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Key Takeaways: How to Get a Free Virtual Phone Number
- Use Google Voice to get a free virtual phone number — Google Voice offers great ease of use, integration with Google Workspace and a large feature set (for the U.S., Canada and some European countries).
- Get an app that gives you a free phone number — Apps like TextNow lets users make free calls and send free texts to any number in the U.S. or Canada. Others, like FreedomPop, provide free phone numbers and monthly data.
- Get a virtual business phone number — Business-oriented services, like CallHippo, come with more features, such as call switching, call recording and auto attendants.
If you’re wondering how to get a free virtual phone number, this guide will help you discover some of the best services. In this guide, we’ll recommend three different providers that come with unique offerings and provide you with a wide range of features.
There are several reasons to get a virtual phone number for business or personal use. Virtual phone numbers give you a number separate from your personal number for business phone calls, online dating, remote work and travel. They help individuals and businesses maintain a high level of professionalism and privacy in their daily operations.
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Overview: How to Get a Free Virtual Phone Number
There are many different ways to get a free virtual phone number. Our top free VoIP suggestion is that you use Google Voice, which is very easy to use, comes with Google Workspace integration and includes a large feature set. However, you can also use a virtual phone app that lets users make free calls, send free texts and even use free monthly data.
There are also business-oriented virtual phone number services that come with features companies will find useful, such as call recording, call switching and auto attendants. Keep reading for our top free VoIP services.
Get a Phone Number With Google Voice
Google Voice is the best option for getting a free number because it is easy to use and install. It also has a free option. Google Voice is available to anyone located in the U.S. or with a Google account created with an American IP address. This also applies to G-Suite accounts from selected countries (check out the list of supported countries).
Google Voice
Image caption: Google Voice is easy to use and integrates with Google Workspace.
Best free features:
- Call blocking and spam filtering
- Call screening
- Searchable calls and text messages
- Free audio conferencing with up to four people
- Voicemail-to-email
- Video calling
- Do not disturb
The setup process for Google Voice is straightforward, requiring just a Google or G-Suite account. All you need to do is install the app and you’ll get a custom Google Voice number.
Google Voice integrates with your existing contact list and can be synced across all your devices. Catering to both individuals and businesses, Google Voice provides features like voicemail, call forwarding, text, voice messaging and call termination.
It has an AI-powered spam filtering feature that blocks up to 10 million spam emails each minute. Google Voice also allows you to switch between configured phones when receiving a call.
Google Voice is good for anyone who has an active Google Workspace account. This means it integrates with your existing contact list, and you can sync your Google Voice account across all your devices. It’s not available everywhere, though; Google Voice is supported in the U.S., Canada and some European countries.
It’s also a good phone service for sole proprietorship or small businesses that want to avoid making business phone calls on their personal phone lines. However, Google Voice is a barebones service, offering the basics like voicemail and texting, so it’s not the best option for businesses that require extensive VoIP phone features.
| Plan: | Price |
|---|---|
| Personal | Free |
| Business Starter | $10 per month |
| Business Standard | $20 per month |
| Business Premier | $30 per month |
Other Free Virtual Phone Number Apps
The following services are great for people who don’t want to further embed themselves in the Google-universe, or who are searching for more advanced or specific features for free.
TextNow
TextNow allows users to make free calls and send free
texts to any number in the U.S. or Canada.
Best free features:
- Voicemail
- Voice messaging
- MMS/photo sharing
- Emojis
- Local presence area code
- Number blocking/unblocking
- Caller ID
- Three-way conference calls
- Group text messaging
- Conversation exporting (Android only)
- Emojis
- Number porting
TextNow is a VoIP service that offers virtual numbers for texting and making calls. Users can make free calls, receive incoming calls and send free texts to any number in the U.S. or Canada. If you want to communicate with people outside these regions, you can purchase international calling credits through the app.
The free plan comes with bottom banner ads, but for $1.99 per month, you can subscribe to TextNow’s ad-free “lite” plan. It also offers unlimited data plans, either daily or monthly.
TextNow can be used by sole proprietors and small businesses that need to manage multiple phone numbers on a single device. It’s also a great platform for businesses that want a business phone number separate from their personal phone number. SMBs that have a higher call volume would also find TextNow helpful.
| Plan: | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free |
| Ad-Free Lite | $1.99 per month |
| Unlimited data | $4.99 per day $39.99 per month |
2ndLine
2ndLine caters to professionals, small businesses and corporations.
Best free features:
- Unlimited talk and text in the U.S. and Canada
- Call forwarding
- Your own local number
- Free MMS
- Text and call on your Android phone and tablet
- Separate work and personal numbers
- Voicemail transcription
- Customizable backgrounds and ringtones
With the VoIP option, 2ndLine, you get a second U.S.or Canada phone number that you can use on your smartphone or tablet as a personal or business phone system. 2ndLine allows you to make calls and send texts from a separate phone number on all devices your team can access over an internet connection.
One thing to note is that the free plan comes with ads; you can remove the banner ads, though, by activating the “premium” features.
