The best second phone number apps in 2026, compared

A second phone number keeps your personal number private, separates work from life, or gives you a number in another country. In 2026 you no longer need a second phone for it: apps and browser‑based services give you a second line on the devices you already own. But they differ a lot on where they work, which countries they cover, what they ask for at sign‑up and what they cost.

We compared eight popular services on those points, using their public websites, help centers and app store listings in October 2026. Full disclosure: we make HeyNum, one of the eight. We’ve tried to be fair, and we say plainly when another service is the better choice.

Quick picks

• A free US number, if you live in the US: Google Voice — it needs an existing US number.
• A free number if you don’t mind ads: TextNow, built for people in the US.
• A number on your computer and your phone, in 19 countries, with no ID: HeyNum, from $5.79 a month.
• Private numbers plus private email in one app: MySudo, for the US, Canada and the UK.
• The most countries in one app: Numero, with 39 countries listed.
• A disposable US or Canadian number on your phone: Burner or Hushed.
• A French‑made second‑number app: Onoff, with a native app and 15 countries listed.

Second phone number apps compared

Prices and coverage as published by each service in October 2026; they change, so check before you buy.

HeyNum: a real mobile number in your browser

HeyNum gives you a genuine mobile number — not a landline — in 19 countries, including the US, the UK, France, Canada and Brazil. You use it in any browser on your computer, tablet or phone, with nothing to install, and you can add it to your home screen like an app. Every number includes 1,000 minutes and 1,000 texts a month to its country, unlimited incoming calls and texts, voicemail with transcripts and call forwarding.

• Choose it if you want to call and text from a computer as well as a phone, need a number outside North America, or would rather not share ID: an email address is enough, and you pay in Bitcoin, Ethereum or USDT.
• Watch out for: no bank cards yet, no emergency calls, and you can’t bring an existing number to HeyNum.

From $5.79 a month, the same price wherever you live. See all 19 countries.

Google Voice: free, for people in the US

Google Voice gives people in the US a free US number for calls and texts, in the browser and in its apps. It’s excellent if you qualify — but personal accounts need an existing US number, and Google asks for your legal name, address and a government ID for a new number. Numbers can be reclaimed after a period of inactivity.

• Choose it if you live in the US, already have a US mobile number and want a free number for occasional calls.
• Watch out for: US numbers only, and it isn’t available to most people outside the US. HeyNum vs Google Voice.

TextNow: free, funded by ads

TextNow gives Americans a free phone number, paid for by ads, with paid options to remove them. It’s a mobile app, with messaging on the web.

• Choose it if you only need a US number, live in the US and don’t mind ads.
• Watch out for: it’s built for people in the US, and the free service depends on ads. HeyNum vs TextNow.

Hushed: private numbers in an app

Hushed is a popular app for private second numbers, mainly in the US, Canada and the UK, sold as subscriptions and prepaid packages. Most numbers don’t require identity checks.

• Choose it if you only need a US, Canadian or UK number, prefer short prepaid packages and use your phone rather than a computer.
• Watch out for: limited use on a computer, and few countries outside North America and the UK. HeyNum vs Hushed.

Burner: disposable US and Canadian numbers

Burner offers disposable US and Canadian numbers in a mobile app, with integrations with some business tools. To sign up, you verify your existing phone number by SMS.

• Choose it if you only need a US or Canadian number on your phone and want to connect it to a few third‑party tools.
• Watch out for: phone app only, North America only, and your existing number is needed to sign up. HeyNum vs Burner.

MySudo: a privacy toolkit

MySudo bundles phone numbers with private email and other privacy tools, in “Sudo” profiles. Numbers come from the US, Canada and the UK; plans start at $1.99 a month with 30 minutes and 100 messages, and UK numbers require proof of legal identity.

• Choose it if you want private emails and other privacy tools in the same app, and a number in the US, Canada or the UK.
• Watch out for: small allowances on the entry plan, and the desktop app is set up through your phone. HeyNum vs MySudo.

Onoff: a second‑number app from France

Onoff is a well‑known second‑number app with native iOS and Android apps, 15 countries listed and plans from €6.75 a month; its web app is a Premium option at €2.99 a month more. It also offers business landline numbers.

• Choose it if you want a native app tightly integrated with your phone’s contacts, or need a business landline.
• Watch out for: US numbers weren’t listed on its offers page, and browser access costs extra. HeyNum vs Onoff.

Numero: the most countries in one app

Numero sells virtual numbers in 39 countries through its mobile app, alongside travel eSIMs, from €4 a month. Some countries require identity documents, flagged before purchase.

• Choose it if you need a number in a country other services don’t offer, and you’re happy to manage it in a mobile app.
• Watch out for: identity documents for some countries, and an app‑only experience. HeyNum vs Numero.

How to choose a second phone number app

1. Which country must the number come from? Free services are US‑only. For Europe, Latin America, Israel or New Zealand, look at HeyNum or Numero.
2. Where will you use it? On a computer as well as a phone, a browser‑based service like HeyNum or Google Voice is easiest; most others are phone apps.
3. What will you share to sign up? Some services need your existing number (Burner, Google Voice) or identity documents for some countries (Google Voice for new numbers, MySudo for UK numbers, Numero for some countries). HeyNum only asks for an email address.
4. How much will you use it? Compare monthly allowances, not just entry prices: an entry plan with 30 minutes isn’t the same as one with 1,000.
5. Will you receive verification codes? Apps and websites set their own rules, and some refuse numbers they see as virtual. Real mobile numbers are accepted more often — see why some services reject virtual numbers.

Questions about second phone number apps

What is the best second phone number app?

It depends on your situation. If you live in the US and want a free number, Google Voice or TextNow. If you want a number in Europe or another country, used on your computer as well as your phone, with no ID, HeyNum. For the widest choice of countries in an app, Numero.

Is there a free second phone number app?

Yes, in the US: Google Voice is free for personal use if you already have a US number, and TextNow is free with ads. Outside the US, second numbers are usually paid.

Can I get a second number without installing an app?

Yes. Browser‑based services like HeyNum work in any web browser, and Google Voice also has a web version. Most other services are phone apps.

Which second number services don’t need ID?

HeyNum only asks for an email address, in all 19 countries. Hushed doesn’t require identity checks for most numbers. Google Voice asks for ID for a new number, MySudo for UK numbers and Numero for some countries, and Burner needs your existing phone number.

Written by the HeyNum team. We build HeyNum, a service that gives you a real mobile number in your browser. We write about privacy, second numbers and staying reachable — and we're upfront when we mention our own product.