14 Best Second Phone Number Apps

A second phone number can come in handy. You may want a separate number for your business, to register for a website, or to simply protect your personal information. That all sounds great, but having two phones can be quite a bother. Luckily, there are ways to get a second phone number without purchasing an entirely new phone.

One way to solve this is to buy a phone that accepts two SIM cards and get another number from a different service provider. Recently, however, smartphone technology has provided another way to get a second phone number: fake phone number apps. These fake number apps are available on the Android Play Store and Apple's App Store. They let interested persons get a second number without the added expenses, and even offer free second phone numbers. Let's explore some of the best apps to use for a second phone number.

Why Get a Second Phone Number?

Before exploring the apps you can use to get a second phone number, you might be wondering why you would need another number at all. If you need more convincing, read on for some reasons why a second phone number could be beneficial.

To Protect Your Privacy

Some people are very private and don't like to give out their phone numbers to strangers. However, sometimes, there are situations where you need to connect with a stranger and exchange phone numbers. A fake phone number app allows you to generate a second phone number to give out to acquaintances. This way, you get to keep your primary phone number private and secure. Furthermore, the generated phone number works like a regular phone number, and you can just as easily make phone calls.

To Prevent Exposing Your Contact Information In Data Breaches

Whenever you sign up for an online service and give them your phone number, you agree to the company sets terms and conditions. In most cases, companies store your data and do not use it for malicious reasons.

However, there's always a chance that criminals could breach these companies' databases - thus compromising your security. With a secondary phone number, you can sign up for service without worrying about a data breach and scammers having access to your leaked contact information.

To Guard Against Phone Scammers

Whenever you get repeated calls from a suspicious number, you should be cautious. You never know which calls could be phone scams. The best thing to do is to leave the unknown call unanswered. However, you could also use your second phone to call the number back and see who was calling if the caller turns out to be an acquaintance; great. But if it's an unfamiliar person or a scammer, you can drop the call and block their number. Then, they'll never know it was you.

To Run A Small Business

If you're running a small business, you know that you need a hone number to represent that business. Getting an entire phone and phone number can set you back several hundreds of dollars. So instead, you can generate a second phone number for your business to make calls, answer inquiries, and speak to potential job applicants.

Using your private phone number for your business is not a good idea. In some cases, it can come across as unprofessional. Instead, get an app to assign you a secondary phone number, set up automatic greetings, and schedule your appointments. More importantly, you also don't want to receive calls at odd hours of the night. At the end of the workday, you can forward your business calls to voicemail and check your messages the following day.

To Protect Yourself When Dating Online

Although exciting, online dating can also be scary. However, unlike meeting a person and hoping that you might get along, you're able to pre-select the qualities you seek in a romantic partner and choose from the potential partners who match your criteria.

To connect with your match in real life, you will typically exchange numbers. If the date doesn't work out, they still have your number. This leaves room for stalkers and those with bad intentions to find your personal information and harass you with phone calls. By using a second phone number, you can safely talk to online dates while protecting yourself.

For Online Shopping

Some vendors try to get your numbers whenever you shop online so they can offer deals and discounts on purchases. That's nice, but the last thing you want is to have marketers calling and texting you at all hours of the day. With a second phone number, you can confidently register with online stores. In addition, you'll be able to get their special discounts while keeping your primary phone number private.

How Do Second Phone Number Apps Work?

Phone number apps allow users to get new phone numbers and make calls using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or IP Telephony. VoIP is a group of technology that lets users make phone calls using the internet instead of a traditional phone line.

With VoIP, phone number apps can assign all the phone numbers their users need, without the added cost of infrastructure that traditional phones need. Thus, users get phone numbers and have the same access to traditional phone services at a fraction of the regular price.

Our Top Fourteen Best Second Phone Number Apps

Below are fourteen of the best apps you can use to get a second phone number. All of these apps are available for Android and iOS devices.

#1 Burner

Burner is a popular app among people that need secondary phone numbers. When it first came out, you could only create temporary phone numbers (or "burner numbers"). However, more recent versions of the app offer permanent phone number options.

The Burner app’s freemium offering lets you use a secondary number for seven days and gives you limited talk time and text messaging. Paid subscription gives you a secondary number with unlimited talk time and text messaging.

A single-line subscription on Burner's paid version costs $4.99 per month, while a three-line subscription costs $14.99 per month.

#2 Google Voice

Google Voice's simplicity is its main appeal. All you need to do is sign in with your Google account to obtain a second phone number. You can route all calls to your cell phone, home or workplace, or other locations with your new number.

