How to get a second phone number: 4 options compared (2026)

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.

There are four ways to get a second phone number, and they come down to two technologies. You can get a second phone number through a cellular carrier or a virtual phone provider. Cellular carriers offer second phone numbers through a second SIM card or an eSIM. Virtual phone providers offer virtual numbers that use the internet to transmit calls and texts. They also offer additional features that can save businesses time. Virtual numbers let you make calls without a SIM card. 

In this article, you’ll learn about the ways you can get a second phone number. If you’re looking for a second phone number app for Androids or iPhones, you’ll also find a list of must-have features to look for.

How a second phone number works

A second phone number is an additional number that works on your existing device. It works just like your primary phone number. The only difference is how you make calls and texts with it. 

You can make calls with a second phone number in two ways: internet and cellular.

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, numbers make calls and send texts over the internet. They convert voice signals into digital packets and use an internet connection to facilitate conversations. These numbers don’t require an extra SIM card and they can work across multiple devices simultaneously. They’re virtual numbers since they aren’t tied to a physical device. 

Cellular numbers make calls over traditional cell networks. Similar to your personal number, they require a SIM card to connect to a carrier network. Cell numbers are a great option if you need a second number for personal use. However, they aren’t the best option if you need to share a second number with your team. 

Scroll down to learn about the different ways you can get a second phone number in minutes.

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:

1. Sign up for an account with Quo. When you sign up, you can try Quo for 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 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, submit a request to reach our support team.

See how easy it is to create a Quo account in this video:

Don’t take our word for it. Over 90,000 businesses use Quo as their business phone provider. We’re rated #1 on G2 for customer satisfaction.

Four 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
Dual-SIM phones	Heavy phone users or those with dual-SIM preference	$10–100 per month	Works with data, easy to use	Requires compatible phone, managing two plans, limited business phone features
Second number with existing cell carrier	Individuals who want a business number with their carrier	$10–50+ per month	Unlimited calling and texting in the US, Mexico, andCanada	Limited business features, can lock you into expensive contract, also requires dual SIM
Business virtual phone apps	Small and growing businesses	$15–50+ per month	Business features, team collaboration, scalable	Internet-dependent, some expensive providers

Here are a few more details on each of these options to help you decide:

1. Free apps: Best for personal use

If you’re looking to try a second phone number, a free app is a solid option to see if it’s right for you.

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 phone number private when using Facebook Marketplace or dating apps. They help you block spam calls and telemarketing notifications, too. You can pick and choose temporary numbers based on your needs. You aren’t tied to a single number for the long term. 

The problem with free apps is they aren’t built to scale. If you want to use a free phone service for your business, you’ll quickly find they fall short. You can’t share your second number, split responsibility for incoming calls and texts, or integrate with third-party apps. You should also know that free doesn’t always mean free. When TextNow shows you ads between your calls, it slows down your productivity. If you don’t want ads, you have to upgrade to its paid plan.

2. Business virtual number apps: Best for businesses

Business virtual phone apps are ideal if you need to share phone numbers with your team. They’re also a great option for managing customer relationships and scaling communications as you grow.

Teams usually realize they need a business virtual phone when they invite their colleagues. Free apps don’t let teams share the same phone number. You can’t collaborate on incoming calls and texts.

With business virtual phone apps, your team communicates with customers using the same phone number. They can use their existing devices to access business virtual phone apps. They just need to log in to your workspace to start making voice calls. 

Free apps and carrier add-ons don’t have call routing, shared inboxes, CRM integrations, or other tools businesses depend on. That’s where business phone apps step in. The best part is they’re available at a low cost. For example, Quo starts at $15 per user per month. 

Already have a second number? You can move your number to a business virtual phone to continue using it. Free apps don’t let you port your existing numbers. Port your existing number to Quo to keep the number your customers know while upgrading to business features.

3. Second number with existing carrier: Best for separating work and personal numbers

If you run a business in an office and want to bundle your phone and internet plan, this option can work for you. Internet providers like AT&T and Verizon offer deals on their phone and internet plans. You can get multiple phone lines at a discount with your internet plan. 

Alternatively, you can add a second phone number to your existing mobile plan. Verizon provides this through its Second Number offering, which starts at $10 per number per month. You pay for it as an additional line item in your monthly phone bill. 

The drawback of this approach? Cell carriers offer limited features in these types of second phone numbers:

• No collaboration features. They don’t prioritize features like shared numbers or CRM integrations. 
• No AI summaries and transcripts. Teams have to take notes manually, which adds work during calls. 
• No  AI voice agents. They don’t offer 24/7 voice agents, which leads to missed calls after business hours. 

