How to get a second phone number on your iPhone

Getting a second phone number for your iPhone is a great way to separate business and personal calls. You don’t need a new phone to get an alternate phone number. 

You can add a second phone number to an iPhone in two ways. The first option is to use a virtual phone number app. Download a second-number app, pick a number, and start calling and texting from inside the app. This option takes a few minutes and needs no SIM. The second option is to get an eSIM for your iPhone. Activate a second line as an eSIM in your phone’s settings. 

The biggest difference between these two options is setup time and whether you can share numbers. Virtual phone numbers are easier to set up and can be shared easily with a team. eSIMs take longer to set up and you can’t share an eSIM number with your team. However, eSIM numbers can be used just like a regular mobile number, including for verification codes. This guide will help you narrow down the choices for the best app that lets you get a second phone number on your iPhone for your business. Read on to learn about pricing, key features of the best apps, and more.

How the best second phone number for iPhone apps stack up

Take a quick look at the features of the top apps for getting a second number on your iPhone:

	Starting price	Unlimited calling to US & Canada	SMS/MMS to US & Canada	Shared phone numbers	Additional phone numbers
Quo	$15 per user per month	✔️	✔️	✔️	$5 per number per month
Google Voice	Starts at $10 per month for a single user, $17 per user per month for teams	Unlimited calls to Canada from the US only	US customers only	Requires upgrade, ring groups only	❌
Sideline	$14.49 per month	Unlimited calls in the US only	❌	❌	❌
Burner	$4.99 per month	✔️	✔️	❌	Requires upgrade
Hushed	$63.99 per month for a prepaid subscription	Requires upgrade	✔️	❌	Requires upgrade
Phone.com	$15 per user per month	✔️	Requires upgrade	Ring groups only	$4.99 per number per month
Grasshopper	$14 per month	✔️	Local numbers only	❌	$9 per number per month
Line2	$7.99 per month	✔️	✔️	❌	❌
Verizon Second Number	$15 per number per month for existing customers	✔️	✔️	❌	❌

IIf you want to have two numbers on a single phone, you should assess apps based on whether you need a second number for business versus personal use. Depending on your specific needs, your requirements may vary. We’ll note which of these options are better suited for businesses and which are better for individuals. 

We’ll cover each of these options individually. But first, we’ll highlight which ones are best suited for specific use cases.

Which iPhone second phone number app should you choose? 

Here’s a quick overview of which app to choose depending on your specific needs:

• Choose Verizon Second Number if you need a phone number to use for verification codes and can work without an internet connection.
• Choose Quo if you want to share a business phone number with a team. Handle incoming customer calls and texts together and scale your communications efficiently. 
• Choose Google Voice if you are a single user on Google Workspace and you want to prioritize cost over full-fledged support. 
• Choose Burner or Hushed if you want a temporary number for personal use. 

Breaking down the best second number iPhone apps

Here are the top nine apps to get a second number for iPhones:

1. Quo: Best phone app for growing teams and small businesses

Pros

• Unlimited calls to the US and Canada
• Unlimited texting (SMS and MMS) 
• Shared numbers help your team stay connected
• Call recording on all plans
• AI-powered features to boost your team’s productivity

Cons

• Can’t verify accounts through two-factor authentication*

*Nearly all virtual phone numbers share this problem. For safety reasons, companies like Facebook, Uber, and Google rarely let you authenticate accounts through a virtual phone number.

Quo, formerly OpenPhone, is a VoIP phone system built for small businesses and startups. VoIP refers to Voice over Internet Protocol, which is the infrastructure that allows virtual apps to transmit calls and texts over the internet. Quo is a business phone platform that helps you build relationships with your customers at scale. You can make free calls and texts to US and Canadian numbers. You just have to choose your own local US, Canadian, or toll-free number. Each user on your plan comes with one free phone number, and additional numbers are $5 each per month. Plus, you can share phone numbers with your teammates so anyone available can pick up calls and respond to texts on your behalf. 

With Quo, formerly OpenPhone, you can easily distinguish between personal and business calls, so you’ll always know when it’s a business call. Quo also lets you know which number is receiving an incoming call so that you can tailor your etiquette accordingly. 

