best specific plan for your needs.