In today’s fast-paced world, virtual phone numbers have become essential for businesses and individuals alike. A virtual phone number, also known as a direct access or inward dialing number, isn’t tied to a physical phone line.
Instead, it forwards calls to any device, whether it’s VoIP, fixed, or mobile. Setting up a virtual phone system is easy and doesn’t require any technical expertise. Plus, these systems offer valuable features like voicemail recording and number sharing.
According to Future Market Insights, the VoIP services market, which includes virtual phone numbers, is expected to reach $354.7 billion by 2032, growing at 10.2% per year. Their low maintenance, minimal setup costs, and robust reliability make them a go-to solution for modern communication needs.
In this blog post, we’ll explain virtual phone numbers, how to get one, and the best free virtual phone number providers.
🔑 KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- A virtual phone number works over the internet to make and receive calls.
- Virtual phone systems offer features like Call forwarding, Voicemail to text, Customized greetings, etc.
- With a virtual phone number, you can seamlessly make international calls at low rates.
Table of Contents
What is a free virtual phone number?
A virtual phone number is just like your usual phone number, but here – it exists entirely in a digital form. It’s not tied to a particular physical phone line. Instead, it entirely operates over the internet or cloud-based services.
For instance, You have a business based in Canada and want to expand your customer base in the USA. Here, you can get a virtual USA phone number. When customers from the USA contact this number, the call is automatically diverted to your USA office.
So, what’s a free virtual number? – A free virtual phone number is a digital phone number where businesses or individuals can make and receive calls worldwide at no cost.
REMEMBER: Free virtual phone numbers are often offered as a trial to test features and functionality, but it’s important to remember that these services may be partially free.
Pros and Cons of Free Virtual Phone Number
Pros | Cons |
Easily Accessibility | Access to the limited feature |
Cost-effective | Not reliable as paid one |
Why use a virtual phone number?
Enhance local presence
Using a free virtual phone system allows businesses to establish a local presence without the need for physical offices. By choosing a free virtual phone number, you can give your business a local feel in different regions, boosting customer trust and engagement.
No hardware or infrastructure
Digital phone number eliminates the need for expensive hardware or infrastructure. With a virtual phone system free of physical requirements, you can manage your calls and messages through a simple app or web interface, saving on setup costs and maintenance.
Personal vs. Professional
A virtual telephone phone number makes it easier to separate personal and professional calls. You can keep your personal number private while maintaining a professional image for your business without the added complexity of managing multiple devices.
Minimize expenditures
Opting for a free virtual phone number helps minimize expenditures. With no setup fees or ongoing costs, a virtual phone system free of charge allows you to allocate your budget to other essential areas of your business while still enjoying the benefits of a dedicated phone line.
Additionally, it enables you to make international calls without incurring high international rates, while still enjoying the benefits of a dedicated phone line.
Remote access
A free digital phone number offers the flexibility of remote access. Whether you’re working from home or traveling, you can manage calls and messages from anywhere, ensuring you stay connected with clients and colleagues without being tied to a specific location.
How to get a free virtual phone number?
Getting a free virtual number is not only convenient but also cost-effective, offering numerous benefits for both personal and professional use.
Here’s how you can get a free virtual phone number: 👇
1. Research and choose a free virtual number service provider
First things first, you need to do a little research to find a service provider offering a free virtual number provider. Give some time to compare different options, read reviews, and choose one tailoring your needs. Consider options like Google Voice and FreedomPop.
2. Sign up for the account
Now, after you’ve chosen a provider, you’ll need to sign up for an account. It’s easy; you just need to add some details, create a password, and verify your email address, and you’ll be in.
3. Select a number
Now comes the exciting part—choosing a free virtual number. You can choose an international or local virtual number. However, you need to remember that some VoIP providers assign you a random number because of limitations, while others let you browse through available numbers.
4. Set Up and test your number
Let the call begin. Go through the instructions provided by the service provider – Follow the instructions – Set it up on your smartphone or computer. Lastly, start initiating a few calls to ensure they are working well.
5. Prepare yourself for limitations and privacy issues
Don’t get too excited, as free virtual numbers come with limitations. You should be aware of the limitations and privacy issues that are attached to free virtual phone numbers. These limitations might include call restrictions, limited call duration, limited text messages, and emerging privacy risks.
Expert Advice
Today’s virtual phone numbers have evolved into a cornerstone of modern business communication, offering unprecedented flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
With the rise of advanced VoIP technologies, there are now many high-quality virtual phone services available, often for free. However, businesses should carefully consider key factors when choosing a provider, such as call quality, scalability, and security.