Quo gives you dozens of ways to streamline your phone communication. You can use an auto-attendant to route calls to the right person or department. Plus, it lets you host group calls with three-way calling on your iPhone. You’ll also be able to warm transfer calls from your device to another rep. You can set up auto-replies to automatically respond to incoming messages and set expectations for when contacts will hear back from you. 

Want to connect other tools to your business phone solution? You can integrate Quo with business apps like Slack, Make, Jobber, HubSpot, Zapier, and Gmail.

Need help keeping calls organized? QuoOpenPhone uses AI call tags to automatically label calls based on what was discussed. For example, calls might be labeled as “new lead,” “support request,” or “billing issue.” That way, it’s easier to scan your call history and follow up faster.

And if your team misses a call? Sona, Quo’s AI agent, can step in to answer. It can collect caller details, respond to FAQs, and log everything in your CRM, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Want to connect other tools to your business phone solution? You can integrate Quo with business apps like Slack, Make, Jobber, HubSpot, Zapier, and Gmail. And with Quo’s Claude and ChatGPT integrations, you can use your favorite chatbot to analyze your call history. Surface recurring trends about customer behavior, like whether they choose to go with your services. Also, identify frequent issues that come up during and after you deliver your service. 

Don’t just take our word for it. Thousands of businesses like Tupper Butler Law choose Quo to manage all their customer communications:

“I love Quo and that I can have an extra phone number on my iPhone for business purposes without getting a second device. It works perfectly [and] has an easy-to-use user interface.” — Michelle Butler, Founder, Tupper Butler Law

It takes only minutes to get a second phone number with Quo. First, sign up for Quo’s free seven-day trial. Then download the mobile app for iPhone or Android.

Key features of Quo

• Local US and Canadian numbers, and North American toll-free numbers are available
• Free calls and texts — SMS and MMS — in the US and Canada
• Call recordings
• Shared phone numbers
• Auto-replies, snippets, and scheduled text messages
• AI call transcripts and summaries
• Free number porting
• Integrations with apps like Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, Make, and Zapier

Quo pricing

Our transparent pricing lets you easily see what you’ll pay and the features you get with each plan. It’s also easy to upgrade as your team grows and your needs change.

• Starter: $15 per user per month to access unlimited calls and texts to the US and Canada, one free number per user on your account, SMS and MMS, and more
• Business: $23 per user per month to access analytics, call transfers, CRM integrations, and more
• Scale: $35 per user per month for AI call tags, dedicated onboarding, inbound phone support, and priority chat and email support

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2. Google Voice: Best for Google Workspace users

Pros

• Free personal plan (not for business use)
• Comes with a web app for desktop use

Cons

• No toll-free numbers
• No snippets or scheduled texts
• No integrations outside the Google ecosystem

Google Voice is popular among users looking for a free phone number. However, the free plan isn’t fit for business use. You only get one phone number and limited business features. The free Google Voice plan is also only available in the US. 

Google recommends Google Voice for Google Workspace for business purposes. It offers basic features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and integrations for apps in the Google ecosystem, like Google Meet and Google Calendar. 

But Google Voice is missing key features growing businesses need. Even when you upgrade, their plans don’t offer:

• Toll-free numbers
• Integrations outside the Google suite
• Texting automations like auto-replies and snippets

Google Voice’s prices aren’t straightforward, either. Voice plans start at $10 per user per month.And they also require you to pay an extra $7 per user per month to access Google Workspace, without which you can’t use Google Voice. 

Key features of Google Voice

• Unlimited calling to US numbers
• Call forwarding
• Web, Android, and iOS apps
• Voicemail transcriptions
• Call recording on your iPhone, requires an upgrade

Google Voice pricing

Google Voice pricing includes four plans:

• Starter without Workspace: $10 per month, limited to one user, for call recording, three-way calling, voicemail transcription, and mobile and web apps
• Starter: $10 per user per month, with a 10-user maximum, for calls and texts in the US, call forwarding, and SLAs
• Standard: $20 per user per month to access on-demand call recordings, ring groups, and phone menus
• Premier: $30 per user per month to access automatic call recordings and advanced reporting

Besides the first plan listed above, the other Google Voice plans require a Google Workspace subscription, which starts at $7 per user per month.

