Second Phone Number App: 7 Tested for 2026 (Apps Ranked Against Web Rentals)
Short answer: A second phone number is usually something you keep. If that is what you want, pick Hushed, Burner, Sideline, or one of the free apps below. TwoLine does not sell a kept number. It sells one-time numbers, so it is the right tool only for a single signup code. If one code is the whole job, you can skip the rest of this page.
Mobile app vs web rental — when each one wins
Search results for "second phone number app" mostly surface mobile apps (Hushed, TextNow, Burner, Sideline). Web-based rentals (TextVerified, SMSPool, 5sim) compete for the same job but show up under different searches. TwoLine is also web based, but it sells one-time numbers, not rentals. The difference matters.
Mobile apps win when: You want to call and text from your phone with the same UX as the native dialer/messages app. You want push notifications for incoming SMS. You want voicemail in-app. You'll hold the line for months or years. Examples: Hushed, Burner, Sideline.
Web rentals win when: You only need to receive SMS (no calling, no texting back). You want countries that mobile apps don't offer (50+ countries on 5sim). You want a short period rather than a monthly plan. You don't want another app installed. Examples: TextVerified, SMSPool, 5sim.
TwoLine is web only and does one job. TwoLine sells one-time numbers for SMS verification. You search for the app, pick a country and a line, see the live price with no account, then buy from your balance. One number is for one code. You cannot keep it, renew it, or reuse it for later logins.
Pick by what you'll actually do with the number daily. If you'll never tap "compose new message" from the second-line app, you don't need an app. A web rental does the same job for less. If the whole job is one code, a one-time number is all you need. If you need a number you keep, TwoLine is the wrong tool and an app from this list is the right one.
How this comparison was made
This guide compares what each provider publishes: prices, countries, refund terms, number type, and calling or texting features. It also uses public user reports. TwoLine does not publish its own delivery measurements. See the methodology page for how these comparisons are made.
Google Voice needs a separate note. Its signup gate requires a US phone number to verify the Google Voice number you're claiming. International users without a US phone effectively can't sign up. This is the single biggest gating factor for Google Voice in 2026 and the most common complaint in r/GoogleVoice.
No app gets a pass rate here, because acceptance changes by app, by country, and over time. Threads in r/GoogleVoice, r/NoContract, r/PrivacyPals, and r/HushedApp are a useful place to read public user reports. Treat them as a direction, not a benchmark.
The 7 apps, compared one by one
1. Hushed — best paid US/Canada app with lifetime tier
Verdict tag: Default for a US/Canada second-line app you'll keep for 5+ years (lifetime tier $99) or for users who want outbound calling alongside SMS.
Acceptance varies by app. Strict apps such as Tinder may refuse this number type.
Pricing tiers. Prices as published when this guide was last reviewed. Check the provider's site before you buy. - 7-day pass: $1.99 - Monthly: $9.99 - Annual: $49.99 - Lifetime: $99 one-time (with 90-day inactivity reclamation per their published ToS)
The lifetime tier is the standout — no other app in this guide offers it, and at $99 over 5+ years of weekly use it beats every monthly competitor on price. Set a quarterly reminder to send one SMS to keep the number active.
Where Hushed wins: Mature carrier relationships mean routes lean business-mobile rather than consumer VoIP. Outbound calling included. Apple/Google IAP-paid means no Stripe-card friction. Nine years operating history.
Where Hushed falls short: US/Canada only. No UK, NL, or DE coverage. Numbers can fail strict-checking platforms (Tinder, banks), so check the app you care about first.
2. TwoLine: one signup code, not a kept second line
Verdict tag: One-time number, web only. Default if you need one SMS code for one signup. The wrong pick for a second number you plan to keep.
Acceptance varies by app. Strict apps may refuse this number type. Apps decide for themselves whether to accept a number.
Prices are live and start at $0.39. They vary by app, country and line. A number lasts long enough for one code, usually 10 to 20 minutes, sometimes shorter. The order page shows the exact end time. See TwoLine pricing for how balance top-ups work.
If no code arrives by the end of the window, the full price returns to your TwoLine balance automatically. You can also cancel after 2 minutes. Once a code has been delivered the purchase is final.
