Some of the most popular second phone number apps include: Generally, your second phone number is temporary if you are using these apps’ free option, but you can keep it indefinitely if you subscribe to a paid plan. Nearly all of these services also have other features, like a separate voicemail service, call forwarding, and in some cases, cheap international rates. These calls do count against your phone plan, and while no information about whom you have called or who has called you will appear on your phone bill, it will show all the phone calls you have made to or received from Burner. When someone calls you, the Burner server will send a notification to your phone that you are receiving a call, and then you will connect to the call via the Burner server. When you make a phone call, you use your standard phone plan to call a Burner server, which then calls your intended recipient. Other apps operate more like a standard call-forwarding service. No information appears on your phone bill about calls to or from the second phone number app.

Some apps handle all communication over the Internet. The most significant difference in the way these apps work is how they connect your second phone number to your smartphone. Since these apps use VoIP, you will need to use your data plan or be connected to a WiFi hotspot for them to work. They have no idea that you’re using a second phone number app. When you call someone or send them an SMS, your second phone number appears on their phone. You can use that number like you would any other phone number: to make or receive phone calls and to send or receive SMS. Once you sign up, the app will assign you one of its phone numbers. These phone numbers are usually from the USA, but some second phone number apps provide phone numbers from different countries as well. However, unlike other VoIP services, like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Skype, a second phone number company has a block of phone numbers that it can assign to its users.

How second phone number apps workĪll second phone number apps use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. However, instead of having to buy a second SIM and register your name and address, a second phone number app assigns it to you, sometimes anonymously. You can make and receive calls and send and receive SMS just like you would with any other phone line. Using a second phone number app, also known as a private phone number app, is like having a second SIM in your phone. We look at how those apps work, when you should consider using one, and how to evaluate them. Second phone number apps let you create burner numbers to give out to unknown contacts so that you can keep your personal number private.

Free burner phone number app