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. 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.
How to get a second phone number in 3 steps
You can create a second phone number with Quo to use on your computer and smartphone in three simple steps:
- Sign up for an account with Quo, formerly OpenPhone. When you sign up, you can try out Quo free for seven days.
- 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.
- 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.
You now have a virtual phone number. If you need help during the signup process, fill out this form to reach our support team.
Why you might need to get a second phone number
Not yet convinced you need a second phone number?
Here are five 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. 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.
5. 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:
- Call and text from your preferred device, like your phone, computer, or tablet.
- Choose a toll-free, local US, or Canadian number instantly. Or easily port in your existing one.
- Get unlimited calling, SMS, and MMS across the US and Canada.
- 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 texts 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.
Get started 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.
FAQs
A second number is an additional number you can use on the same device, alongside your primary one. It lets you separate personal and business communications without needing to get a second device or change your number.
Quo offers a second phone number with pricing starting at $15 per month. It includes features like call forwarding, texting, auto-replies, and integrations designed for business use.
Second phone number apps like Quo use VoIP technology to route your calls and texts over the internet instead of your SIM card. You choose a new number, then use it on your phone, computer, or tablet through the app or desktop version.
Simply open the app to make calls or send messages — just like you would with a regular phone number. VoIP services eliminate the need for an extra device or mobile data plan.
You can get a free phone number through Google by signing up for a personal Google Voice account in the US. Unfortunately, free Google numbers aren’t available internationally. You also won’t be able to add more than one Google Voice number per account on the free version.
You can get a second phone number for free with apps like TextNow and 2ndLine. But these free apps lack business features like number sharing, which are crucial for growing businesses. They might also not offer the same level of security that business phone apps do.
Paid second number apps typically cost $10–$50 per month, depending on the provider. Quo offers one of the best values, starting at $15 per month. You get key business features like call recording, shared numbers, and auto-replies without extra fees.
The best second phone number app for businesses can depend on your team’s use case. That said, for many growing businesses, the top solution is Quo. We’re admittedly biased. But over 90,000 professionals use our platform for its shared inboxes, automations, and easy-to-use interface.
For personal use, Burner and Hushed are great second phone number app options. They’re easy to use, affordable, and may have the features you need. For example, they offer call forwarding, SMS auto-replies, and custom voicemail greetings.
We take a lot of pride in delivering a secure and reliable product and protecting our customers’ information. We store your data on Quo for as long as you need it, and we’re compliant with privacy and security principles like:
– The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR
– The California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA
– SOC 2 Type II
– HIPAA on our Business and Scale plans
An alternate number is a second phone number that functions as an alternative to a person’s primary phone number. Businesses can have an alternate number to forward calls after business hours or as a backup if they’re in the middle of an emergency. Individuals can have an alternate number to keep their personal numbers private. It’s especially useful when communicating with new contacts or businesses.
You can use a virtual number app like Quo to have two numbers on one mobile phone. Your existing number will continue to work for personal calls. Your new number — dedicated to business — will function through the app.
Yes, you can make international calls with many virtual phone number apps. Just know that international minutes aren’t always included in your phone plan. So make sure to check your provider’s rates.