3. Sideline: Best budget option for a second number

Pros

• Free trial
• Auto-reply feature

Cons

• No shared numbers
• No toll-free numbers
• No call recording

Sideline is among the best second phone number apps, but unlike many other options on the list, it’s not a VoIP system. It uses your carrier’s network and cellular data to make calls and send texts. This means you need to have an existing phone service to make and receive calls. 

As a Sideline user, you’ll have access to basic communication features like unlimited calling and texting to US numbers. However, Sideline doesn’t offer much to growing teams:

• Toll-free numbers and call recordings aren’t available on any Sideline plan. 
• Shared numbers are no longer available, which means you can’t split responsibility for incoming calls.
• Multiple phone numbers or users on your account aren’t supported. 

Key features of Sideline

• Unlimited calling and texting in the US
• Voicemail to text
• Auto-replies to calls and texts
• iOS and Android apps
• Number porting

Sideline pricing

Sideline’s pricing depends on how long you want a subscription. Your options include:

•  Monthly: $14.49
•  Half Yearly: $69.99 
•  Yearly: $129.99

4. Burner: Best low-cost option with multiple phone numbers

Pros

• Phone numbers are disposable
• Fairly cost-effective

Cons

• No desktop app
• No shared numbers
• Only available in the US and Canada

Burner is another second phone number app for your iPhone that isn’t a VoIP phone system. The app lets you quickly set up a Burner number by selecting an area code — no SIM card to call required. 

You can get up to three different phone numbers with Burner. These can be disposable phone numbers you delete or swap or a dedicated second line for your business. Each number offers features like unlimited calling and messaging, picture messaging, muting/blocking, and auto-replies.

Unfortunately, Burner isn’t a strong option as a business phone solution. Here’s why: 

• It doesn’t offer shared numbers. You can’t collaborate with customers in real time.
• You can only use Burner on a mobile device because it doesn’t have a desktop app. A web app is available, but you can’t use it to send texts.
• Burner is only available in the US and Canada. 

The kicker? A Burner number costs more if you purchase it directly in your iPhone or iPad. To get the best pricing, you should buy it on the web first and then download the app. 

Key features of Burner

• Unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada
• Spam call blocking
• Auto-replies
• Muting and blocking

Burner pricing

Burner’s pricing plans depend on where you purchase them:

• Web Standard: $3.99 per month for one number purchased on the web, billed annually
• Web Premium: $5.83 per month for one number, video messaging, AI voicemail transcription, VPN, and reverse number lookup, billed annually
• App Store: $4.99 per month for one number purchased from the iPhone app, billed annually

5. Hushed: Best for setting up separate contacts

Pros

• Auto-replies
• Separate contacts exclusive to your Hushed number

Cons

• Unlimited talk and text requires an upgrade
• No access to shared numbers
• No third-party integrations

Hushed is a temporary and second phone number app for WiFi or data calling and texting. The low-cost app is a good pick if you need an extra phone number to hide your personal number. Plus, you’ll be able to create a private contact list that’s only visible in your Hushed account.

However, if you’re looking to add a business line to your cell phone, you’ll find the app’s feature set lacking.

You can make and receive calls, send SMS and MMS, forward calls, and set up a custom voicemail greeting. That’s pretty much it — you can’t share a number with a team or work together from a shared inbox. 

Key features of Hushed

• Multiple phone lines
• Custom voicemail greeting
• Call forwarding
• Auto-replies
• SMS and MMS

Hushed pricing

Hushed offers three pricing plans to choose from:

• Prepaid: Starts at $7.99 for limited talk and text, with 7, 30, 90, and 365-day plans available
• Unlimited: Starts at $6.99 per month for unlimited talk and text, available for one to three numbers
• Pay-as-you-go: Starts at $8.99 per month to use Hushed credits for international calls and texts

6. Phone.com: Best option with video conferencing

Pros

• Mobile and web apps
• CRM integrations (requires upgrade)

Cons

• Call recording requires a paid add-on
• No texting on the base plan
• No shared phone numbers for texting

Phone.com is a good second phone number option if you’re looking for a platform with bare minimum features. This low-cost app lets you purchase local numbers and make calls and send texts to contacts on your list. You’ll also be able to host video meetings with up to 100 people on the base plan. This is helpful if you run online events or manage properties and need to call clients or tenants on video.

