How to get a second phone number in minutes

Ever wish you could separate work and personal calls without carrying two phones?

You might want one to keep your personal number private when using your phone for business calls. Or maybe you need a dedicated business number entirely.

Whether it’s for work, privacy, or convenience, this guide walks you through how to get a second phone number without needing a SIM card or second phone. If you’re looking for a second phone number app for Android or iPhones, you’ll also find a list of must-have features to look for.

4 ways to get a second phone number

Here are a few popular options for getting a second phone number and how they stack up: 

Method	Best for	Cost	Pros	Cons
Free apps	Personal use or temporary needs	$0-$10+ per month	No upfront cost, quick setup	Ads, limited features, unreliable for business
Second number with existing cell carrier	Individuals who want a business number with their carrier	$15-50+ per month	Unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada	Limited business features, can lock you into expensive contract
Dual-SIM phones	Heavy phone users or those with dual-SIM preference	$30-$50+ per month	Works with data, easy to use	Requires compatible phone, managing two plans, limited business phone features
Business virtual phone apps	Small and growing businesses	$15-$50+ per month	Business features, team collaboration, scalable	Internet-dependent, some expensive providers

So, which option is right for you?

• For personal use or short-term needs: Free apps like TextNow or 2nd Line work fine if you don’t mind ads and don’t need to keep the number long-term. They’re great for keeping your real number private when using Facebook Marketplace or dating apps.
• For business communication: Business virtual phone apps are ideal if you need the ability to share numbers with your team, reliable calling and texting, and professional features. Free apps and carrier add-ons don’t have call routing, shared inboxes, CRM integrations, or other tools businesses depend on. 

Already have a second number that isn’t working? Port your existing number to Quo, formerly OpenPhone to keep the number your customers know while upgrading to business features.

How to get a second phone number on Quo in 3 steps

You can create a second phone number with Quo to use on your computer and smartphone in three simple steps:

Get a second phone number in minutes

Try for free

1. Sign up for an account with Quo. When you sign up, you can try out Quo free for seven days. Watch below to get a sneak peek:

2. Pick a phone number. During signup, select your city or area code in the US or Canada to pick your phone number or select a North American toll-free number.
3. Download the app. Pick your preferred plan and complete the signup process. Then, you can download the iOS or Android app to start calling and customizing your phone settings. You can also use Quo on your desktop without downloading an app. If you need help during the signup process, fill out this form to reach our support team

Here’s what our customers have to say about Quo: 

• “We love seeing all the conversation history in one chat and it makes it very easy to remember the details on all the previous calls. Definitely recommended.” — Arif Gozel, Esq., Gozel Law Firm PC
• “Quo has become a real partner in helping us grow our entire team and business.” — Owen Wible, Cornerstone 
• “We’re so confident in saying, ‘Hey everybody, just get on Quo. Save yourself the time, save yourself the hassle.” — Carter Smith, Pink’s Windows

Why you might need to get a second phone number 

Not yet convinced you need a second phone number?

Here are seven reasons why a second phone number can upgrade your business and your personal privacy:

1. Keep your personal phone number private

Getting an alternate phone number means you don’t have to give your personal number to customers. You also don’t have to publish it directly on your website, which means bad actors and spammers can’t scrape your personal details. 

Plus, with separate contact books, you’ll know which phone calls are personal and which are for work. This way, you’ll know exactly how to respond to every incoming call.

2. Balance work and personal time

3 AM on a Wednesday, Thanksgiving night, a slow Sunday afternoon.  When you use a personal phone for work, calls can come through at any time. 

The right second phone number app lets you set working hours so customers know when they can reach you. When you’re unavailable, you can set up a voicemail or call forwarding workflow to keep customers informed. 

With Quo, you can also set up an AI voice agent for after-hours and overflow calls. Sona can take calls 24/7, answer FAQs, and qualify leads so you don’t miss out on potential customers.

