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The best virtual phone number app in 2025 depends on the job. Google Voice and TextNow are strong low-cost US second numbers; Burner and Hushed suit temporary privacy; Quo is a modern choice for shared business texting; Zoom Phone, Dialpad, and RingCentral are better for teams. VoIP numbers may not work for every verification code.
Editorial note: This is a retrospective 2025 ranking prepared with current product information available in 2026. Prices, plans, availability, and product names can change, so verify the provider’s current terms before subscribing. Quo is the current name of the service formerly known as OpenPhone.
A virtual phone number is assigned by a communications provider and used through an app, browser, desktop client, or compatible phone system instead of being tied directly to the physical SIM in your primary phone. That flexibility makes virtual numbers useful for privacy, travel, freelancing, sales, customer support, and team calling—but a disposable personal number is not equivalent to a managed business phone system.
Key takeaways
- Google Voice and TextNow are the strongest low-cost second-number candidates for eligible users in supported US or North American markets, but free or inexpensive numbers can have advertising, inactivity, geography, and verification limitations.
- Quo, formerly OpenPhone, is the best fit in this list for a modern small team that needs shared numbers, shared texting, and business calling; Quo’s cited Starter price is $15 per user per month when billed annually or $19 monthly, before applicable carrier and messaging fees.
- Zoom Phone is a sensible value choice for teams already using Zoom, while Dialpad emphasizes AI transcription and call intelligence and RingCentral provides deeper PBX and enterprise controls.
- Burner and Hushed are better for temporary privacy than for banking, long-term two-factor authentication, customer continuity, or a permanent business identity.
- No virtual phone app can guarantee acceptance of every banking, government, social-media, WhatsApp, marketplace, or other verification code because third-party services may reject VoIP or recycled numbers.
What is the best virtual phone number app in 2025?
There is no single best virtual phone number app in 2025 because the category combines two different products: consumer second-number apps and business VoIP phone systems. Choose Google Voice or TextNow for a low-cost personal number, Burner or Hushed for temporary privacy, Quo for shared small-business calling and texting, and a larger platform such as Dialpad or RingCentral for advanced business controls.
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| App | Best for | Category | Price signal or 2025 note | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | Low-cost US second number or Google Workspace user | Consumer/business VoIP | 2025 comparison coverage listed $10/user/month for business; verify current plan | Geographic and feature restrictions; VoIP verification may fail |
| TextNow | Budget or free supported-market second number | Consumer second number | Free or low-cost entry reported; current retention terms must be checked | Ads, number availability, and verification limitations |
| Hushed | Privacy and temporary secondary numbers | Consumer second number | 2025 comparison cited plans from about $3.99/month | Some short codes and verification services may not work |
| Burner | Disposable number for short-lived interactions | Consumer second number | Current price was not verified in the research pass | Poor fit for permanent identity or account recovery |
| Sideline | Separate personal and work line | Consumer second number | Current price was not verified in the research pass | Less capable for teams and routing |
| 2ndLine | Consumer second line | Consumer second number | Current price and availability require confirmation | Country, retention, and SMS restrictions may apply |
| Talkatone | Low-cost calling and messaging in supported markets | Consumer second number | Current price and coverage require confirmation | Country, SMS, and verification limitations |
| Numero eSIM | Comparing a virtual number with mobile connectivity | eSIM/number service | Plan and country availability vary | Not equivalent to a pure VoIP number |
| Quo | Startups and small shared-number teams | Business VoIP | $15/user/month annual or $19 monthly Starter price cited; fees may apply | Not intended as a disposable personal number |
| Zoom Phone | Zoom-centric teams | Business VoIP | 2025 comparison listed about $10/user/month; plans distinguish metered and unlimited calling | Registration and plan add-ons need review |
| Dialpad | AI transcription and call intelligence | Business VoIP | 2025 comparison listed about $15/user/month starting signal | Overkill for casual personal use |
| RingCentral | Large teams and traditional PBX depth | Business VoIP | 2025 comparison listed about $20/user/month starting signal | Complexity and add-on costs |
| Grasshopper | Solo business needing a professional number | Business VoIP | Coverage cited roughly $14/month with annual billing; verify current price | Limited collaboration and analytics |
| Aircall | Sales and support teams with international workflows | Business VoIP | Comparison coverage listed about $30/user/month and a three-user minimum | Poor value for one-person businesses |
Which virtual phone number app is best for personal use?