The Google Voice app offers standard calling services and also lets you transcribe voice messages to text form.

#3 Nextiva App

The team that designed the Nextiva App created it specifically for small businesses. According to the service provider, Nextiva is perfect for companies and employees that wish to use a unified communications system. You can install Nextiva on any device with an internet connection, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers. Nextiva can even turn your personal computer into a phone with a dedicated phone number for all your business communication needs, including:

• Phone calls
• Screen sharing
• Video conferencing
• Group calls
• Group chats
• Individual chats
• SMS
• Outlook integration
• Team presence
• Contact management

With the Nextiva app, you can manage all your business communications from a central platform. You can also see which of your teammates are available at any point - helpful if you urgently need to get in touch with someone.

#4 Hushed

Hushed is similar to Burner. Users get a secondary phone number with temporary or permanent line options. In addition, the app provides features like custom voicemail messages and call-forwarding. New users can try Hushed for three days before committing via paid subscriptions for a temporary seven-day or permanent plan.

#5 Dingtone

Dingtone allows users to get a US phone number that they can use to call or message phone numbers in more than 230 countries. Dingtone uses VoIP technology to deliver high-definition voice calls and provides instant messaging services so users can exchange photos, videos, locations, and contacts. Dingtone is available on monthly or yearly subscriptions.

#6 CoverMe

The app lets users generate US and Canadian phone numbers with an area code of their choice. The CoverMe App guarantees end-to-end encryption for secure and private phone calls and text messages. It also features a private vault where users can hide pictures, videos, passkeys, and folders.

#7 Cloud Phone

The Cloud Phone app offers a business phone system for small business owners to use to manage business and personal calls. The app’s features include voicemail transcription,  conference calling, one-touch access to call recording, and eavesdropping. App users can make professional company greetings for business phone lines and use an auto attendant for call routing, call forwarding, and voicemail functions.

#8 iPlum

iPlum lets US users create domestic or international phone numbers. It also supports 22 international languages. The app is available on smartphones and tabs, and users must purchase call credits to make calls through their iPlum phone number. Other than phone call features, iPlum also offers dedicated voicemail, caller ID, and call forwarding, as well as picture and video messaging.

#9 Talkatone

Talkatone offers its users free US or Canadian phone numbers that they can use to make and receive calls in those countries. In addition, Talkatone lets you create and receive phone calls within the US and Canada for free, and you can pay a monthly subscription to call select countries. Talkatone runs ads so that its services can stay free. Users, however, can choose to remove ads by paying for the service.

#10 Telos

Telos gives its users a second phone number with unlimited voice calls and text messaging. Users can get telephone numbers in the US and several other countries. The app allows you to forward your calls to any mobile number or landline. It also provides voicemail, auto-reply messages, and blocking services.

#11 Textfree

When you download the Textfree app, you get a second number with unlimited text messages, inbound calls, and limited outbound calls. You can get your second phone number for free, but you have to use it at least once every thirty days - so the app doesn't reclaim it. You can also pay for a number that you can use or ignore for as long as you wish.

#12 TextMe Up

While some apps limit the number of phone numbers users can have, TextMe Up allows you to create as many numbers and you can manage. In addition, the app will enable you to switch between numbers and includes high-definition voice and video calling. It features video, text, and photo sharing, and group messaging.

#13 Textplus

If you download the Textplus App, you'll be able to get real US phone numbers for free. In addition, these numbers will come with unlimited free SMS text and MMS to persons in the US and Canada.

You can receive calls for free on your Textplus number, but you'll need to go through adverts to make your phone calls. If you don't want to see ads, you can pay for the ad-free service. Textplus delivers text messages instantly using push notifications. It also allows users to send stickers, voice notes, emojis, and animated GIFs.

#14 WhatsCall

Phone call apps use VoIP telephony to make telephone calls using an internet connection. However, you can call anyone with the WhatsCall app, even if they don't have an active internet connection. The app offers features like one-touch recording, caller ID, call blocking, and call forwarding.

WhatsCall is a free second phone number app, but users have to earn credits for calls. They can earn credits by watching adverts, inviting friends, playing games, and completing tasks.

Conclusion

There are many reasons to get a second phone. For example, you might need an alternative phone for business, protect your privacy, stay safe from scammers, or keep marketers away from your private line.

Whatever your reason for getting a second phone number, it is best to use a service provider that reduces the expenses you would have incurred with a traditional phone number.