Best Second Phone Number Apps in 2026

What Makes a Great Second Phone Number App?

If you're looking for the best second phone number app, you're not alone. Millions of people now use a second number to keep business and personal calls separate, protect their privacy on dating apps and marketplaces, or stay reachable while traveling abroad.

But with so many options out there, picking the right app can be overwhelming. Some are free but riddled with ads. Some have great call quality but charge a fortune. Others look promising until you realize they don't support SMS, or only work in one country.

We tested the most popular second phone number apps and compared them on the things that actually matter: call quality, SMS reliability, pricing transparency, privacy, and ease of setup. Here's what we found.

The 6 Best Second Phone Number Apps

1. TINE — Best Overall

TINE is a virtual phone number app built for people who want a real, fully functional second number without the complexity. You get a US, UK, or Canadian number with HD voice calls, SMS, and MMS — all from a web app, with mobile apps on the way.

What stands out:

• Instant setup — pick a number and start using it in under a minute
• HD voice calls powered by carrier-grade infrastructure
• Full SMS and MMS support
• Works from any device with a browser — phone, tablet, laptop
• Team features for shared numbers and member management
• Developer API for programmatic access
• No contracts, cancel anytime

Pricing: Plans start at $5/month for one number, with pay-as-you-go rates for calls and texts. Credit top-ups start at $5.

Best for: Anyone who wants a reliable second number with clean UX, fair pricing, and no gimmicks.

2. Google Voice — Best Free Option (With Caveats)

Google Voice has been around for over a decade and gives you a free US phone number. It integrates with the Google ecosystem and works on web and mobile.

Pros:

• Free
• Voicemail transcription
• Call forwarding to your real number
• Web and mobile apps

Cons:

• US numbers only — no international options
• Limited MMS support
• Requires a Google account tied to your identity
• No team or business features
• Google has a history of discontinuing products without much warning

Pricing: Free for personal use.

Best for: Casual US-only use where you don't mind limited features and tying the number to your Google identity.

3. Hushed — Best for Temporary Numbers

Hushed lets you create multiple phone numbers across the US, Canada, and the UK. It's popular with people who need disposable numbers for short-term use like selling items online or signing up for services.

Pros:

• Numbers in 300+ area codes
• Multiple numbers on one account
• Prepaid credit system — pay only for what you use
• Auto-reply and voicemail features

Cons:

• Call quality can be inconsistent on weaker connections
• Numbers may be recycled from previous users
• Interface feels dated compared to newer apps
• Limited customer support

Pricing: Plans start around $5/month, with pay-per-use options starting at $2 for 7 days.

Best for: People who need short-term, disposable numbers and don't mind a less polished experience.

4. Burner — Best Known Name

Burner is one of the original second phone number apps. It popularized the concept of "burner numbers" — temporary numbers you can create and destroy at will.

Pros:

• Easy to create and discard numbers
• Clean interface
• Integrates with Slack, Dropbox, and other tools
• Auto-reply and do-not-disturb features

Cons:

• Expensive — $5/month gets you just one line with limited credits
• Full-featured plans run $13-25/month
• Numbers expire if your subscription lapses
• MMS support is spotty
• US and Canadian numbers only

Pricing: Starts at around $5/month for a single basic line. Premium plans with more features cost $13-25/month.

Best for: People who specifically need throwaway numbers they can rotate frequently and don't mind paying more for the convenience.

5. TextNow — Best Budget Option

TextNow offers a free US or Canadian phone number with ad-supported calls and texts over Wi-Fi. It's essentially a free phone service, but the trade-off is ads and limited reliability.

Pros:

• Free tier available
• Ad-supported calls and texts
• Affordable SIM card option for cellular backup
• Voicemail included

Cons:

• Heavy ads on the free tier
• Call quality is inconsistent — it's Wi-Fi dependent
• Numbers get recycled if you're inactive for too long
• Privacy is weak — ad-supported means your data is the product
• Limited to US and Canada

Pricing: Free with ads. Ad-free plans start at $5/month. SIM card with cellular service runs $10-40/month.

Best for: Budget-conscious users who can tolerate ads and don't need rock-solid reliability.

6. Sideline — Best for Solo Professionals

Sideline gives you a second number that integrates directly with your phone's native dialer. It's aimed at small business owners and freelancers who want a professional line.

Pros:

• Uses your phone's native calling interface
• Business features like auto-reply and business hours
• Professional voicemail greetings
• Team number sharing (on higher plans)

Cons:

• US numbers only
• Requires a cellular connection — no Wi-Fi-only calling
• Monthly cost is higher than most alternatives
• No web app — phone only
• Limited international use

Pricing: Plans start around $10/month.

Best for: Solo professionals who want a second number integrated into their phone's native dialer and don't need web access.

Side-by-Side Comparison

| Feature | TINE | Google Voice | Hushed | Burner | TextNow | Sideline |

|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| Monthly price | $5 | Free | ~$5 | $5-25 | Free-$40 | ~$10 |

| US numbers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

| UK/Canada numbers | Yes | No | Yes | Canada only | Canada only | No |

| HD voice calls | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |

| SMS + MMS | Yes | Limited MMS | Yes | Spotty MMS | Yes | Yes |

| Web app | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |

| Mobile app | Coming soon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

| Team features | Yes | No | No | No | No | Paid |

| Developer API | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |

| No ads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |

| Setup time | Under 1 min | 5-10 min | 2-3 min | 2-3 min | 5-10 min | 5-10 min |

How to Choose the Right App

The best app depends on what you need:

• Best overall experience: TINE — clean setup, fair pricing, HD calls, full SMS, works everywhere
• Need it free and don't care about limitations: Google Voice for US, TextNow if you can handle ads
• Need disposable, rotating numbers: Burner or Hushed
• Solo professional wanting native dialer integration: Sideline
• On a tight budget but need reliability: TINE at $5/month is cheaper than most second phone plans

What to Watch Out For

A few things to keep in mind regardless of which app you pick:

• Hidden costs — some apps advertise a low base price but charge extra for every call and text on top of it. Make sure you understand the full pricing model.
• Number recycling — cheaper services often reuse numbers from previous customers. You might get texts meant for someone else.
• Data privacy — free apps often monetize your data through advertising. If privacy is the reason you want a second number, a free ad-supported app might defeat the purpose.
• Number portability — check whether you can keep your number if you switch apps later. Not all services support porting.

The Bottom Line

You don't need to spend $30-50/month on a second phone plan to have a second number. The apps above give you a real, working phone number on your existing device for a fraction of the cost.

For most people, TINE hits the sweet spot — it's affordable, the call quality is excellent, it works from any device, and you can be up and running in under a minute. But if you have specific needs like a free option or throwaway numbers, the alternatives above have you covered.

Whatever you choose, having a second number is one of the smartest moves you can make for your privacy and productivity. If you want to learn more about the different ways to get a second number, check out our guide on how to get a second phone number without a second phone.