Personal second-number apps are designed for one person who wants calling and messaging without exposing a primary mobile number. They are useful for classifieds, dating, online selling, travel, forms, or separating work from personal contacts. They generally do not provide the shared inboxes, queues, permissions, audit controls, and integrations expected from a business phone system.
1. Google Voice: best low-cost US second number
Google Voice is the best starting point for an eligible US user who wants a familiar app, web access, calling, texting, and voicemail. Google Voice works particularly well for people already using Google services, and Google Workspace Voice plans are aimed at business users. A 2025 comparison from ExpertMarket listed Google Voice business pricing at $10 per user per month, but that figure is a starting-plan signal rather than a complete 2025 or current total-cost quotation.
Google Voice is not a universal international solution. Availability, number selection, calling destinations, texting, and business features depend on the country and plan. Do not choose Google Voice if the required country is unsupported, if you need a conventional cellular identity, or if a critical service requires a mobile number. Google Voice numbers can also be rejected for verification even when ordinary SMS works.
2. TextNow: best budget or free second number in supported markets
TextNow is a practical low-cost or free second-number option for users in supported North American markets. TextNow combines calling and messaging with a low barrier to entry, making it attractive for casual use and a backup line. The trade-off is that free service may involve advertising and paid options may be needed to retain a number or add capabilities.
Check current number-retention rules, supported area codes, calling destinations, SMS behavior, and verification acceptance before using TextNow for anything important. TextNow is a poor choice for banking, primary account recovery, or a business identity unless the relevant service explicitly accepts the number.
3. Hushed: best for privacy and temporary numbers
Hushed is best for a secondary or temporary number used to limit exposure of a primary phone number. Hushed’s positioning includes disposable numbers and multiple-country options, although the exact country and number type must be confirmed at signup. A 2025 comparison from Digital Nomad Guides cited plans from about $3.99 per month in its comparison.
Hushed can suit travel, marketplace conversations, dating, and short-lived projects. Hushed is not a full business phone system, and not every number supports every SMS shortcode, MMS function, or verification service. Do not use a temporary Hushed number as the only recovery method for an important account unless the retention policy is clear and the number is kept active.
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Burner is the clearest fit when the defining requirement is a number that can be discarded after a short-lived interaction. A Burner-style number helps separate a personal identity from a classified ad, date, sale, or temporary project. The disposable model is the feature—not a weakness—when privacy matters more than permanence.
Burner is a poor fit for banking, business registration, customer-service continuity, signage, packaging, or long-term two-factor authentication. The current price was not verified in the research pass, so check the provider’s live terms before purchase.
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- Up to 415 Domestic Minutes. Dialing Instructions: Dial the appropriate access number from the phone card, when prompted enter PIN number, then your destination number including the country code. Important: do not press talk button after international number, do not call from your phone contacts after dialing pin number or you will be billed at your carrier rates. No reimbursement of such phone company or hotel charges allowed.