3. Share your business number with your team

When you rely on your personal phone, only you can answer calls — which makes it hard for others to help when you’re busy. Getting a separate business number with providers like Quo means you can split the responsibility with your people. 

Shared numbers let you:

• Call and text as a team so there’s always someone to talk to a customer.
• Give everyone on the same number visibility into conversations so nothing gets missed or repeated.
• Use one phone number on two phones so you can stay flexible with who handles calls and when.

4. Keep detailed records without a second device

Unlike second line services or dual-SIM setups with carriers, business phone number apps record calls and generate call transcripts for future use. This helps you track what you’ve promised your customers and maintain a paper trail in case of disputes.

5. Connect your number to your business tools

With the right second phone number provider, you can share your call and message data with your CRM and Slack accounts. This means you don’t have to spend time keeping track of your customer relationships — you can focus on building them instead.

6. Minimize spam and robocalls

Second phone number apps like Quo let you set up IVR to screen calls and filter spam and robocalls. That’s because these automated callers can’t navigate phone menus. 

On Quo, you can also add spam callers to your blocklist. Quo blocks numbers across your entire workspace so you can stomp out robocalls for your whole team.

7. Replace your landline

Landlines may be reliable, but they come with major limitations. You’re stuck in one location, you may pay expensive long-distance fees, and you can’t text customers. A virtual second phone number solves all three problems while letting you and your team work from anywhere.

Why professionals choose Quo for their second number

Quo gives you a flexible, secure way to manage calls and messages without carrying two phones. Here’s why 90,000+ businesses choose Quo to talk to their customers: 

• Work from anywhere without missing calls — switch easily between your phone, computer, or tablet.
• Build a professional image with a toll-free, local US, or Canadian number instantly. Or easily port in your existing one.
• Stop worrying about usage limits — get unlimited calling, SMS, and MMS across the US and Canada.
• Get up and running in minutes — set up without extra hardware, SIM cards, or eSIMs.
• Protect your data with encryption and secure cloud storage. Conversations stay safe even if a device breaks.

Plus, Quo includes all the features growing businesses need to stay connected and professional.

Must-have features to look for in a second phone number

The right features make the difference between a helpful tool and a business headache. Here’s what to look for in the best second phone number app:

Essential collaboration features:                                                               

• Shared team inbox. Collaborate on text messages and calls with full oversight.
• Multiple user access. Let your entire team use the same business number.
• Internal threads. Discuss customers behind the scenes and assign tasks without switching apps.

Professional communication tools: 

• Auto-reply texts. Respond instantly, even when you can’t answer.
• Custom voicemail greetings. Make great first impressions with personalized messages.
• Call recording. Keep records for training, compliance, and follow-up.
• Call summaries and transcripts. Review what was said and follow up on next steps.
• IVR. Improve call routing and reduce spam and robocalls.

Integration and workflow features:

• CRM connections. Sync call and message data with tools you already use so you don’t waste time keeping track of customer relationships. Quo natively integrates with CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Jobber, with more to come.
• Workflow automation. Connect with Zapier, Make, and other productivity tools to speed up repetitive tasks.

Reliable support when you need it:

• Responsive customer service. Get quick, helpful support from real people when you run into an issue or need help setting something up.
• Proven uptime. Count on consistent performance with reliable uptime and a public status page so you always know your system’s running smoothly.
• Number porting. Bring your existing business number if you switch providers. This feature became available after the FCC expanded Local Number Portability to VoIP.

Start using your second phone number with Quo

As a growing business owner, getting a second phone number is a simple way to keep your business communication organized. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools you can use to get a second number and call without a SIM card.

Quo is the best small business phone system and the easiest way to add a work number to your existing phone number on iOS, Android, or desktop. But it doesn’t end with an extra number. Quo also gives you advanced features to help you close more sales, support customers, and grow your business.

Ready to see how Quo can transform business communications? Get started today with our seven-day free trial.

Frequently asked questions about second phone numbers