Do you need a second phone number for web sites, strangers, or business travel? It’s easy to obtain an extra phone number with very little fuss. There’s no need to splurge on a second phone number with your wireless carrier. Instead, you can lean on some of the best Android apps and iPhone apps on the market to add a second private line to your smartphone. This strategy helps you keep your primary phone number private and only give it to trusted contacts.
Sideline
Sideline is a business-oriented app that provides a second phone number as well as calling, texting, and voicemail features, designed for workplace collaboration. All calls are cellular and use your existing carrier plan. Texting includes SMS, MMS picture messaging, and group messaging. Pro features include a team number that allows you to split a single number among multiple devices. The app lets you build a unique identity with vanity phone numbers, where your name or product is spelled out. You can choose area codes to find an available local number for your region and employ auto-reply via text or MMS. An enterprise account lets you manage company phone numbers on employee devices. Additional features include custom caller ID, business voicemail message and greeting, voicemail to text, and auto voicemail. You can pick a new Sideline phone number and port numbers from a burner number, Google number, Smartline, Line2, or other services. Sideline is available for a seven-day free trial, after which you can subscribe to a contract-free monthly or yearly plan. The newest versions support inbox search.
Google Voice
If you have a personal Google account, Google Voice will give you a phone number for calling, text messaging, and voicemail that you can use with your smartphone or computer. It will even sync across devices for on-the-go-connections and message management. The app automatically filters out spam and blocks designated numbers. You can arrange personalized settings for forwarding calls, text messages, and voicemail. All communications are stored and backed up so you can search your history. Google Voice provides advanced voicemail transcriptions and lets you call international destinations without extra charges for international minutes. Google Voice calls are placed via the app’s access number using standard minutes from your cell plan. Google Voice only works for personal Google Accounts in the U.S. and G Suite accounts in some markets. Text messaging is not universally supported.
Flyp
With Flyp you are in control of your smartphone life and can use the app to separate work and personal calls. Flyp lets you add up to five U.S. phone numbers to your existing phone in any local area code you choose. You can also send and receive unlimited calls, texts, photos, and GIFs to and from any U.S. phone number and to any international Flyp phone number. You can restrict incoming calls to whomever you want and set Do Not Disturb messages for your numbers. This is a great option if you want to manage all your calls, texts, and voicemails from a single app. The first number you add is free for seven days, but costs $8 per month or $80 per year afterward.
Cloud SIM
If you need multiple phone numbers on your smartphone for international conversations between mobile and landline, Cloud SIM — which offers numbers from the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Poland — may be the answer. The service offers low cost and free rates for calls or text SMS without additional or roaming charges, lets you choose your connection type, and lets you set up your call via either local access (GSM), mobile data, or Wi-Fi. to some 200 countries. Cloud SIM facilitates receiving texts and calls to your new number, free text chat between phones worldwide while using Wi-Fi or data, sharing pictures, and using local access from your free minutes while you travel or have no internet. It offers dedicated voicemail for each separate mobile number. You can buy up to four virtual numbers.
Burner
Burner gives you a second line for calling, texting, and picture messaging. It intercepts calls on your Burner, routing them to your cell phone so no one sees your real number. You can call, text, and manage contacts from within the app and treat it as a long term second phone number for business or projects or create a disposable phone number for dating, sales, deliveries, shopping, or selling items on Craigslist. Integrations with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Slack let you archive messages and voicemails, or communicate with your team. You can create multiple phone numbers, keep them as long as you want — or burn them anytime. Share your Burner with anyone while keeping your new number secret for anonymous texting. Burner is free to download and comes with a seven-day free sample number. Additional phone numbers are available through in-app purchase or subscription. You can use Burner via a prepaid plan or subscription and can change your plan at any time in the U.S. or Canada, except Puerto Rico.
2ndLine
If you’re looking for a full-featured business phone system in addition to your personal phone number, consider 2ndLine, available in the U.S. and Canada. The app lets you call and message from a separate number on the devices you and your employees own, either via Wi-Fi or your existing cellular network. You can choose a local phone number with unlimited text and picture messaging, unlimited phone calling, and cheap international calling. It offers frills like emojis, stickers, and GIFs. You also get voicemail transcription, caller ID, call forwarding, customizable text and ringtones, quick reply, plus you can add your own signature to each text. Passcode functionality lets you keep all calls and messages private.
Hushed
Keep conversations private with Hushed, which not only provides you with a second smartphone number, but offers local numbers for more than 60 countries, including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. The additional phone number works for private calls and texts, letting you camouflage your caller ID, and then burn the numbers when you’re finished with them. This app features full picture messaging (MMS), text (SMS), and talk capabilities, and unlimited texting and calling in North America. Each number comes with call routing, call forwarding, auto-reply messages, and custom voicemail greetings. You can access your account on any device connected to Wi-Fi or data — and even use your tablet as a phone. The app offers flexible prepaid plans for 7, 30, 90, or 365 days as well as pay-as-you-go plans. A three-day trial lets you test the app for free.
Numflix
Numflix is for folks who need to communicate but do not want to reveal their private information to vendors and strangers. The app gives you real phone numbers with functionality that includes voice calls, texts, voicemails, reverse caller ID lookup, and call recordings. The app creates numbers on-demand with a few taps. Straightforward to use with a familiar interface, the app uses the infrastructure of top tier carriers. Right now, you can create numbers with U.S. and Canadian country codes only. In addition to the on-demand packages, the app also has monthly subscription options with prices starting at $2 a month.
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