But calls and texts come with limitations. If you want to record calls without upgrading to the highest-tier plan, you’ll need to pay an extra $8 per month. You also can’t send texts at all unless you become a Plus user, which costs $22.50 per user per month. 

Plus, users on the base plan only get one phone number per account. If you need more and don’t want to upgrade, you’ll have to pay $4.99 per number per month. If you choose a second number app for your iPhone like Quo, every user on your plan will get a free US, Canadian, or toll-free number.

Key features of Phone.com

• Unlimited calling to the US and Canada
• Voicemail transcription, requires an upgrade
• SMS, requires an upgrade
• CRM integrations, require an upgrade
• HIPAA-compliant voice numbers
• Mobile and web apps

Phone.com pricing

You have three options with Phone.com’s pricing plans:

• Basic: $15 per user per month to access unlimited minutes to US and Canadian numbers, one number per account, and iOS/Android apps
• Plus: $22.50 per user per month to access unlimited outbound text messages, voicemail transcription, and desk phone compatibility
• Pro: $33.33 per user per month to access CRM integrations, call analytics, and free call recording

7. Grasshopper: Best option with multi-digit extensions

Pros

• Call recording, requires an upgrade
• Desktop and mobile apps

Cons

• No snippets or scheduled texts
• No third-party integrations
• $500 deposit for international calls

Grasshopper is an older virtual phone system with features you’d expect to see in a legacy VoIP platform, such as call forwarding, voicemail, and internet fax. You’ll also get access to multi-digit extensions, so team members can have their own phone number extension without needing to purchase another number.

However, Grasshopper lacks the basic features a modern phone system needs. It doesn’t offer shared phone numbers, which limits your team’s productivity. Need more numbers than your plan offers? That’ll cost you an extra $9 per number per month – almost double the price of other VoIP providers.

The service’s pricing is confusing, too: you pay for the number of users, extensions, and phone numbers. And you can’t access more than one phone number until you reach the most expensive plan ($55 per user per month). Unless you upgrade, you don’t have access to additional extensions either, making it difficult to scale as your business grows. Plus, Grasshopper doesn’t list how much additional extensions cost.

Key features of Grasshopper

• Unlimited phone calls in the US and Canada
• Desktop and mobile apps
• International calls, requires a $500 deposit
• Call forwarding

Grasshopper pricing

Grasshopper’s pricing offers three different plans you can choose from:

• True Solo: $14 per month for one user, one phone number, and one extension
• Solo Plus: $25 per month for unlimited users, one phone number, and three extensions
• Small Business: $55 per month for unlimited users, four phone numbers, and unlimited extensions

8. Line2: Best simple solution with caller ID

Pros

• Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
• Auto-attendant

Cons

• Dated interface
• No auto-replies or shared numbers
• No access to integrations

Line2 is a cloud-based phone system that’s been around since 2006. The service offers essentials like unlimited calls within the US and Canada, call screening, and voicemail transcriptions. You’ll also get access to caller ID, so your business isn’t mistaken for spam when you call your customers.

Need auto-replies or shared numbers? These aren’t options with Line2. Since there’s only one plan starting at $7.99 per month, it’s clear that Line2 is a bare-bones phone solution.

Key features of Line2

• Unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada
• Call blocking
• Call screening
• Voicemail transcriptions
• Call forwarding
• Caller ID

Line2 pricing

Line2 has one plan with two billing options:

• Annual: $7.99 per month
• Monthly: $9.99 per month

9. Verizon Second Number: Best for personal use

Pros

• Unlimited calling and texting in the US, Mexico, and Canada
• Assign a preferred number to each contact

Cons

• No shared phone numbers
• No third-party integrations
• Must have an existing Verizon plan

Verizon’s Second Number is a plan that gives you a second phone number on your existing smartphone. It’s built for personal use, like keeping a separate number for online shopping, dating apps, and side gigs.

