7 simple ways to create a burner phone number in seconds

Giving up your personal phone number to telemarketers or during transactions on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist isn’t ideal. Instead of divulging private details to people you don’t know, you can use a burner number. The burner number can protect you from Marketplace scams, spam, and even be used temporarily for online dating apps, subscriptions and calling a blocked number. A burner number doesn’t require a separate SIM card. All it requires is downloading a burner app to your favorite Android tablet or phone, and then you’re good to go.

What is a burner phone number?

A burner phone number is a disposable phone number you create for free or cheaply. You don’t have to sign a contract with your provider or share personal information to get one. The “burning” term means you can discard it after it’s served its purpose, and no one can trace the number back to you since it isn’t registered.

When you toss away your burner number, your provider permanently wipes every text message and voicemail sent from it.

A burner number is useful when a service or online platform requires you to submit phone numbers to receive voice calls or SMS messages.

Depending on the VoIP service, a burner number can make international calls. You can use it as a one-time number to call someone without giving them your real phone number. This procedure makes it different from hiding your caller ID. Your phone number is masked when you hide your caller ID and call someone. The receiver only sees “Unknown caller” or “Private number” on their screen. Since it’s your primary number, you can’t discard it afterward.

VoIP allows for the easy creation of virtual phone numbers using an internet connection instead of analog. You don’t need a new SIM card or phone, although you may need to link your actual number to your account for verification.

Below are the six best phone apps and an alternative to help you get a burner phone number. These apps work on Android and iOS devices.

Your activities while using a burner number are linked to your virtual number operator. A subpoena can erase your anonymity and land you in front of a judge. A VoIP app does not give you free rein to break the law.

1

Google Voice

The best free way to get a burner number

Google Voice is most people’s first choice for creating a burner number because it’s quick and free. You can get a virtual number from the website or the mobile app. You can use this number to call and text anyone in the US without charges, but you can’t customize it.

You can only select from a short list of unclaimed numbers. Then, you’ll select the city and area code you want to use. Not every city is available, so you may be unable to land a local number. You may need to choose a number from a neighboring city or state.

As long as you don’t share this new number or attract attention from law enforcement agents, your Google Voice number remains anonymous.

Google Voice requires you to enter your actual number for verification when you sign up. If you want a temporary phone number, visit the Settings page and delete the number you registered. After deletion, you can choose a new number.

Google Voice is tied to the Workspace app suite, so you’ll need an account. It’s free for personal use, but you must subscribe to a plan if you use your number for business. Also, the app is limited to US residents and Canadians with Google Workspace/G Suite accounts.

2

Burner

The top burner number app

A Burner account gives you access to unlimited texts and phone calls within the US, and it also lets you set up auto-replies, voicemail, and call forwarding. You can create multiple phone numbers and switch between them when calling people. If you don’t want them anymore, you can delete them. The app also blocks phone numbers and offers automatic spam blocking to ignore fake or malicious callers.

Unlike Google Voice, Burner gives you the choice of a local area code, allowing you to reach people in different locations. Also, it allows third-party integration with Slack, Dropbox, SoundCloud, and other platforms for enhanced capabilities. The service comes at a price, but it isn’t a steep one. A seven-day free trial provides access to 20 minutes of talk time and 40 text messages.

When the trial expires, so do your numbers. If you sign up for the service on its website, you can keep your digits by paying $4.99 per month for a single line. Multiple lines cost extra. Burner doubles the pricing if you sign up on the mobile app. However, the app is limited to US and Canadian residents.

3

Hushed

The cheaper burner alternative

Burner’s biggest competition comes from Hushed, a service that outshines it in several ways. Hushed has many similar features, including voicemail call forwarding, auto-replies, and the ability to create multiple phone lines. You can choose from up to 300 area codes in the US, UK, or Canada. These numbers work from anywhere in the world without a SIM card.

Other benefits you may find interesting are unlimited text media and third-party integration with Dropbox and Slack. Hushed offers a pay-as-you-go international plan for $6.99 monthly, prepaid plans starting from $2.99, and unlimited plans from $4.99 to $14.99 per month.

You can set up a voicemail and customize your reply or create automatic bulk replies if you frequently receive voicemails. If an unwanted call comes in, you can forward it to another burner number within the app.

There are some weaknesses. For starters, the service’s trial period is three days, which is four days less than Burner’s trial. Many users also complain about the user interface, which makes it hard to organize or find old text messages, especially if your account has many contacts.

4

Line2

The premiere app for business burner numbers

Maybe you’re not looking for a burner number to keep your dealings private. Perhaps you’re looking for a cheap digital phone service to manage business calls. If that’s the case, try Line2. Line2 takes a more business-centric approach than the other VoIP apps. It’s tailored toward helping professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs receive multiple client calls without a high-end phone system.

