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Part of the complete guide to virtual numbers

How to get a second phone number

There are four ways: a second carrier line, Google Voice, a business phone app, or a virtual number online. For privacy or a number in another country, a virtual number is the cheapest, from $0.99 a month. A carrier line wins only when it has to work with no internet. Find yours:

Updated September 28, 2026 · SimVala editorial

Compare the 4 ways

Which second number fits you?

What is it for?
Where do you live?
  • A virtual number (SimVala)$11.88 a year

    Online, on the phone you have. No ID, paid in crypto.

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  • A second carrier line$180.00 a year

    A second SIM or eSIM plan on a dual-SIM phone. In many countries it needs ID.

  • Google VoiceFree

    Not available: personal accounts are US only.

  • A business phone app$180.00 a year

    Per-user plans with team features, billed to a card.

First-year costs. Carrier example: Mint Mobile's cheapest plan, $180 a year (WhistleOut, June 2026). App example: Quo Starter, $15 a user a month billed yearly. Ours: a US number at list price.

Why people get a second number

  • Dating and marketplaces

    Strangers get the second number, never the real one.

  • A side business

    Customers call one number, friends call another.

  • Sign-ups and spam

    Apps and shops that sell or leak numbers never get yours.

  • Travel and moving abroad

    A local number in the country you are visiting or moving to.

The 4 ways, explained

1. A second carrier line

Most phones sold in the last few years are dual SIM: they hold two lines, a physical SIM and an eSIM, or two eSIMs. Carriers sell a second line or a "second number" add-on for it. It works on the mobile network with no internet, which is its big advantage. The catches: a monthly plan, and in many countries the SIM must be registered to your ID. Our dual SIM guide shows how two lines work together.

2. Google Voice

A free US number in an app. The best free option if you live in the US, but personal accounts are US only, you need an existing US number to sign up, and an unused number can be taken back. Our guide to free virtual numbers covers the free options in detail.

3. A business phone app

Apps built for teams, with call routing, voicemail, and shared inboxes. Great for a business with staff, but priced per user, around $15 to $19 a month for the cheapest plans, and paid by card. More in our business phone number guide.

4. A virtual number online

A real number that lives online: calls and texts arrive in a dashboard on the phone you already have. At SimVala you pick from 204 countries, pay in crypto, and give no email or ID. It needs data or Wi-Fi, and some strict apps refuse virtual numbers, but it is the cheapest private option by far.

How to get a second number with SimVala

  1. 1Pick a countryAny of 204, wherever you live.
  2. 2Top up with cryptoAny of nine coins, from $20. No card, email, or ID.
  3. 3Rent the numberMonthly, or yearly for less. It shows up in your dashboard right away.
  4. 4Give it outCalls and texts arrive in your dashboard. Your real number stays private.

Keep reading

Full guideAnonymous phone numberFour ways to keep your number private.Full guideFree virtual numberThe real free options, and their catches.Full guideBurner phonesWhat they are, and when you need one.Full guideDual SIM with eSIMTwo lines on one phone.

Sources

Checked on 2026-09-28. Carrier and app prices change, so check before you buy.

Second phone numbers, answered

How do I get a second phone number?+

Four ways: add a second carrier line on a dual-SIM phone, use Google Voice if you live in the US, use a business phone app, or rent a virtual number online. For most people, a virtual number is the cheapest private option.

Can I have two phone numbers on one phone?+

Yes. A dual-SIM phone can hold two carrier lines, one physical SIM and one eSIM or two eSIMs. A virtual number or an app adds a second number without a second SIM at all.

What is the best second number app?+

It depends. Google Voice is free for people in the US. Business phone apps suit teams. For privacy and numbers in other countries, a virtual number you can pay for with crypto and no ID is the most private.

Is there a free second phone number?+

In the US, Google Voice is free, and TextNow offers free numbers in North America if you use them often. Elsewhere, free numbers are usually public websites that anyone can read.

How much does a second phone number cost?+

A carrier line on a budget plan is around $180 a year, for example Mint Mobile's cheapest plan. A virtual number at SimVala starts at $0.99 a month, and a US number is $11.88 a year.

Can I get a second number from another country?+

Yes, with a virtual number. You can rent a local number in 204 countries, wherever you live.

Will a second number work without internet?+

A carrier line works on the mobile network alone. A virtual number or an app needs data or Wi-Fi, which your main line or a travel eSIM can provide.

Do I need a second phone?+

No. A dual-SIM phone, an app, or a virtual number puts the second number on the phone you already carry.

A second number, no second phone

Numbers in 204 countries from $0.99 a month. Pay in crypto, no card, no email, no ID.

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