The 8 Best Second Phone Number Apps of 2024 (2024)

Google Voice

Google Voice has a complicated existence. It has been around for a long time, but it also hasn't been updated in a long time. Given Google's history of building and then removing products, take from that what you will. But, the best part of this app is it's completely free.

It's easy to use and it even has a web interface. One thing that makes Voice unique is that it can be set up to ring multiple devices at once so you never miss a call. You can make calls from the web as well as send texts and listen to voice messages. Google Voice even comes with a spam filter for messages and voicemails, which can help you sort through them.

Download For:

Cloud SIM

Cloud SIM is a service that is great if you have a lot of friends using it, but it's not great at all if you don't.Phone calls and texts are charged by the minute or message if you're not messaging a Cloud SIM user. The app's user interface is fun, with a circular set of buttons for accessing various features, but it comes at the cost of being intuitive. Plus, there is no free trial at all; you're either all in, or all out.

Download For:

Sideline

Sideline gives you a second phone number, while still using your carrier's messaging and voice calling minutes.The benefit is there is no uncertainty when it comes to coverage.If your phone has a signal, you can dial out.The app itself is intuitive, but really reliant on back buttons. Your new number includes calling, texting, and voice mail.

The app offers a 7-day free trial, but no other free option after that. An interesting option allows you to port a number from a different phone into Sideline. If you have a second phone already, you can use that number with Sideline and ditch the second phone altogether.

Download For:

Burner

Burner is exactly like it sounds: it's a burner phone number for you to use, and then burn. When you burn a number, it gets wiped from your phone and taken out of service.

Burner allows you to integrate into a number of different services like Slack, Evernote, and even SoundCloud to automatically share your voicemails publicly or privately. You get a seven-day free trial like many others; there is no free option.

When you first open the app and create a number, you're asked to give it a name. If you don't, you'll be asked again. You will be asked a lot. Also, a set of user guides are preloaded into the app as notifications, which is not ideal.

Download For:

FreeTone

FreeTone gives you one free phone number from any area code, and you can use that number if you agree to ads. In most cases, there are at least two ads on the screen at any time: during phone calls, inside your text message thread, or in your contacts.

Of course, if you're willing to put up with all the ads, you're in good shape. If you don't or if you want more than one phone number, you'll need to subscribe. You can choose from weekly or monthly subscriptions and buy credits if you don't want a recurring fee. Overall, it's versatile, it has a web app, and it works without a SIM card on Wi-Fi, which is an added bonus.

Heads-up: the app is called TextMe on iOS and FreeTone Calls & Texting on Android.

Download For:

Hushed

Hushed is another privacy-focused service that gives you an independent, easily disposable phone number for texting and calling.It comes with a wide variety of options in terms of subscription and payments from per-call/text plans up to unlimited plans. If you go with a per-call or per-text plan, the costs add up pretty quickly.

The user interface definitely leaves something to be desired. Not only is it a dark theme, which some won't mind, but the icons and UI look a little outdated. They're certainly not anything approaching modern or attractive. Texting includes very limited options as well.

One of the coolest features about Hushed is it allows you to register a toll-free number. While it's not as much of a big deal as it would have been even ten years ago. It's still a nice option.

Download For:

Dingtone

Dingtone is another free app you can use to make calls and texts, but there are some caveats here. Rather than ads, Dingtone has gamified the app using a credit system.You can buy credits if you want. Otherwise, there are various ways you can earn credits by playing games or checking into the app daily. It's an interesting concept, but ultimately a little confusing.

You need credits to make calls and send texts, but it doesn't say how many you need for each. It doesn't say if it's per message, per day, per minute, or something else. Plus, you need to use your number every ten days and maintain a credit balance of at least one, or you could lose it. It's a bit much and it almost makes ads sound desirable.

Download For:

TextFree

Text Free is another absolutely free phone number service, with a catch. The catch is, you have to continuously use the phone number or it may be reclaimed. If a number goes unused for more than 30 days, you lose the number.You can pay a subscription to keep the number active even if you rarely use it.

There are also ads everywhere, but for another subscription fee, you can remove them. The app has a navigation system based heavily on the back button, which is never ideal, but it also works over Wi-Fi, so there's no SIM required.

Download For:

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for letting us know!

Tell us why!