To sign up, you need to already have a Verizon phone plan. You’ll also need a phone that can support two numbers. One of those slots, usually your digital SIM (eSIM), should be available. Some phones might not be compatible, so it’s best to check before buying a Second Number plan.

Once it’s set up, you can label your numbers to tell them apart. You can also assign a preferred number to each contact so outbound calls and texts are made from the right number. Plus, Second Number includes unlimited calling and texting in the US, Mexico, and Canada. That way, you’re covered for most everyday communication. 

But this second phone number app for iPhones is missing essential features for small businesses. You won’t get shared numbers, third-party integrations, or tools to help your team work together on calls and messages. While it’s perfectly fine if you want to protect your personal number when you interact with businesses or unknown contacts, it isn’t the best option to run your business communications. 

Key features of Verizon Second Number

• Compatible with iOS and Android devices
• Unlimited calls and texts in the US, Mexico, and Canada
• Set the preferred “call from” number for each of your contacts
• Easy to switch between numbers

Verizon Second Number pricing

You can expect to pay $15 per number per month to access Verizon’s Second Number plan.

How to get a second phone number on your iPhone with a virtual phone app

Follow these steps to get a second phone number with a virtual phone app:

1. Choose your virtual phone provider and create an account with them. 
2. During signup, choose your city or area code in the US to select your preferred phone number.
3. Once the signup process is complete, you’re all set to use your new second virtual phone number.

If you want to port an existing number, virtual phone apps make number porting easy.

How to get a second phone number on your iPhone with an eSIM

If you contacted your carrier for an eSIM after you setup your iPhone, and they digitally sent you an eSIM through eSIM Carrier Activation, follow these steps:

1. When the notification, Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed, appears on the screen, tap it.
2. In the Settings app, tap Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed.
3. Tap Continue at the bottom of the screen.
4. Make a call on your iPhone to check its cellular connectivity. If you can’t make a call, contact your carrier.
5. If the plan you activated replaces the plan on your physical SIM, remove your physical SIM, and restart your iPhone.

Apple lets you install eSIMs using multiple different methods. Check out Apple Support to understand all the different ways to install eSIMs in your iPhone.

Virtual phone apps vs eSIM: Which is better?

Don’t know whether to go with a virtual phone app or an eSIM for your second phone number? Here’s a quick comparison table to help you decide:

Feature	Virtual phone apps	eSIM
Setup time	Five minutes	Can take hours if you need an eSIM-compatible device
Cost	$15–$50 per month for unlimited calls and texts	$25–$50+ per month for unlimited calls, texts, and data
Share calls and texts with a team	✅	❌
Works on multiple devices simultaneously	✅	❌, limited to a single device at a time
Automatic call recording	✅	❌
AI call summaries and transcriptions	✅	❌, requires a separate app

eSIMs work fine if you need a second phone number as a solo operator. It’s also a good option for personal use, especially when you’re traveling. But as a business phone number, it simply can’t handle the shared calls and texts every team needs. 

How to choose the best second phone number app for your business

When there are so many feature sets across apps to compare, choosing the right app can get difficult. To help you decide, we’ve listed a few features you should put at the top of your list when selecting a second number app for iPhone.

1. Mobile and computer compatibility to work from anywhere. Apps with support for both smartphones and computers ensure everyone on your team has access to your second phone number. 
2. Separate personal and business calls to retain privacy. Using a second phone number app for iPhone ensures you can always differentiate whether a call is intended for work because you’ll see a different call screen.
3. Shared inbox to split responsibility for incoming tasks. A shared inbox lets teammates work together on client communications. For example, teams using Quo can collaborate on incoming calls and texts via a single inbox. 
4. Call routing to help customers get to the right place. Choose a second phone number app that helps route calls efficiently. It should be able to manage incoming calls based on your team’s preferences, with ring order, IVR, and backup call routing features.

Get a second number for your iPhone today

After reviewing your available options, it should be pretty clear that virtual phone apps are the better iPhone second phone number solution for teams. eSIMs are great when you need a number that can handle verification codes. A VoIP phone system like Quo gives you a second phone number and a comprehensive set of features tailored for growing teams.

See for yourself how easy it is to set up Quo for your team. Try Quo today with a free seven-day trial.

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