- Call Africa: Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt Democratic Republic of the Congo South Africa Tanzania Kenya Sudan Algeria Uganda Morocco Mozambique Ghana Angola Ivory Coast Madagascar Cameroon Niger Burkina Faso Mali Malawi Zambia Somalia Senegal Chad Zimbabwe Rwanda Tunisia Guinea Benin Burundi South Sudan Togo Eritrea Sierra Leone Libya Republic of the Congo Central African Republic Liberia Mauritania Namibia Botswana
- Call Europe: Russia Germany Turkey France United Kingdom Italy Spain Ukraine Poland Romania Kazakhstan Netherlands Belgium Greece Czech Republic Portugal Sweden Azerbaijan Hungary Belarus Austria Switzerland Bulgaria Serbia Denmark Finland Slovakia Norway Ireland Croatia Georgia Moldova Bosnia and Herzegovina Armenia Albania Lithuania North Macedonia Slovenia Latvia Kosovo Estonia Cyprus Montenegro Luxembourg Malta Iceland Andorra Monaco Liechtenstein San Marino Vatican City
- Call MidEast: Iran Turkey Iraq Saudi Arabia Yemen Syria Jordan United Arab Emirates Israel Lebanon Palestine Oman Kuwait Qatar Bahrain Call Latin America: Brazil Colombia Argentina Peru Venezuela Chile Ecuador Bolivia Paraguay Uruguay Guyana Suriname FrenchGuiana Falkland Islands
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5. Sideline: best familiar dedicated second line
Sideline is best for a person who wants a dedicated work or personal line in a consumer-oriented phone-app experience. Sideline can keep business contacts separate from a primary number without requiring a complete business communications platform.
Sideline is less suitable than Quo, Zoom Phone, Dialpad, or RingCentral when multiple people must answer one number, route calls through menus, share messages, or inspect team analytics. Current pricing, supported countries, and retention terms require verification before signup.
6. 2ndLine: best for a straightforward consumer second line
2ndLine is aimed at users seeking a consumer second line for calling and messaging. The service belongs in the personal-use category rather than beside enterprise PBX products. Availability, advertisements, supported countries, number permanence, and SMS restrictions can vary, so confirm those details for the intended market.
Do not assume that 2ndLine’s ability to send ordinary texts means that it will receive bank codes, short codes, MMS, or third-party verification messages.
7. Talkatone: best for supported-market consumer calling
Talkatone is worth considering when inexpensive consumer calling and messaging are the priority in a supported market. Talkatone’s usefulness depends heavily on country availability, the type of number assigned, and the destinations the user needs to call or text.
Talkatone should not be selected solely because an app advertises texting. Verify incoming and outgoing SMS, MMS, short codes, number retention, and verification behavior for the exact plan and country.
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8. Numero eSIM: best when a virtual number and cellular connectivity overlap
Numero eSIM is best considered by travelers or international users comparing a virtual number with eSIM-based mobile connectivity. An eSIM service may provide cellular connectivity and a number-like service, but it is not automatically interchangeable with a pure VoIP number or a conventional carrier line.
Check whether the selected plan includes a local mobile number, data only, inbound SMS, outbound SMS, voice calling, roaming, and the required country. Numero eSIM is a poor fit if the user needs a guaranteed mobile identity for account verification.
Which virtual phone number app is best for business?
Business virtual phone systems are designed for shared access, routing, extensions, call queues, administration, integrations, and business messaging. A business-ready service should provide more than a second number: it should give the organization control over users, assignments, calls, records, and continuity.
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9. Quo, formerly OpenPhone: best modern small-business shared number
Quo is the best fit here for startups, freelancers, and small teams that want shared numbers, shared inboxes, calling, texting, and a modern interface. Quo was formerly branded OpenPhone, so older 2025 articles, screenshots, and search results may use the former name. The current Quo pricing page shows a Starter price of $15 per user per month with annual billing and $19 per user per month when billed monthly, with one included number per user and additional costs such as carrier review/setup and messaging fees potentially applying.
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Quo supports PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, and browser access according to Quo’s platform overview. Quo is a strong choice for a shared business line, but it is not the right tool for someone who only needs a disposable personal number. Business texting may require registration, carrier approval, and recurring messaging fees, so the subscription price is not the complete cost.
10. Zoom Phone: best value for Zoom-centric teams
Zoom Phone is the best fit for a business already invested in Zoom and wanting calling inside the same broader collaboration ecosystem. The official Zoom Phone pricing page distinguishes metered and unlimited domestic-calling models and identifies features such as domestic SMS/MMS, included numbers, online fax, call recording, and integrations.
