How To Get a Temporary Phone Number

You don’t have to be a wanted criminal or an international man of mystery to need a temporary phone number. You could want to avoid marketing calls, provide mobile verification without giving out your real number, or want a degree of security for online dating or a Craigslist listing. The reasons are many and varied and some are more benign than others.

Most social networks and many websites that use two-factor authentication require a phone number. That’s fine if you don’t mind the world knowing your cell. If you prefer a little more privacy, a temporary phone number could help. Apply for insurance and you have to give a phone number, use a job website and they will want a phone number, If you stay in a different city for a few weeks, you will want a local temporary phone number.

How to Get a Fake Phone Number

Whether you’d like an anonymous phone number or you’re looking for a new one to use for a short time, the best way to get a temporary phone number is by downloading an application. On your smartphone, tablet, and in some cases a website, choosing the right application can be difficult if you aren’t sure what each one does.

You may like a new phone number to keep clients and customers from knowing your real number, or you need a verification code sent by text. Different applications have unique features for your needs.

It seems there are enough people out there who want a temporary phone number to warrant a few services that offer exactly that. They all cost money, but not a great deal, around $5 a month on average. Here are some of those services.

Burner

Burner has to be the best-known way to get a temporary phone number. It’s a phone app that works in Canada and the U.S. and provides a second phone number for your existing phone. It uses real phone numbers, as opposed to VoIP numbers, so you can use it for any verification or purpose you require. It offers voice, text, and voicemail too.

After a free trial, Burner is $4.99 a month. You choose a number and can keep it for as long as you like. When you’re done with it, press a button in the app, and the number is burned. Choose another and you’re good to go.

Google Voice

Google Voice is a free-for-all unified communications solution. A single number can be set up to ring all your phones, mobile and landline. You select a number local to your city, tell it where to divert to, and away you go. You can also call and text out and use the number as you see fit.

There are rumors that Google Voice is going to be retired but it hasn’t happened yet so this is a viable way to get another number. It’s free too as long as you live in the U.S. Google Voice is not available outside the States.

CoverMe

CoverMe offers temporary phone numbers and so much more. If you’re concerned about security or surveillance, this is an app to try. It not only provides a temporary number, but it also uses military-grade encryption for calls, offers self-destructing texts, private file sharing, and a private vault installed on your phone to keep things safe.

The downside is that encryption requires both parties to use CoverMe. All calls are routed between two networks regardless of whether they are encrypted or not. This alone would make surveillance almost impossible. Call using CoverMe does not appear on itemized bills and there is even a decoy password available as well as a real one.

Line2

Line2 is a more lifestyle-oriented service than the previous options. It extolls the virtues of having a cloud phone number attached to your real phone number. It offers both business and personal plans that include the U.S. or Canadian phone number, inclusive SMS and voice minutes, and the ability to use the number on a cellphone and desktop computer.

It is $8.30 a month to start but you get unlimited texts, 5000 minutes, a new number, LTE compatibility, group calling and messaging, and some competitive international call rates. There are no security options like those in CoverMe or Burner but as a legit second line, it delivers the goods.

TextNow

TextNow is a free application that you can download to your current phone. It features the option to make calls, send and receive texts, and choose the area code you’d like to have. This application is absolutely free and allows you to continue using the phone number you’ve chosen until you either quit using it or disable the app.

You can download Textnow from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. For one-time use, or to keep the number for a while, this is an excellent, non-invasive, and free solution to getting a temporary number. The application uses wifi or your cellular data connection and is perfect for international communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a temporary email address?

We actually have an article on temporary email addresses. There are a lot of free websites that provide a temporary, anonymous email address. These resources are great for signing up for online subscriptions and more. Most temporary email services will let you get verification codes and receive emails, all without having to sign in or give out your personal information.

Can I request a specific phone number?

Yes! Google Voice will let you request certain numbers, including glamor numbers (a phone number that relates to a word or phrase). The option to do this will cost a small fee though. Here is an article to walk you through changing your Google Voice number.

If you’re just looking for a temporary phone number to use for a while, all of these services offer just that. A couple of these services offer a whole lot more too which may offer some people more security than they need but are still neat features to have.

Know of any other good ways to get a temporary phone number? Tell us about them below if you do!