Where TwoLine wins: You pay for one code and nothing else. No subscription, no app to install, and you see the live price before you create an account. It covers hundreds of apps and websites, and countries vary by app and change with stock. Balance tops up by card or crypto. Codes appear on your private order page, tied to your account. It is not a public inbox. Get a number.
Where TwoLine falls short: One number is for one code. You cannot keep it, renew it, or reuse it for later logins. That makes TwoLine the wrong tool for any account that may need a future SMS. No calling and no texting out (Hushed and Sideline have both). No lifetime tier and no 7-day pass. Web only. Balance top-ups start at $4.99 by card and $9.99 by crypto, and balance is not cash.
I built TwoLine. It is in this guide because many people searching for a second number only need one code, and this guide should tell them so. If you want a number you keep, pick one of the other six.
3. Burner — privacy-first US/Canada monthly
Verdict tag: Best for privacy-focused users who want a US/Canada number with explicit "burn this number when done" UX.
Acceptance varies by app. Strict apps such as Tinder may refuse this number type.
Pricing: $4.99 (mini), $7.99 (standard), 11.99 USD (premium) per month. Prices as published when this guide was last reviewed. Check the provider's site before you buy. The mini tier is the cheapest in this guide for a real second-line app, but it caps texting and calling minutes.
Where Burner wins: Explicit privacy framing — the app is designed for "burn when done" UX with quick-burn buttons in-line. Solid carrier routing for a consumer app. Lower entry price than Hushed monthly.
Where Burner falls short: US/Canada only. Mini tier limits aren't always obvious until you hit them. No lifetime or annual tier. Privacy framing is more marketing than substantive — the app maintains records of which user rented which number, same as every other paid service.
4. Sideline — business calling + texting for US/Canada
Verdict tag: Best when you'll make a lot of outbound calls and want business features (voicemail transcription, business hours, call forwarding).
Acceptance varies by app. Strict apps such as Tinder may refuse this number type.
Pricing: $9.99 a month per line, with team plans starting at $14.99/line/month for 2+ lines. Prices as published when this guide was last reviewed. Check the provider's site before you buy.
Where Sideline wins: Business-grade carrier routing leans business-mobile rather than consumer VoIP, which is a better starting point for verification. Real outbound calling with voicemail transcription. Custom business hours, away messages, team forwarding. The closest thing in this guide to a "real" business phone line at consumer pricing.
Where Sideline falls short: US/Canada only. Higher minimum than Hushed monthly. Business framing means the UI assumes you're using it for work, not personal — feels heavier than Hushed for casual use.
5. TextNow (free) — casual texting only, not for verification
Verdict tag: Free consumer VoIP. Included for completeness; not recommended for verification.
Acceptance varies by app. Consumer VoIP is the number type strict apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Tinder are most likely to refuse.
TextNow is the most-installed free second-line app in the US (50M+ Android installs). It runs consumer VoIP routing across the US and Canada. Free with ads on the Free tier; SMS verification reads are paywalled at Premium ($9.99 a month) — but even on Premium the underlying routing is the same consumer VoIP that strict platforms flag.
Where TextNow wins: Free, instant, US/Canada only. Works fine for casual texting friends, low-trust verifications (some games, free trials), as a throwaway social media handle.
Where TextNow falls short: Consumer VoIP routing fails most strict-checking platforms. Premium upgrade ($9.99 a month) doesn't fix the underlying carrier route. If verification matters, skip TextNow even on Premium.
6. TextFree — free with ads, similar to TextNow
Verdict tag: Same product class as TextNow. Included for completeness; not recommended for verification.
Acceptance varies by app. Consumer VoIP is the number type strict apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Tinder are most likely to refuse.
TextFree (by Pinger) is the second most-installed free second-line app behind TextNow. Same consumer VoIP routing, same US/Canada coverage, same anti-spam filter problems. Free tier shows ads; Plus tier ($9.99 a month) removes ads but keeps the same routing.
Where TextFree wins: Free, US/Canada only. Slightly cleaner UI than TextNow.
Where TextFree falls short: Same carrier-routing problems as TextNow. If verification matters, skip TextFree.
7. Google Voice — free if you have a US phone to verify with
Verdict tag: Free for US residents. Best if you already have a US phone number to use as the gateway and you want the cleanest US carrier routing in this guide.
Acceptance varies by app. Newer Google Voice numbers are a weak fit for strict apps such as WhatsApp and Tinder.
