How to Get a Cheap or Free Phone Number for Calls, Texts

All calls, texts and voicemails are stored and backed up to make it easy for you to search your history. Google Voice syncs across all your devices. 

Cost. Free, but for one number only. Adding a Google Voice secondary number has a one-time fee of $20.  

TextFree. Considered the original free texting app, TextFree adds a second line to your iOS or Android device at no cost. It allows you to receive texts and calls free, but to call someone who is not a TextFree user, you either must earn or purchase minutes. 

TextNow

You can buy 100-minute increments starting at $1. Earn minutes free by watching videos in the app or completing a task related to an advertiser. 

Cost. Free with pop-up ads, $9.99 a month without ads. 

TextNow. This burner number app has been offering free unlimited calls and texting since its inception in 2009. TextNow provides a free secondary number for incoming and outgoing calls and text messages within the U.S. and Canada.  

It has call forwarding, spam blocking, auto-reply messaging and conference calling features, as well as supporting emojis, gifs, photos and videos. In addition to Android and Apple smartphones, it works on Mac and Windows computers and tablets. 

Cost. Free.

5 other app options

Burner. As long as you live in the U.S. or Canada, Burner can provide you with a phone number for calls, texts and voicemail. The nearly 21-year-old app lets you mute, block or approve incoming calls, and it even comes with a Ghostbot feature that will send automatic replies to contacts of your choosing.  

The app supports spam blocking. Keep in mind that calls through your new number on your phone will use up your regular data. Burner expanded its service to work with third-party apps such as Dropbox, Google Sheets and Slack for additional fees. 

Cost. Up to $4.99 a month for one line.  

CoverMe. If covert communication is what you’re looking for, CoverMe hides your phone number with what the company calls “military-grade encryption.” It boasts a secure vault for storing texts and messages and can set messages to self-destruct if needed.  

CoverMe is compatible only if the party on the other line uses the same app.  

Cost. $7.99 a month, $29.99 a year. 

Hushed. Similar to Burner, Hushed gives you access to numbers from more than 40 countries. Those outside the U.S. and Canada come with different rates. It, too, gives you unlimited calls and texts within North America. You can choose from prepaid or pay-as-you-go plans. 

Cost. Free three-day trial using U.S. or Canadian numbers, $4.99 a month.

Line2. Created with independent business owners in mind, Line2 offers a more professional approach to a burner number. With unlimited calls throughout the U.S. and Canada, Line2 lets you add a second number to your phone and set up conference calls, a toll-free number and even an automatic attendant to answer and direct calls.  

It can be a temporary alternative or a full-time business line. You can connect to calls via your Mac or PC, too.  

Cost. Starting at $15.99 a month. 

Phoner. This service not only lets you access a second phone number but also gives you the option of getting multiple phone numbers so you can compartmentalize communication associated with a job, selling items or your social life. You can keep the number long term or just use it for a brief time. Numbers are available for more than 30 countries. 

Cost. Free three-day trial, $9.99 a month. 

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Smart speakers work, too  

Your favorite smart speaker from Amazon or Google also can help you make anonymous calls.

With Google Assistant, the recipient will see only the words “private number” or “anonymous” show up on caller ID. Amazon says Alexa’s default is to show the phone number you registered on its app as your caller ID, but you can change that in the Alexa app.  

Using your voice, you can dial any 10-digit number in the U.S. and Canada. With Amazon devices, you also can call Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom and other international locales using its country code. 

You have a few ways to do it: 

First, say the wake word, “Alexa” for Amazon devices or “OK, Google” for Google Home speakers. Then say “call” or “dial” followed by the 10-digit number. If a person is among your smartphone’s contacts, you can say “Call John Smith,” “Call Mary Jones” or “Call Dad,” making sure that you use the name you’ve typed into contacts. 

Or call a business, even if you don’t know the specific address, by saying something like “Call the Home Depot near First and Third streets,” and that will work. Be cautioned that you may be unable to respond to voicemail prompts after you’ve reached the main number.