While free options can be attractive, businesses should weigh the long-term value of paid services that offer enhanced reliability, feature sets, and support.
15 Best Free Virtual Phone Number Providers in 2024
Ready to streamline your business communications? 🤩 Explore these best free virtual phone number providers to find the perfect fit for your needs. 👇
Free Virtual Phone Number for Business
Providers | Pricing | Key Features | Best for |
Google Voice | Starts at $10/user/month | Call forwarding, Voicemail greetings, integration with Google Workspace | Personal use, Freelancers |
Sonetel | Starts at $9.95/month | Free Call Recording, Global call forwarding, Voice response | Small businesses and entrepreneurs |
Dingtone | Dingtone-to-Dingtone calls are free | Free Calls and texts | Personal Use |
FreedomPop | Starts at $10/month | Usage alert, Visual voicemail | Personal Use |
2ndLine | Starts at $12.99/month | Free second phone number, unlimited calls and text | Personal Use and Freelancers |
How do we choose and analyze these Free providers?
We’ve put together a list of the top free virtual number providers for businesses after thorough research. Each provider was selected based on factors like best for, customer satisfaction, key features, pricing, and support.
We reviewed ratings and feedback from trusted sources like Trust Pilot, Slashdot, SoftwareSuggest, G2, and Capterra. Our goal is to help businesses find the best software to simplify their operations.
1. Google Voice
Using Google Voice will cost you nothing as long as you have a valid phone number and Google account (For USA only). If you already have a free virtual number, you can delete that one and get a new virtual phone number with Google Voice. But that comes with a limitation – you can switch numbers only once a year.
🛑REMEMBER: If you reside outside the US, you must go for the paid version.
Google Voice features
- You can make free voice and video calls within the USA with Google Voice.
- Google Voice can automatically transcribe voicemails you receive into text format.
- It saves you time by blocking spam numbers.
How to get a free VoIP number with Google Voice?
Getting a free VoIP number is easy with Google Voice. Kindly follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Create a Google Voice account
Step 2: Choose your Google Voice Number
Step 3: Kindly link and verify your existing phone number
Step 4: Download the Google Voice app on your existing devices
Google Voice Pros & Cons
Pros
- Access to free numbers
- Cross-device compatibility
Cons
- Limited international availability
- Integrates only with Google Workspace
Google Voice Pricing
Plans | Pricing |
Starter | $10/user/month |
Standard | $20/user/month |
Premier | $30/user/month |
2. Sonetel
With Sonetel, you can pick virtual phone numbers for free from a bunch of countries. You can get a free business phone number from Sonetel, a phone system hosted on the cloud, call center functionalities, conference calls, and so on. However, accessing all features like Call recording, Caller ID, text-to-speech, etc, on Sonetel is not possible, as it offers limited features in the free version.
Sonetel Features
- Conference call rooms – Upto 100 participants
- Call forwarding worldwide at a low cost
- Custom Caller ID
How to get a free VoIP number with Sonetel?
Step 1: Sign up at app.sonetel.com
Step 2: Go to phone number settings
Step 3: Select your desired number
Step 4: Select Free for the website
Sonetel Pros and Cons
Pros
- Competitive pricing (Pay as you go)
- Professional appearance and communication
Cons
- It Doesn’t offer standard features compared to other VoIP providers
- Inconsistent call notification
Sonetel Pricing
Plans | Pricing |
Premium | $9.95/user/month |
Business | $29.95/user/month |
3. Dingtone
Dingtone is a telecommunication service that offers free calling and texting over an internet connection. Its key feature, getting free virtual phone numbers, makes it a versatile option for individuals looking to communicate with team members, friends, and family worldwide.
Dingtone Features
- Unlimited free voice, video call, and text messages over Wi-Fi or Cellular data.
- Multiple Numbers
How to get a free VoIP number with Dingtone?
Step 1: Download the Dingtone app from the Play Store/App Store
Step 2: Sign Up for an account
Step 3: Choose country and area code in the “Get free phone number” section
Step 4: Choose a number and Tap “Get”.
Dingtone Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers International numbers that work seamlessly over Wi-Fi or cellular data
- Cheap international phone calls
Cons
- Poor sound quality and connection
- Can’t receive pictures from the non-Dingtone contacts
Dingtone Pricing
Dingtone-to-Dingtone Calls are free. You can use Dingtone credits that depend on country to country to make low international calls.