Google Voice is free for US residents with a US phone number to verify the new Google Voice number with. International users without a US phone effectively can't sign up — and this is the single biggest barrier in 2026.
Where Google Voice wins: When it works, it's the cleanest US carrier route in this guide. Free, integrated with Google account, Apple/Google IAP-style trust signal at the platform level. Owned and operated by Google itself.
Where Google Voice falls short: Signup gate locks out international users. Even when signup succeeds, newer Google Voice numbers are a weaker fit for strict platforms (WhatsApp, Tinder) than older numbers because the routing has been re-classified. Account suspension risk if Google's anti-abuse heuristics flag your usage pattern (bulk verifications, no outbound activity).
Country coverage: where each app actually works
| App | US | Canada | UK | NL | DE | Other countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hushed | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| TwoLine | Varies by app, live stock | |||||
| Burner | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Sideline | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| TextNow | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| TextFree | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Google Voice | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — (US-phone signup gate) |
For a second-phone-number app specifically: country breadth narrows the field hard. If you need a kept UK or NL number, no app here covers it, so use a prepaid SIM from a local carrier. Many prepaid SIMs expire after 90+ days of no top-up, so set a reminder. If you need one code on a UK or NL number, TwoLine may have a line, but availability is live and varies by app. 5sim and SMS-Man cover UK/NL on a per-code basis but aren't apps. If US/Canada → Hushed is the longest-running. Everyone else is US-only or US/Canada-only.
Provider Risk Score (will this app still work in 12 months?)
The same scoring method I used in the SMS-Activate alternatives post, TextNow alternative post, Hushed alternative post, rent-a-phone-number post, WhatsApp second-number post, and temporary phone number post. Four signals: payment processor health, number sourcing geography, SMS routing transparency, public uptime data. Each scored 0–3, summed for a total out of 12.
How to read 0–3: 3 = established and transparent (Google, Apple/Google IAP, Stripe + public docs). 2 = solid with one weak signal. 1 = single fragile rail or no public transparency. 0 = known reliability problem.
Based on payment processor stability, operating history, ToS scans, and carrier routing data as of May 1, 2026.
| Provider | Payment | Geography | Routing | Transparency | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | 3 (Google) | 3 (US carrier) | 3 (Google's network) | 3 (public docs) | 12 of 12 |
| Hushed | 3 (Apple/Google IAP, Stripe) | 3 (US/CA carriers) | 2 (proprietary routing) | 2 (some public uptime) | 10 of 12 |
| Sideline | 3 (Apple/Google IAP) | 3 (US/CA business carriers) | 2 (Twilio-class routing) | 2 (business documentation) | 10 of 12 |
| Burner | 3 (Apple/Google IAP) | 2 (US/CA only, VoIP) | 2 (consumer VoIP) | 2 (some public uptime) | 9 of 12 |
| TextNow (free) | 2 (Apple/Google IAP) | 2 (US/CA only, VoIP) | 1 (VoIP routing flags) | 1 (no public uptime) | 6 of 12 |
| TextFree | 2 (Apple/Google IAP) | 2 (US/CA only, VoIP) | 1 (VoIP flags) | 1 (none) | 6 of 12 |
| TwoLine | — | — | — | — | Not scored (our own product) |
Google Voice scores top because Google itself runs the network. Hushed and Sideline tie at 10 — Apple/Google IAP rails plus business-carrier-class routing. Burner sits at 9 because of consumer VoIP routing. The free apps (TextNow, TextFree) score lowest because their VoIP routing is exactly what strict platforms flag. TwoLine is not scored because it is our own product, and a one-time number is not something you hold for 12 months anyway.
This isn't a buy/avoid scoreboard. A score of 6 doesn't mean TextNow disappears tomorrow — it has 50M+ installs. It means if I had to bet on which apps survive carrier-routing improvements over the next 12 months for verification, I'd weight Google Voice, Hushed, and Sideline higher.
What I'd do today (decision tree)
Three questions, one primary pick per leaf. No "it depends" loops.
Q1: Do you need a phone number for an app, or do you just need a code once?
If just a code for a one-off signup you won't depend on → Q2-A. If a number you'll keep on an app for at least a month → Q2-B.