A 2025 comparison from ExpertMarket used approximately $10 per user per month as a starting price signal. Treat that figure as a comparison snapshot, not a universal current price: calling model, country, billing period, number type, taxes, and add-ons affect the total. Zoom Phone is a poor fit for a simple personal second line or a team that does not use Zoom.
11. Dialpad: best for AI transcription and call intelligence
Dialpad is the strongest choice in this group for businesses prioritizing AI-assisted calling, transcription, summaries, and call coaching. Dialpad also provides business calling, routing, integrations, and team-oriented controls. A 2025 ExpertMarket comparison listed about $15 per user per month as a starting signal, but plan level and billing terms determine which AI and administration features are actually included.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDialpad is a poor fit for casual personal use because the platform’s value comes from business workflows and team intelligence. Buyers should verify recording and transcription settings, data handling, regional availability, and any higher-tier requirements before enabling those features.
12. RingCentral: best for larger organizations and PBX depth
RingCentral is best for organizations that need a fuller business communications system with routing, extensions, desk-phone support, integrations, and administrative controls. RingCentral can scale beyond a single professional number, but the additional capability brings more configuration and billing complexity.
ExpertMarket’s 2025 comparison used about $20 per user per month as a starting signal. That is not a complete cost comparison: number fees, messaging limits, add-ons, annual billing, taxes, and plan-specific controls must be checked. RingCentral is a poor choice for a solo user who only wants an inexpensive second line.
13. Grasshopper: best simple solo-business number
Grasshopper is best for a solo business that wants a professional number, forwarding, extensions, voicemail, and basic business separation without deploying an enterprise phone system. Grasshopper is easier to understand than a large contact-center platform, which is valuable when one owner handles most calls.
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Comparison coverage cited roughly $14 per month with annual billing, but monthly billing and add-ons can increase the real price. Grasshopper is a poor fit when the business needs sophisticated shared inboxes, deep analytics, extensive integrations, or advanced call-center controls.
14. Aircall: best for international sales and support teams
Aircall is best for sales and customer-support teams that need call-center workflows, integrations, analytics, and international positioning. Aircall is designed around business workflows rather than personal second numbers. Country coverage and local-number inventory must be checked separately because “international” does not mean that every country supports local numbers, inbound SMS, outbound calling, and the same compliance process.
Comparison coverage from Quo’s business-phone guide listed approximately $30 per user per month and a three-user minimum. Aircall is a poor fit for an individual or very small team if that minimum applies. Confirm user minimums, number charges, international rates, and required documentation before subscribing.
How should you choose a virtual phone number app?
Start with the use case, then verify geography, number type, texting, retention, and total price. The correct decision is usually category-first rather than rating-first.
| If you need… | Start with… | Why | Do not choose it when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| A free or low-cost personal second number | Google Voice or TextNow | Both target inexpensive calling and messaging in supported markets | You need universal verification or an unsupported country |
| Temporary privacy | Burner or Hushed | Disposable or secondary-number models reduce exposure of a primary number | The number must remain a permanent recovery or business identity |
| One professional solo-business line | Grasshopper, Google Voice, or Quo | They can provide business separation without a large phone system | You need enterprise routing, compliance, or contact-center analytics |
| Shared calling and texting | Quo | Shared numbers and inbox-style team workflows are central to its positioning | You only need a personal disposable line |
| Zoom-integrated business calling | Zoom Phone | Calling, SMS/MMS, and phone features fit the Zoom ecosystem | You do not use Zoom or need a simple personal number |
| AI transcription and call intelligence | Dialpad | AI summaries, transcription, and coaching are central differentiators | You do not need business calling intelligence |
| Enterprise PBX depth | RingCentral | Routing, extensions, desk phones, integrations, and administration support larger teams | You are a solo user seeking the lowest price |
| International sales or support workflows | Aircall, after country verification | Its positioning emphasizes workflows, integrations, analytics, and international use | You have one user or need guaranteed local SMS everywhere |
| Banking or critical two-factor authentication | A conventional mobile or eSIM line | Carrier-native numbers are more likely than VoIP numbers to meet third-party requirements | You are assuming any virtual number will be accepted |
What should you compare before subscribing?