Line2 offers many of the standard features found in Burner and Hushed, such as voicemail services, VoIP calls, and text messages. In addition, it provides an auto-attendant, automated greetings, and on-hold music services. The app automatically transcribes voicemails and sends them to your email address for record keeping.

Teleconferencing services are available with up to 20 phone numbers at once. You can choose a toll-free number instead of a local number, boosting your business’ legitimacy in the eyes of potential customers.

Additionally, Line2 offers mobile and desktop apps, including iOS, Mac, and Windows, and you can set up multiple lines with unlimited calls and texts within the US and Canada. ​​​​

There have been complaints about occasional service outages, which is a concern for organizations that can’t afford to miss calls or texts. Still, the app offers everything you usually get when calling a business landline without investing in expensive and professional equipment. These services don’t come cheap, as the pricing for Line2 starts at $15.99 per month.

5

2ndLine

The free, ad-based service

If you don’t want to pay for a burner number and don’t fancy Google Voice, download 2ndLine. The ad-supported app lets you sign up with any email address without verification. Upon signing up, you’ll choose a phone number from a list. It offers a wider range of area codes than Google Voice.

The features within the app are basic. You can text, call, receive calls, and receive voice mails, all with a simple and no-frills user interface. It also offers functional call blocking, call forwarding, and voicemail transcription, which can be handy. There aren’t many options for organizing your calls, and you can only create one phone number. If you need a new burner number, delete the existing one.

The advertisements are omnipresent on the app. A banner ad always occupies the bottom of the screen, and sometimes, advertisements cover the bottom half of your screen. If you want to get rid of the ads, get a premium subscription. The pricing starts at $9.99 per month. 2ndLine is only available on the Google Play Store.

6

Dingtone

The free service with impressive features

Dingtone offers free phone numbers with call and text capabilities. It works over Wi-Fi or your data plan, but you can only make calls within the US and Canada. To make calls to other countries, you must earn credits. Dingtone operates on a credit-based system where users earn or buy credits to use for calls and texts. The app offers various ways to earn free credits, such as watching ads, completing offers, or playing games. Credits can also be purchased through in-app transactions.

Dingtone provides a complimentary phone number with features like call forwarding, voicemail, and the ability to create group chats. It also offers a subscription plan starting at $4.99 per month. This plan gives you access to the full range of features and benefits, including unlimited texts, calls, and pictures.

7

Alternative: Go old-school and grab a prepaid flip phone

Before VoIP services were widespread, the only way to get a burner number was to get a burner phone, a cheap handset with prepaid phone service. It’s more expensive and requires you to lug around an extra phone. Still, it has an advantage. When you pay for the phone and the mobile plan in cash, you have a second phone number that’s hard to tie to your identity. Plus, you can switch out the SIM card when you need a new number instead of getting a new phone.

Look for burner phones in retail stores, including Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. While the rise of burner number apps means that prepaid phones aren’t necessary for most people, the old way still works and is worth considering.

Stay safe with a burner number

Burner numbers provide an effective solution for withholding your phone number and maintaining your privacy. Though the chances of tracking them back to you are low, it isn’t impossible. Law enforcement authorities can monitor you if they obtain call logs, data usage, text messages, and location information from the cellular carrier or virtual number operator.

Use a VPN to avoid tracking when making phone calls with VoIP services. A VPN encrypts the voice traffic, routing your signal and making it difficult for anyone using a network analyzer to hijack and unmask the data. Learn how to install a VPN on an Android phone or Chromebook.

FAQ

Q: Where did the phrase burner phone come from?

Merriam-Webster believes the phrase burner phone first appeared on Kingspin Skinny Pimp’s song “One Life to Live” in 1996. The HBO series “The Wire,” which aired from 2002 to 2008, gets credit for popularizing the phrase.

Q: Can I use a burner number if I don’t have service on my smartphone?

It depends. Many burner phone number apps require an active number. Others may require a phone number to set up your account, but that number does not have to be attached to your smartphone. If you set up a temporary number without a carrier plan, you will need to be on a Wi-Fi network to make or receive calls.

Q: Are burner numbers safe to use?

Burner number apps are generally safe to use, but you should carefully read the terms of service and reviews on the App Store and Google Play Store. Android users can check out the ways Google Play Protect helps keep you safe from malicious apps. Apple uses numerous approaches to protect iPhone users from malicious apps and minimize personal data shared with developers. If in doubt, look for another service.

Q: Are there specific situations where I shouldn’t use a burner number?

Yes, there are times when using a burner number is a bad idea. You should not use a burner number in the event of an emergency as EMS may not have access to your location information. You’ll also want to avoid using burner numbers for two-factor authentication, as you may lose access to the number and some services may not be able to send details to burner numbers.