Q2-A: One code only. Default: TwoLine. Prices are live and start at $0.39. They vary by app, country and line. If no code arrives by the end of the window, the full price returns to your TwoLine balance automatically. Get a number. Disclosure: I built TwoLine. Use 5sim ($0.30–$0.80) if you prefer a per-code service with a 50+ country list.
Check this answer before you buy. One number is for one code. You cannot keep it, renew it, or reuse it for later logins. If the account may need a future SMS, go to Q2-B. If you do sign up on a one-time number, add email recovery and an authenticator right after signup, and use your own SIM for accounts you must not lose.
Q2-B: A number you'll keep on an app. One more question:
Q3: Which country and what features matter?
- US/Canada, planning to keep 5+ years with weekly use → Hushed lifetime at $99 with a calendar reminder to send one SMS every 90 days.
- US, kept for 1–12 months → Hushed monthly at $9.99, or Burner mini at $4.99 if the usage cap suits you.
- UK or Netherlands → a prepaid SIM from a local carrier. No app in this guide offers a kept number in those countries.
- Outbound calling matters as much as SMS, US/Canada → Sideline ($9.99 a month) for business features or Hushed monthly for consumer-tier.
- Privacy-first framing matters, US/Canada → Burner at $4.99 to 11.99 a month.
Five leaf nodes, each with one primary pick.
Stop overthinking — your move right now
If you only need one SMS code, stop reading. Get a number. Search for the app, pick a country and a line, and see the live price with no account. If no code arrives by the end of the window, the full price returns to your TwoLine balance automatically.
If you need a second number on an app: - US/Canada with $99 lifetime upside → Hushed - US under $10 a month → Hushed monthly or Burner - UK or NL → a prepaid SIM from a local carrier (no app here covers them) - Outbound calling matters → Sideline for business or Hushed for personal
Don't over-research a $5–$99 decision for an hour. The cost of picking the wrong app is small; the cost of analysis paralysis is hours of your time.
Where free apps still win (the honest cases)
I built TwoLine, so I'm biased — three honest scenarios where free apps beat paid:
Scenario 1: Casual US/Canada texting with friends, no verification. TextNow and TextFree work fine for this. If you just want a second number to text people who already know it, no platform verification involved, free apps are the right choice.
Scenario 2: A throwaway US handle for low-trust signups. Free apps fail strict platforms but pass low-trust ones (some games, some free trials, niche social apps). If your tolerance for failure is high and the alternative is paying $9.99 a month, the math favors free.
Scenario 3: Already-existing US phone for Google Voice signup. If you're a US resident with a US phone you already own, Google Voice is genuinely free, runs on Google's own network, and gets the cleanest carrier routing in this guide. The catch is the signup gate (international users without a US phone can't sign up) and the inconsistent verification rate on newer numbers.
For everything else — verification on strict platforms, business features, paid lifetime tiers — paid apps are what I'd recommend. If the whole job is one code, a one-time number is enough.
FAQ
What's the best second phone number app for free?
For pure casual texting in the US/Canada with no platform verification needed: TextNow or TextFree. For US residents with an existing US phone: Google Voice (cleanest carrier routing). For verification-heavy use cases: skip free entirely. Free apps run on consumer VoIP routing, the number type strict apps target. Use a paid app for a line you keep, or a one-time number if you only need one code.
What's the best second phone number app for WhatsApp Business?
For a number you keep: Hushed or Sideline, or TextVerified if you prefer stated non-VoIP sourcing (it's a web rental, not an app). TwoLine sells one-time numbers, so it only fits a single WhatsApp code, and a business account usually needs a number you keep. Skip free apps, because consumer VoIP is the number type WhatsApp's filter targets. See the dedicated WhatsApp second-number post for the full WhatsApp-specific breakdown including the post-signup ban window.
Which second phone number app supports UK or Netherlands numbers?
None of the kept-line apps in this guide. Hushed, Burner, Sideline, TextNow, TextFree, and Google Voice are all US/Canada-only. For a kept UK or NL number, use a prepaid SIM from a local carrier. For one code, TwoLine sells one-time numbers on the web. Countries vary by app and change with stock, so UK and NL availability is live and not promised. For per-code (not app-based) UK/NL coverage, 5sim also works as a one-shot.
Can I make outbound calls from a second phone number app?
Most paid apps include outbound calling: Hushed, Burner, Sideline, TextNow Premium, TextFree Plus, Google Voice. TwoLine receives one SMS code and has no calling. If you'll text and call, pick Hushed or Sideline for both in one app.