Number type and geography
Confirm whether the provider offers a VoIP number, mobile/eSIM number, forwarding number, local number, or toll-free number. Confirm the exact country, area code, and number type—not merely whether the service advertises international availability. Calling availability can differ from texting availability, and international numbers may require identity or address documentation.
Calling, SMS, MMS, and short codes
Ask four separate questions: Can the number receive calls? Can it make calls? Can it receive ordinary SMS? Can it send SMS? Then check MMS, group messaging, picture and video messages, short codes, voicemail transcription, call recording, caller-ID controls, and call forwarding. “Supports texting” is not enough because registration, carrier fees, caps, or number-type restrictions may apply.
Verification and account recovery
A virtual number that receives an ordinary text is not guaranteed to receive a bank code, government message, social-media code, WhatsApp registration text, delivery notification, or marketplace verification. Many services reject VoIP numbers, short codes, recycled numbers, or numbers previously associated with other accounts. If an account is important, use a conventional mobile or eSIM line unless the specific service confirms virtual-number support.
Number permanence and porting
Before using a number publicly, check whether the provider allows number port-in and port-out, whether either process has a fee, whether the account must remain paid, and whether the number expires after inactivity. Also check whether cancellation causes immediate reclamation and whether a paid number-retention option exists. A recycled number may already be associated with another person’s accounts.
Business collaboration and administration
Teams should compare shared inboxes, multiple agents on one number, ring groups, auto-attendants, extensions, queues, transfers, permissions, analytics, recording, CRM integrations, admin controls, audit logs, SSO, and compliance features. A personal second-number app should not be scored as equivalent to a business phone platform merely because both can make calls.
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Devices and reliability
Check support for iPhone, Android, browser, Windows, macOS, tablets, desk phones, simultaneous logins, push notifications, call handoff, Bluetooth, and headsets. Call quality depends on internet quality, Wi-Fi congestion, mobile data, provider routing, carrier filtering, device permissions, and push-notification behavior. Battery optimization can delay or suppress incoming-call notifications on some devices.
How much does a virtual phone number really cost?
The advertised subscription is only one part of the cost. Compare the monthly or annual subscription per user, included and additional numbers, domestic and international calling, SMS/MMS, carrier registration, campaign or setup fees, taxes, regulatory fees, activation, porting, annual-billing requirements, minimum users, hardware, AI add-ons, integrations, and dormant-number retention.
| Cost item | Why it matters | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly and annual prices may differ | Is the headline price annual billing? What is the month-to-month price? |
| Users and numbers | Teams may pay per user; extra numbers may cost more | How many users and numbers are included? |
| Calling | Domestic calling may be metered or unlimited; international calling is usually separate | Which destinations are included, and what fair-use rules apply? |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, short codes, and high-volume messaging may have different rules | Is registration required? Are carrier or recurring messaging fees charged? |
| Setup and compliance | Business messaging can trigger carrier review or setup charges | Are one-time carrier review, campaign, activation, or registration fees listed? |
| Porting | Moving an existing number may take time or require accurate account details | Is port-in or port-out free? What information and downtime are involved? |
| Retention | Cancellation or inactivity can cause number loss | What is the cost to keep a dormant number? |
| Minimums and add-ons | Some business services require multiple users or paid features | Are AI, recording, fax, integrations, desk phones, or extra users separate? |
Quo illustrates why headline pricing is incomplete: its current pricing information lists annual and monthly plans, additional-number pricing, carrier review/setup fees, and messaging fees. Zoom similarly separates metered and unlimited calling and notes additional SMS/MMS registration requirements. Treat every listed price as a starting point unless the price includes all mandatory fees for the buyer’s country and use case.