4. FreedomPop
FreedomPop, a mobile virtual network operator, offers free and affordable mobile phone and internet services. But before getting too excited about free plans, remember they come with certain limitations. The free plan may not be enough for you, as it has limited call duration and texts.
FreedomPop Features
- Visual Voicemail
- Usage Alerts
- Private Internet
How to get a free VoIP number with FreedomPop?
Step 1: Visit the FreedomPop website
Step 2: Sign up for an account
Step 3: Select the Plans section
Step 4: Select the Free option
Step 5: Choose a device
Step 6: Activate your plan
FreedomPop Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free plan options
- No activation fees
Cons
- Data is Pricey
- Lacks roaming
FreedomPop Pricing
Price | Features included |
$30/month | Unlimited calls, text, and data.10GB of 5G+ speeds |
$10/month | Unlimited calls and text1GB of 5G+ speeds |
5. 2ndLine
2ndLine offers you a second phone number that lets you make and receive calls via internet or cellular data. You can easily make calls and text messages for free in the US and Canada. Also, 2ndLine offers affordable options for making international calls.
2ndLine features
- Own Local Number
- Separate work and personal numbers
- Unlimited talk/text in the USA and Canada
How to get a free VoIP number with 2ndLine?
Step 1: Download the 2ndLine app from Playstore
Step 2: Sign up and Login
Step 3: Pick a phone number
Step 4: Start initiating calls
2ndLine Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free calls and texts to the USA and Canada
- Free second phone number
Cons
- Only available on Android
- Frequent errors in users’ report
2ndLine Pricing
Plans | Pricing |
Standard | $12.99/month |
Unlimited | $19.99/month |
Free Virtual Phone Number App
Providers | Features | Available Platforms |
Talkatone | Unlimited access to texts, calls, and group chats | Android and iOs |
TextMe Up | Multiple numbers | iOS and Android |
TextNow | International free calling, group chats | Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS |
Textplus | Free US phone number, voice notes | Android and iOS |
Textfree | Real phone number, unlimited SMS/MMS | Android, iOS, and web |
6. Talkatone
Talkatone is a mobile application that offers free voice and text messaging over Wi-Fi or cellular data. With access to free US numbers, you can make free calls to US phone numbers, including landlines. All you need is a smartphone with an internet connection to use Talkatone.
Moreover, if you need to make calls outside the US, talkatone offers affordable rates for international calling.
Available platform: iOS and Android
7. TextMe Up
TextMe Up is a free mobile application for Android and iOS devices that allows users to text and make phone calls using an internet connection. It allows users to call and text anywhere in the world for free.
Available platform: iOS and Android
8. TextNow
TextNow is a flexible communication application that allows users to access a range of texting and calling features. Another appealing function of TextNow is free text messaging and calls across the USA and Canada. At the registration phase, all users get a dedicated phone number that can be used to send unlimited text messages and make calls to other TextNow users without any billing.
Available platform: Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS
9. TextPlus
Textplus offers unlimited SMS/MMS messaging to anyone in the US and Canada. It also offers free phone numbers and works seamlessly with Wi-Fi or cellular data. Moreover, Textplus offers affordable international calling options.
Available platforms: Android and iOS
10. TextFree
TextFree(formerly Pinger) is a mobile app and web service that allows users to send text messages and make and receive VoIP calls for free over the internet. The service is free, and users can upgrade to an advertisem*nts-free version with extra payment features.
Available platforms: Android, iOS, and Web.
Free Virtual Number with Free Trial
Provider Name | Key Features | Free Trial |
KrispCall | Unified Callbox, Bulk SMS, Call Analytics | ✅ |
Vonage | Virtual receptionist, Call Flip | ✅ |
Grasshopper | Automated Call routing, Custom greetings | ✅ |
Mightycall | Call notes, Call monitoring | ✅ |
eVoice | Voicemail to text, Live receptionist | ✅ |
11. KrispCall
KrispCall is a leading cloud telephony service provider. With virtual phone numbers from 100+ countries, KrispCall makes it easy to connect with a global audience from a single app. Unbeatable features like a Unified Callbox, Bulk SMS, Global Calling, Voicemail to email, and more ensure a seamless communication experience.
KrispCall features
- Unified Callbox
- Multiple Phone numbers
- Bulk SMS
- Call and Contact tagging
Free Trial: KrispCall offers you a free demo to experience its features and services and lets you choose a plan that best suits your needs.
Book a free KrispCall’s demo now!
12. Vonage
Vonage provides virtual numbers from worldwide tailored to residential and business customers. It also offers a suite of communication tools, including messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration.