Is Hushed lifetime really lifetime?
With caveats. Hushed's $99 lifetime tier reclaims the number after 90 days of inactivity per their published Terms of Service. Send one SMS or make one call per quarter and the number stays yours. Skip a quarter and the number returns to the pool. Set a calendar reminder. Over 5+ years of weekly use, $99 beats every monthly competitor on price.
Why did my second phone number get banned by WhatsApp/Tinder/Bank?
Strict-checking platforms (WhatsApp, Tinder, banks, Wise, marketplaces) run secondary review on numbers within 24–72 hours of signup. If the carrier route classifies as consumer VoIP — common for free apps and the cheapest paid tiers — the platform bans the account silently. Paid non-VoIP rentals are a better starting point than free apps, but apps decide for themselves whether to accept a number. For strict platforms, pay for routing class.
Can I use a second phone number app for banking 2FA?
Mostly no. Banks run carrier-class filters via Twilio Lookup or similar; consumer VoIP and most rental routing fails these checks. Some smaller fintech apps accept paid second-line apps; large banks (Chase, Bank of America, etc.) reject them. For banking 2FA, use a real SIM. TwoLine does not sell numbers for banks, payment apps, money transfer, crypto exchanges, securities accounts, or government identity services. Those are refused at checkout. If banking privacy is the goal, that's a separate problem second-line apps don't solve.
How do I switch from TextNow to a paid second phone number app?
Three steps: (1) Pick the paid app that fits your use case (Hushed for US/Canada, Burner for privacy-first framing, Sideline for business). (2) Sign up and rent a new number — paid apps don't transfer your existing TextNow number. (3) Update any apps you'd verified with TextNow to the new number, knowing some platforms (banking, dating) may force re-verification. Don't try to keep the TextNow number after switching — its routing class is the original problem. TwoLine is not a switch target here, because it does not give you a number you keep.
Will my second phone number show up on caller ID?
Yes, with the rental number, not your real cell. Paid apps display the rented number to recipients on outbound calls and texts; recipients can reply or call back to that number, which routes to your second-line app. Free apps work the same way for the calls they support. Some platforms (banks, some businesses) display the carrier classification alongside the number, which is how they detect rental routing — but the number itself is what gets displayed. TwoLine numbers receive one code and make no calls, so this does not apply to them.
The summary
Priya's six lost business hours weren't from the app pricing — they were from the assumption that "international" meant "actually international." Don't make the same mistake.
- One SMS code, throw away: Get a number. Live prices from $0.39, with the full price back in your balance if no code arrives. One number is for one code.
- US/Canada with $99 lifetime upside: Hushed lifetime at $99. Set a 90-day reminder.
- US monthly under $10: Hushed monthly at $9.99, or Burner from $4.99 a month.
- UK or Netherlands: A prepaid SIM from a local carrier. No app in this guide covers those countries.
- Outbound calling matters: Sideline for business or Hushed for personal.
Five paths, one pick per situation. Pick by what you'll do with the second number daily, not by which app has the most installs.
A note on fit: I built TwoLine, and it does one thing. It sells one-time numbers, so it is the wrong tool for a second number you want to keep. If you need a number for years, Hushed (nine years operating history) is the safer bet. TwoLine's value is one code at a live price, with the money back in your balance if no code arrives; Hushed's value is the operating track record and the lifetime tier. Both are honest products targeting different parts of the second-phone-number-app market.
About this article
Written by Serhat Doğan, founder of TwoLine. London-based software developer building SMS verification tools full-time since early 2026. Previously worked in consumer apps and digital infrastructure. Disclosure: I built TwoLine. It shows up in this guide because a single signup code is one sub-niche inside the second-phone-number search. For a number you keep, the other apps in this guide are the better answer.
Methodology: this guide compares what 7 apps publish: prices, countries, refund terms, number type, and calling or texting features. It also uses public user reports. TwoLine does not publish its own delivery measurements. User anecdote details lightly fictionalized for privacy. Prices as published when this guide was last reviewed. Check the provider's site before you buy.
Last updated: November 1, 2026.
Find me: GitHub · LinkedIn · X. Read our privacy policy, terms, or contact support if you have questions about your TwoLine account. Browse all posts on the blog.