Quick picks:
⚡ Compare at a Glance
| App | Best for | Price from |
| TrueNumber | Mobile number + OTP | $6.99/week |
| Google Voice | Free personal line | Free |
| Quo | Small teams | $15/user/month* |
| Hushed | Multiple private numbers | $6.99/month |
| Burner | Disposable numbers | $7.99/month |
| TextNow | Free calls and texts | Free with ads |
| Sideline | Long-term work line | $14.49/month |
| Line2 | Solo businesses | About $9.99/month |
| Grasshopper | Small-business system | $14/month* |
| Talkroute | Growing businesses | $19/account/month |
*Annual billing. Prices can vary by platform, region, and taxes.
🏆 1. TrueNumber — Best for Verification Codes
Best for: OTPs, private calls, and texts · Price: $6.99/week, $17.99/month, or $119.99/year
TrueNumber uses real US mobile numbers rather than a traditional VoIP-only setup. It supports calls, SMS, MMS, voicemail, and verification codes from 50+ services, including WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, PayPal, and Amazon.
Ratings: OTP ★★★★★ · Privacy ★★★★☆ · Value ★★★★☆ · Business ★★★★★
- ✅ Pro: Stronger verification compatibility without exposing your primary number.
- ⚠️ Con: No emergency calls; inactive numbers may be recycled under its terms.
Verdict: The best choice when verification matters more than getting the cheapest VoIP number.
Get TrueNumber Now — Download the App and Choose Your Private Second Phone Number
🆓 2. Google Voice — Best Free Personal Number
Best for: US personal use · Price: Free; business plans from $10/user/month
Google Voice includes calling, texting, voicemail transcription, spam filtering, and web access. It is mature and easy to use, but its VoIP numbers may be rejected by verification systems.
Ratings: OTP ★★☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★★☆☆ · Value ★★★★★ · Business ★★★☆☆
- ✅ Pro: Excellent free long-term number for US users.
- ⚠️ Con: Limited outside the US and unreliable for OTPs.
👥 3. Quo — Best for Small Teams
Best for: Shared business calls and messages · Price: $15/user/month annually or $19 monthly
Quo, formerly OpenPhone, offers shared numbers, team inboxes, call recording, AI summaries, and CRM integrations. It has about 4.7/5 from more than 3,300 G2 reviews.
Ratings: OTP ★☆☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★★☆☆ · Value ★★★☆☆ · Business ★★★★★
- ✅ Pro: Excellent collaboration and integrations.
- ⚠️ Con: Per-user pricing and carrier messaging fees add up.
🔒 4. Hushed — Best for Multiple Private Numbers
Best for: Dating, travel, and online selling · Price: From $6.99/month
Hushed offers US, Canadian, and UK numbers across 300+ area codes. It supports multiple numbers, calls, SMS/MMS, voicemail, auto-replies, and forwarding.
Ratings: OTP ★★☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★★★☆ · Value ★★★★☆ · Business ★★☆☆☆
- ✅ Pro: Flexible unlimited, prepaid, and pay-as-you-go plans.
- ⚠️ Con: Strong App Store rating but weak Trustpilot feedback about accounts and lost numbers.
🔥 5. Burner — Best Disposable Number
Best for: Short-term privacy · Price: $7.99/month or $47.99/year on the web
Burner makes it easy to create a private number and discard it later. Standard plans include unlimited calls, texts, and MMS; verified and Dual SIM numbers are separate products.
Ratings: OTP ★★☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★★★★ · Value ★★★★☆ · Business ★★☆☆☆
- ✅ Pro: Best number-lifecycle controls for temporary use.
- ⚠️ Con: Verification requires a separate plan, increasing the cost.
💬 6. TextNow — Best Free Calls and Texts
Best for: Budget users · Price: Free with ads
TextNow provides free North American calls and texts over Wi-Fi, with optional SIM/eSIM and data plans. It has 100 million+ Google Play downloads, but inactive free numbers can be reassigned.
Ratings: OTP ★★☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★☆☆☆ · Value ★★★★★ · Business ★★☆☆☆
- ✅ Pro: One of the most useful genuinely free options.
- ⚠️ Con: Ads, recycled numbers, and inconsistent verification support.
💼 7. Sideline — Best Long-Term Work Line
Best for: Freelancers and contractors · Price: $14.49/month or $129.99/year
Sideline normally uses your existing carrier voice network and adds business texting, voicemail-to-text, auto-replies, and number porting. Its App Store rating is about 4.4/5 from 15,000 ratings.
Ratings: OTP ★★★☆☆ · Privacy ★★★☆☆ · Value ★★★☆☆ · Business ★★★★☆
- ✅ Pro: Familiar carrier-based calling for an ongoing work number.
- ⚠️ Con: Costs more than basic apps and has limited team tools.
📱 8. Line2 — Best Traditional Solo-Business Line
Best for: Solo entrepreneurs · Price: About $9.99–$19.99/month
Line2 includes US and Canadian calling, texting, voicemail, forwarding, recording, and desktop access. Its iOS rating is about 4.4/5, but Google Play is much lower at roughly 3.1/5.
Ratings: OTP ★★☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★★☆☆ · Value ★★★☆☆ · Business ★★★☆☆
- ✅ Pro: Solid basic features across phones and computers.
- ⚠️ Con: Uneven reliability reviews and inconsistent pricing.
☎️ 9. Grasshopper — Best Simple Business System
Best for: Small companies · Price: From $14/month annually
Grasshopper provides local, toll-free, and vanity numbers with extensions, custom greetings, forwarding, and voicemail transcription. Some plans include unlimited users.
Ratings: OTP ★☆☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★★☆☆ · Value ★★★★☆ · Business ★★★★☆
- ✅ Pro: Professional business setup without extra hardware.
- ⚠️ Con: Fewer integrations and mixed feedback on call quality and support.
📈 10. Talkroute — Best for Growing Businesses
Best for: Multi-user business calling · Price: $19–$59/account/month
Talkroute includes call menus, routing, extensions, recording, reporting, SMS/MMS, and mobile, desktop, and web apps. Pro includes 10 users and three numbers for $59 per month.
Ratings: OTP ★☆☆☆☆ · Privacy ★★★☆☆ · Value ★★★★☆ · Business ★★★★★
- ✅ Pro: Strong account-based value for growing teams.
- ⚠️ Con: Too complex for personal use; AI and bulk texting cost extra.
🧭 Which App Should You Choose?
- Need verification codes? Choose TrueNumber.
- Need a free US number? Choose Google Voice.
- Need a disposable number? Choose Burner.
- Need several private numbers? Choose Hushed.
- Need a shared team inbox? Choose Quo.
- Need a full business phone system? Choose Talkroute or Grasshopper, or TrueNumber.
❓ Quick FAQs
Which app is best for verification codes?
TrueNumber is our top choice because it uses real US mobile numbers and supports OTPs from 50+ services. Final acceptance always depends on the service requesting the code.
What is the best free second number app?
Google Voice is best for a long-term US personal number. TextNow is better for free calling and texting but contains ads and may recycle inactive numbers.
Can these apps call 911?
Many second number apps do not support emergency calling. Keep your primary carrier line available for emergencies.
✅ Get a Real Second Number with TrueNumber
Use a real US mobile number for supported verification codes, private calls, SMS, and MMS—without another phone or physical SIM.