Vonage features
- Call flip
- Virtual receptionist
- Fax service
Free Trial: Vonage doesn’t offer free virtual numbers, but you can try their free trial for 30 days when you buy one of their plans.
13. Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system that manages your communication. Features like call routing, VoIP calling, custom greetings, detailed call reports, etc., make it a go-to choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Grasshopper features
- Automated Call routing
- Simultaneous Call Handling
- Custom greetings
Free Trial: Grasshopper offers a free trial for seven days, during which you can get one number, 100 minutes, and 100 business texts.
14. MightyCall
MightyCall is a virtual phone system specially designed for businesses. It offers 30+ features, including call flow configuration, forwarding, voicemail, reports, and more, for superior communication, remote access, and teamwork.
MightyCall features
- Call monitoring
- Automatic Call distribution
- Call notes
Free Trial: MightyCall offers a free seven-day trial and 100 minutes of talk time.
15. eVoice
eVoice is a web-based virtual phone system with features like web conferencing, call recording, forwarding, and auto attendants. In addition, eVoice also provides users with a toll-free number and a mobile app. It also offers features such as call analytics, call routing, and call tracking.
eVoice features
- Offers you local and toll-free number
- Voicemail to text
- Live receptionist
Free Trial: The eVoice offers a free trial for 30 days. Sign up and choose a plan accordingly, and you get to use the included features.
Why do businesses use a free VoIP phone number?
First and foremost, cost-effectiveness remains at the top for businesses to use VoIP phone numbers without compromising the call quality. By utilizing the internet to the maximum, businesses can say goodbye to the traditional phone lines associated with bulky bills.
Unlike traditional phone systems, which require a specific location, VoIP eliminates the need for physical space.Moreover, integrating VoIP withonline help desk softwareenhances operational efficiency and flexibility, allowing businesses to manage customer interactions seamlessly.
Moreover, virtual phone systems offer invaluable scalability. VoIP effortlessly scales alongside business growth. In addition, VoIP’s features and functionality are game-changers for businesses also makes easy communication along with following the business texting etiquette. Features like Voicemail to email, Unified Callbox, Call Transfer, Auto attendants, etc., streamline business communication.
Tips to Choose Free VoIP Phone Numbers
Free VoIP phone numbers can be a great option. But with so many choices, how do you pick the right one? Follow these tips.
- Features: Look for a provider that offers features tailored to your needs. These include conference calls, call forwarding and more.
- International accessibility: If you’re operating your business at an international level or someone who wants to make an international call, consider a VoIP provider that allows you to choose an international number along with dialing codes
- Reliability: Choose a reputable service provider. Check reviews and seek suggestions from other businesses to ensure reliability.
- Integration: Ensure your chosen provider seamlessly integrates with your existing business tools like CRM software to streamline your workflow
- Security: Make sure your VoIP provider has robust security to prevent your communication from unauthorized access or cyber security attacks
- Trial period: Most Virtual phone system providers offer a trial or demo. You can take advantage of this period before making a long-term commitment.
Get a virtual phone number from KrispCall – Affordable and Reliable
KrispCall stands out as an affordable, secure, and reliable virtual phone number provider. With KrispCall, you get to experience a wide range of advanced features like Multiple phone numbers, Call analytics, Unified Callbox, Call forwarding, Voicemail to email, and many more. These advanced features allow you to get the most out of your calls and improve customer experience.
You can’t rely on free virtual phone numbers, as they are limited and unreliable, which might restrict your business growth. You need a reliable phone system that fits your budget, and KrispCall is the most affordable option in its segment. With prices starting at just $15/month, it’s the best value in its segment.
Moreover, KrispCall also easily integrates with various CRM tools like HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Zapier, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Pabbly Connect, and ActiveCampaign to enhance your workflow.
So why wait? Get started with KrispCall today!
FAQ
Can you get a virtual phone number for free?
You can get a virtual phone number for free but with some limitations. VoIP providers like Google Voice, Sonetel, etc., offer virtual phone numbers for free.
Are free virtual phone numbers safe?
Virtual phone numbers are safe if the service provider has strong security measures, such as encryption and authentication. It depends upon the provider’s reputation. But it is better to use a virtual number from a reliable service provider as free virtual numbers are often associated with scams or limitations.
How do I get a free VoIP number?
You can get a free VoIP number from free VoIP service providers like Google Voice, Text Now, or other providers. Sign up for an account and follow the instructions to select and activate your free number.