Another drawback is that this option often requires a dual SIM capable device. With Verizon Second Number, this is an explicit requirement to make use of this feature. This can limit your ability to add a second number if you don’t already have this type of device.

4. Dual SIM phones: Best for a second personal number

If you want two phone numbers but don’t want to deal with ads, a dual SIM phone is for you. They mimic the experience of having a second personal number. What makes this option different from the previous one is you can combine SIM cards from different providers in the same device.  Then you can add a second physical SIM to your dual SIM device. Many smartphones now let you add multiple SIMs to your phone with eSIMs. 

The drawback with dual SIM or multi-SIM phones is similar to free apps: they aren’t built for business communications. You can’t share dual SIM or eSIM numbers with your team. You also can’t view your team communications in a shared inbox or log calls and texts with your CRM. It also lacks automated texting and any advanced AI features. 

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.

For example, when a Quo contact calls you, you know that it’s a work call in your caller ID. No more guessing the context behind a call. You can answer calls with confidence and pick up the conversation where you left off. 

2. Balance work and personal time

3 a.m. 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. 

Here’s what teams have to say about using Quo to separate their business and personal time:

“The absolute best part about Quo is how easily it lets me keep my business and personal life completely separate. I don’t have to carry around a second physical work phone or deal with a confusing, clunky setup.” — Quo review on G2

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. This makes it hard for your team to help when you’re busy. Getting a separate business number with providers like Quo means you can split the responsibility with your staff.

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. As the team grows, you can give each person their own line too.
• 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.

What a second phone number actually costs

A second phone number can cost anywhere from $0 to around $50 per month. The difference in prices depends on which provider you choose for your business. 

Here’s a breakdown of how much each second phone number option costs:

In addition to standard plan pricing, here are a few additional charges to keep in mind:

Number option	Monthly cost	Add-on fees	Revenue model
Free phone numbers	$0	$0	Advertising. Your attention and usage data subsidize the number
Business phone apps	$10–$50	Depends on the feature and provider	Subscription, usage included
Second phone number in carrier plan	$10–$50+	Depends on the feature and provider	Monthly subscription for additional number
Dual SIM	$10–$100	Depends on the feature and provider	Monthly subscription for additional number

• Credit pricing. Some providers charge users per call and per message sent. For example, Zoom Phone’s base plan offers metered calls, which can drive up your monthly phone costs. Check with each provider to see if they offer unlimited calls and SMS messages.
• International calls and texts. You can make international calls with many second 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.

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:                                                               

• Choice of local area codes or toll-free and vanity numbers. Choose local area codes based on your service area. Sign up for vanity numbers that function as additional marketing for your team. 
• Shared team inbox. Collaborate on text messages and calls with full oversight.
• Internal threads. Discuss customers behind the scenes and assign tasks without switching apps.

• 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.
• Third-party integrations. 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.

• 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. The FCC  protects this through its Local Number Portability rules, which also set the timeframe a provider has to complete the transfer. 
• Security and privacy protections. Choose providers that have data privacy safeguards that keep your customer data secure. Here are a few privacy and security standards to look out for:
  • General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. Data privacy regulations mandated by the European Union.
  • California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA. Data privacy regulations mandated by the state of California.
  • SOC 2 Type II. An outside auditor verifies how the provider stores and handles customer data over time.
  • HIPAA compliance. Standard for healthcare practices to protect health and privacy information.

Is a second phone number private and safe?

Depending on your personal experience with second phone numbers, you might wonder if they’re safe to use. After all, if you get a temporary phone number for free, can you be sure that your call and text data isn’t being sold to the highest bidder? 

Here are the most common questions we get about second phone number data privacy and security:

Is a second-number app safe? Safety depends on the provider and how they make money. A free, ad-funded app makes money from your usage. A subscription provider makes money from your monthly subscription. You should know which one you’re using before you put customer conversations through it. 

What separates a business provider is verifiable rather than promised. That includes encryption in transit and at rest, an independent security audit, and a data-handling policy you can read before you sign up.

Can someone look up who owns the number? Some second-number providers market anonymity as a feature, meaning the number is not tied to your name or billing details. That’s useful if you have a temporary number. 

For a business number, it’s usually the opposite of what you want. You want your business number to be tied to your business name and identity. Business providers can program their caller ID so customers can recognize them when a call comes in.

Final verdict: What’s the best way to get a second phone number?

We’ve covered all the different ways you can get a second phone number. So which one is best for you?

• If you need a second number for personal use, go with a free app like TextNow or Google Voice for individuals. 
• If you already have a dual SIM phone and need a second number, sign up for a second number plan with your carrier. 
• If you want to use a second number for a business, use a virtual business phone provider like Quo.

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.

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