10 Best Apps for a Second Phone Number (2026)

In an increasingly connected world, protecting your personal privacy and maintaining a professional image are more important than ever. Carrying two physical phones is expensive and cumbersome. Second phone number apps allow you to instantly add a dedicated business line, a temporary number for online selling, or a private line for dating—all operating natively from your existing smartphone.

Modern virtual number applications leverage Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to route calls and texts securely over your cellular data or Wi-Fi. While some services focus purely on temporary anonymity, others provide full-fledged business communication features like CRM integrations and AI voicemails. When handling business or sensitive personal data over these apps, it is wise to understand digital privacy best practices, which are continuously updated by institutions like the NIST Computer Security Resource Center.

We have researched and tested the top virtual phone line providers to bring you the ten best apps for a second phone number, balancing call quality, privacy features, and business utility.

1. OpenPhone

OpenPhone is a modern, deeply collaborative phone app built specifically for startups, small businesses, and freelance teams. It completely separates your personal contacts from your business communications.

Shared Numbers: Multiple team members can share the same business phone number, meaning anyone can jump in and answer an incoming customer text or call.
Unified Inbox: Combines calls, texts, and voicemail transcriptions into a single, continuous, thread-based interface similar to modern messaging apps.
External Reference: Explore their business-focused features directly at OpenPhone.

2. Google Voice

Google Voice is the undisputed heavyweight for individuals seeking a free, reliable secondary number. It is deeply integrated into the Google Workspace ecosystem, making it a natural choice for Android and Gmail users.

Free Tier: Offers a completely free local US phone number for personal use with unlimited calling and texting within the United States.
Intelligent Spam Blocking: Leverages Google's massive data infrastructure to automatically filter out robocalls and known telemarketers.
Voicemail Transcription: Highly accurate voice-to-text transcriptions are sent directly to your email inbox, allowing you to read your voicemails during meetings.

3. Burner

If your primary goal is absolute privacy and temporary communication, Burner is the original and most trusted app on the market. It is perfect for online dating, Craigslist sales, or temporary freelance gigs.

Disposable Numbers: Create a number, use it for as long as you need, and "burn" (delete) it instantly with a single tap to stop incoming communications forever.
Do Not Disturb: Features highly customizable mute functions to ensure your temporary lines do not interrupt you during personal hours.
Auto-Reply Bots: Set up simple text-based bots to automatically respond to inquiries (e.g., sending the dimensions of a couch you are selling online).

4. TextNow

TextNow is unique because it operates as an ad-supported Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). It provides completely free calling and texting without requiring an active carrier plan.

Free Cellular Network: With the purchase of a 99-cent SIM card, you can make calls and texts over a nationwide 5G/4G network entirely for free (supported by in-app ads).
Multiple Devices: Your messages and call history sync flawlessly across your smartphone, tablet, and desktop browser.
Passcode Protection: Includes built-in privacy locks to ensure that your secondary messages cannot be read even if someone unlocks your physical device.

5. Hushed

Hushed excels at providing international privacy. It is a fantastic option for travelers or business owners who need temporary local numbers in different countries without paying exorbitant roaming fees.

Global Numbers: Easily purchase local area codes from the US, Canada, the UK, and over 300 other international dial codes.
Custom Routing: Set up custom voicemail greetings specifically for your secondary numbers to maintain a professional or localized appearance.
No Contract: Pay strictly for prepaid plans (7-day, 30-day, or 90-day options) with zero ongoing commitments or hidden carrier fees.

6. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is essentially a virtual PBX system scaled down into a mobile app. It is explicitly designed for solo entrepreneurs and micro-businesses who want to project the image of a much larger corporation.

Toll-Free Numbers: Instantly add a 1-800 or vanity toll-free number to your mobile phone to build national brand credibility.
Virtual Receptionist: Set up a custom main greeting that asks callers to "Press 1 for Sales or 2 for Support," routing the call seamlessly to your cell phone.
Business Texting: Reply to customer inquiries via SMS using your business number, ensuring your personal cell number remains completely hidden.

7. SLYNUMBER

SLYNUMBER solves a major problem in the secondary number space: verification codes. Because many banks, social media platforms, and delivery apps block traditional VoIP numbers, SLYNUMBER offers actual mobile lines.

Real Mobile Numbers: Operates using authentic mobile numbers rather than standard VoIP lines, guaranteeing that 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) SMS texts will actually arrive.
Anonymity Guarantee: Accounts are not tied to your name, personal address, or identifying data, preventing you from appearing in reverse-lookup databases.
AI Companion: Includes a built-in AI assistant to help you draft messages or analyze texts directly within the application.

8. Dialpad

Dialpad is a robust, AI-driven business communications platform. While heavier than a simple burner app, it is the ultimate second-number application for sales professionals who conduct business entirely from their smartphones.

Live Call Transcriptions: The app actively transcribes your sales calls as you walk, highlighting action items and follow-up tasks automatically.
CRM Integrations: Logs your mobile calls and texts instantly into Salesforce or HubSpot without requiring you to open a laptop.
Seamless Device Flipping: Move an active call from your mobile phone to your desktop computer with a single tap, with zero connection drop.

9. Sideline

Sideline is a straightforward, reliable app heavily favored by independent contractors, real estate agents, and gig workers who need a permanent secondary line strictly for business.

Carrier Network Reliability: Instead of relying entirely on Wi-Fi or data, Sideline uses your existing cellular voice network, ensuring pristine call quality even while driving.
Auto-Reply via Text: If you miss a call while on the job site, Sideline automatically shoots back a custom text message so you don't lose the lead.
Team Number Sharing: Allows you to split a single business number across multiple employee cell phones, ideal for small dispatch operations.

10. Line2

Line2 provides a simple, affordable approach to separating work and life. It is an excellent middle-ground app for users who want more permanence than a Burner number, but fewer enterprise features than Grasshopper.

Simple Interface: Offers an incredibly clean, clutter-free user interface that separates your business texts, calls, and voicemails into a dedicated workspace.
Affordable Pricing: Highly competitive entry-level pricing makes it accessible for weekend freelancers who just need a basic, reliable secondary line.
Call Screening: Robust screening tools allow you to quickly identify if an incoming call is personal or business before you answer.

FAQs

Can I use a second phone number app for WhatsApp or banking verification?
It depends on the app. Many services (like WhatsApp, Tinder, or major banks) block VoIP (Voice over IP) numbers used by apps like Google Voice or Burner. If you need a secondary number specifically for SMS verification codes, you should look for an app that provides "real mobile numbers," such as SLYNUMBER.

Does a second phone number app use my cellular minutes or data?
Most second number apps (like OpenPhone, Burner, and Google Voice) use VoIP, meaning they transmit voice data over your Wi-Fi or cellular data plan. However, some apps like Sideline route calls through your carrier's actual voice network, which will use your standard cellular minutes.

Are burner phone apps actually anonymous?
While apps like Burner and Hushed protect your personal phone number from the person you are calling, they are not entirely untraceable. The app provider still requires an account (and usually a credit card for billing) and is legally obligated to comply with law enforcement subpoenas if the number is used for illicit activity.