# Best Second Phone Number Apps in 2026

Written By:

[Burner Team](/content/blog-author/burner-team/index.html)

## Which App Should You Pick?

Here’s the short version.

**Dating apps, online selling, or keeping your personal number separate** → [Burner](https://app.burnerapp.com/choose-phone-number). You get stronger privacy controls, broader verification compatibility, and the flexibility to remove numbers when you’re done using them.

**Platform verification (Instagram, WhatsApp, Amazon, Cash App)** → Burner Verified Number. Standard VoIP numbers often struggle here. Some numbers work more reliably with verification systems than standard VoIP numbers.

**Free basics without paying** → Google Voice. Good if you mainly want an extra number and don’t care much about separation or privacy controls.

**Free texting with ads** → TextNow. Fine for casual use, less reliable for verification or long-term consistency.

**International numbers** → Hushed. Better country coverage and more flexible pricing options.

**A long-term second number you plan to keep** → Sideline. Less about flexibility, more about consistency.

A second number that feels native to iPhone → Burner eSIM. Uses dual SIM support instead of routing everything through a separate app.

If you’ve read this far, you probably want more than a completely free second number. That’s usually the point where differences in call quality, verification support, and privacy controls start to matter.

# Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the best app for a second phone number?

It depends on what you need it for. Burner is best for privacy and control — you can delete numbers permanently and they work with most platform verification. Google Voice is the best free option for basic use. For work and freelance, Burner's eSIM gives you a real carrier line on your iPhone.

### Are second phone number apps free?

Some are. Google Voice and TextNow offer free tiers, but with limitations — Google Voice gives you one number with no deletion option, and TextNow is ad-supported with number recycling. Paid apps like Burner offer better verification compatibility, privacy controls, and permanent deletion. Burner includes a free 3-day trial.

### Can I use a second phone number app for verification?

Not all of them. Standard VoIP numbers from Google Voice and TextNow are often blocked by platform verification systems. Burner numbers are mobile-classified and work with most verification, including Cash App, PayPal, Facebook, and Amazon. Burner's Verified Number subscription provides even broader platform compatibility.

### What is the difference between Burner and Google Voice?

Google Voice gives you a free, permanent second number tied to your Google account. Burner gives you a private second number you can delete at any time, with all history permanently erased. Burner numbers also work with more platform verification systems because they're mobile-classified, not standard VoIP.

### Do second phone number apps work for business?

Standard second number apps use VoIP, which works for consumer use cases. For business, freelance, or professional use, Burner's eSIM (Dual SIM) provides a real carrier line that works natively with your iPhone — calls and texts go through your phone's built-in apps, not a third-party app.