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.
12 Best second phone number apps
Not sure which app is right for you? Here’s how the top second phone number apps compare:
| Tool name | Starting price | Best for | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quo | $15 per user per month | Growing businesses | Unlimited calling and texting, shared phone numbers, call recording and transcripts, 8,000+ integrations |
| Google Voice | $10 per user per month | Businesses using Google Workspace | Unlimited texting in the US, auto-attendant with an upgrade, integration with Google products |
| TextNow | Free | Individuals looking for a free calling and texting app | Calling and texting, possibility to purchase eSIM, scheduled messages on iPhone |
| Burner | $6.99 per number per month | Temporary personal numbers | Text messaging auto-replies |
| Hushed | $4.99 per month | Individuals making international calls | Voicemail greeting, call routing, auto-replies |
| Line2 | $7.99 per month | Basic business phone features | Voicemail transcriptions and recording, call forwarding |
| Dialpad | $15 per user per month | Large contact centers | Video meetings, call recording and transcripts, CRM integrations |
| Ooma | $19.95 per user per month | Calling Mexico and Puerto Rico | Unlimited calls to Mexico and Puerto Rico, desk phone, digital fax |
| Grasshopper | $14 per month | Phone number extensions | Phone number extensions, voicemail transcriptions and greetings, IVR |
| Sideline | $14.49 per month | Businesses that mainly communicate through text | Verification code support, group messaging, auto-replies, business hour settings |
| 2Number | Not publicly available | Verification purposes | International numbers available, international calling to 100+ countries, business hours voicemail |
| eVoice | $14 per month | Having a live receptionist | Live receptionist as an add-on, virtual fax, usage reports, caller ID, time-based routing |
🔍Want a full breakdown of these providers? Check out our guide to the 12 Best second phone number apps.
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:
- 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:
- 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. 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
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 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.
Since calls and texts travel over your internet connection rather than a cellular network, you don’t need a SIM card to use second phone number apps like Quo. Instead, they use VoIP technology to route your calls and texts over WiFi. 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, mobile data plan, or to change your number.
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.
A dual SIM phone requires two carrier plans and typically doesn’t come with business features like call recording, shared numbers, or auto-attendants. A second phone number app is simpler to set up and manage and has all the features a growing business actually needs.
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. 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.
Privacy varies by provider, so it’s worth checking what data they collect and how they store it. We store your data on Quo for as long as you need it, and we’re compliant with privacy and security standards including:
– 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
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.
Setting up a second line on your Android smartphone is a simple process with Quo:
1. Create an account with Quo by using your email address or Google account.
2. Pick your preferred phone number.
3. Finish the sign-up process, and the number is yours.
Once you’re done, you’re all set to download the Quo Android app from the Google Play Store.
It’s easy to set up a secondary number on your iPhone with Quo:
1. Sign up for a Quo account using your email.
2. Choose your new phone number.
3. Complete the sign-up process, and your second number is ready to use.
After that, simply download the Quo app from the App Store, and you’re ready to make calls, send texts, and manage both numbers from one device.
Integrations depend on the second number app. For example, Quo integrates natively with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Jobber, and connects with Zapier and Make to automate workflows with thousands of other tools.