2ndLine is another service that could be used personally, but is also a great phone service for professionals, small businesses and corporations. You can use the phone number 2ndLine gives you in place of your real number for work, online shopping and selling, and other tasks. We will discuss more business phone number options below.
| Plan: | Monthly | Quarterly |
|---|---|---|
| Best Sellers | $4.99 | N/A |
| International Numbers | $9.99 | $17.99 |
Virtual Business Phone Numbers
A virtual business phone number comes with a lot more features than the regular ones, such as call switching, call recording and auto attendants. As a result, they typically cost more. Before adopting a small business phone system, ensure that the service meets your business requirements. Here are some of our favorite business phone number providers.
CallHippo
CallHippo streamlines collaboration thanks to its integration
with cloud storage services like Slack and Zapier.
CallHippo is our favorite VoIP virtual phone number service for small businesses because of its large feature set. This includes call forwarding, call queuing and text messaging capabilities. It also integrates with cloud storage clients and programs like Zapier.
This makes it an excellent service — not just for making business calls, but also for collaboration and productivity. For example, CallHippo’s integration with Slack makes it possible for businesses to access call logs, listen to call recordings, and place and receive calls directly from Slack.
The Basic plan is free, but the paid plans open up more usability. However, CallHippo paid plans cost a bit on the high side, with the lowest plan coming in at $20 per user per month.
| Plan: | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | $0 |
| Bronze | $20 | $16 |
| Silver | $30 | $24 |
| Platinum | $50 | $40 |
FreedomPop
FreedomPop provides free VoIP phone numbers as well as 25MB of 4G LTE data per month.
Best free features:
- Unlimited WiFi calling
- 10 free text messages
- Unlimited texting over WiFi
FreedomPop is a VoIP phone service that provides free phone numbers to businesses and 25MB of 4G LTE data per month. It allows customers to keep their existing phone number or select a new one.
One quality that differentiates FreedomPop from other services is that it requires users to order a preloaded SIM kit from FreedomPop, which costs $10.00 and can be inserted into just about any phone.
On receiving the SIM card, users can activate their FreedomPop accounts online. Voicemails are currently not available on the FreedomPop free plan and cost $2.49 per user per month to access.
FreedomPop is the ideal free VoIP phone service for businesses that want to keep using their existing phone number on a free virtual phone platform. However, since the FreedomPop free plan provides only 25MB of data, which translates to only about an hour per month, it’s not sufficient for businesses that use the internet heavily.
| Plan: | Cost |
|---|---|
| Affordable Connectivity Program | Free |
| 1GB Plan | $10 per month |
| 10GB Plan | $30 per month |
Why Use a Free VoIP Phone Number
When businesses need an additional phone number separate from their office, home or personal cell phone numbers, they can acquire a VoIP phone number from a virtual phone number service.
A free VoIP phone number lets a person or business make and receive calls and texts over an internet connection, letting them communicate without paying for phone service.
What Is a Free VoIP Phone Number?
VoIP numbers are powered by voice over IP software. They typically include features, such as incoming and outgoing calls, text messaging over WiFi, call forwarding and voicemail. Since VoIP numbers rely on internet connection — as opposed to via PSTN network — calls within the United States (and usually Canada) will be free. International call rates are based on locations and carriers.
Free VoIP Phone Numbers: Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Usually free of charge
- Alternative to personal number
- Helps newly established businesses appear professional
- Calls over wireless networks in the U.S. are free
Cons:
- Limited features
- Advertisements
- Some incompatible free numbers
What Are Toll-Free Numbers and Vanity Numbers? Do You Need Them?
Toll-free numbers are numbers with distinct three-digit codes that don’t incur any charges for the caller — even for long-distance calls. The business in charge of the toll-free number covers its cost. Toll-free numbers include any one of the following three-digit codes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 or 833. Each number is routed to a particular local telephone number.
Toll-free numbers are great for customer service operations and businesses that want their customers to call them without incurring any charges.
Vanity numbers are toll-free numbers that businesses use to help customers easily remember and recognize them. They typically spell out a word or phrase, such as “FLOWERS”, “DETROIT” or “TAXICAB.” Vanity numbers businesses are great for businesses or professionals that want to establish a professional image, brand recognition and brand memorability.
Final Thoughts: Should You Use a Free VoIP Number?
When deciding whether to use a free VoIP number, consider your current and future requirements. Determine whether you can operate just fine with basic features like free calling, voicemail, conference calling or caller ID — or if you’ll need more advanced features like auto-attendants, call recording, advanced call routing or conference bridging.
Did you find our guide on getting a free VoIP number helpful? Have you used any of the services recommended in the guide? What’s your favorite free VoIP provider? Let us know in the comment section below and, as always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: How to Get a Free Phone Number VoIP
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There are various services that offer free virtual phone numbers. Some of the best free virtual phone number providers are Google Voice, TextNow, FreedomPop and 2ndLine.
-
Yes, you can get a free virtual phone number. All you have to do is sign up for any of the top VoIP services that offer a free phone number.
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Google Voice has a free version, but several additional options are available for an additional fee.
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You can create a virtual phone number by creating an account on a virtual phone number service, selecting local area code for the phone number of your choice and choosing a plan (which could be free).
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