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What can go wrong with a virtual phone number?
- Verification rejection: A bank, government agency, social network, or authentication provider may reject a VoIP number.
- Delayed business texting: SMS may remain blocked until A2P, carrier, or campaign registration is approved.
- MMS failure: Picture messages, video messages, or group texts may be unavailable on a number type or plan.
- Inactivity expiration: A provider may reclaim an unpaid or unused number.
- Recycled-number contamination: A newly assigned number may still be associated with another user’s accounts.
- Different voice and text coverage: A number may support inbound calls but not inbound SMS, or local calling but not local texting.
- International documentation: Local numbers in some countries may require identity or address proof.
- Toll-free limitations: Toll-free numbers are not automatically suitable for every SMS or verification use case.
- Emergency-calling differences: Emergency calling may be limited, require registration, or operate differently from a mobile carrier line.
- Recording compliance: Call-recording laws vary by state and country; notify participants where required.
- Notification problems: Battery optimization, disabled permissions, or poor connectivity can prevent timely ringing.
- Minimum-user requirements: A business platform can be uneconomical when a provider requires multiple users.
- Unexpected billing: Monthly billing, taxes, carrier fees, registration, and add-ons can exceed the starting price.
- Porting failure: Incorrect account details or carrier information can delay or prevent a number transfer.
- Spam suspension: High-volume or suspected abusive messaging can lead to carrier filtering or account suspension.
- Not a mobile identity: An app-based number may not behave like a SIM-backed cellular line.
- Restricted messaging: Providers may prohibit political, financial, automated, or high-volume messages.
- Data and recording exposure: Call recordings, transcripts, contacts, and message history may be retained according to the provider’s policies.
- Product changes: Rebrands, new plans, ownership changes, and pricing updates can make older reviews inaccurate.
Which virtual phone number app should you buy?
Buy by category, not by a universal ranking. Choose Google Voice or TextNow for a supported low-cost personal number; Hushed or Burner for temporary privacy; Quo for a modern shared small-business line; Zoom Phone for a Zoom-centric team; Dialpad for AI-assisted calling; RingCentral for enterprise PBX depth; Grasshopper for a simple solo-business number; and Aircall for a qualifying sales or support team with verified international requirements.
If the number will protect banking, government, primary two-factor authentication, or long-term account recovery, choose a conventional mobile or eSIM line unless the specific service confirms that the virtual number is accepted. If the number will represent a business, calculate the total cost of users, numbers, messaging registration, calling, taxes, add-ons, and retention before signing up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a virtual phone number receive verification codes?
A virtual phone number may receive some verification codes, but no app can guarantee acceptance by every third-party service. Banks, government services, social networks, messaging apps, and authentication providers may reject VoIP, short-code, recycled, or previously used numbers; use a conventional mobile or eSIM line for critical accounts unless compatibility is confirmed.
What is the difference between a virtual phone number and an eSIM number?
A virtual phone number is commonly handled through an internet-based VoIP app or browser, while an eSIM number is associated with a cellular plan installed digitally on a compatible device. An eSIM may behave more like a conventional mobile line, but plan features and country availability still vary.
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You can keep some virtual numbers permanently if the provider supports paid retention or continued account activity, but policies differ. Check inactivity expiration, cancellation reclamation, port-out rules, fees, and whether the number is exclusive before using it for public business contact or account recovery.
Are free virtual phone numbers safe for business use?
Free virtual phone numbers can work for casual calls, but they may include ads, limited support, restricted number selection, inactivity expiration, messaging limits, or unreliable verification. A permanent business number should normally use a paid service with clear retention, administration, porting, and messaging policies.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The best virtual phone number app in 2025 is use-case dependent. Pick a consumer second-number app for personal privacy or a business VoIP system for shared work. Verify country coverage, SMS and MMS behavior, verification compatibility, number retention, emergency calling, carrier fees, and total billing before treating any virtual number as permanent.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
