Introduction
You can usually drop a traditional landline and keep the number. The catch is sequence: transfer the number first, cancel the old service last.
You have three paths: call forwarding, porting to a mobile carrier, or porting to a virtual phone provider. They differ in cost, convenience, internet dependence, and features.
That choice matters more as landlines fade. The CDC reports that 80.0% of households were wireless-only in the second half of 2025.
Don't unplug the phone or cancel the account until the new provider confirms the number is live.
Key Takeaways
- Porting is the best long-term route; forwarding works as a temporary bridge.
- Confirm portability and gather account details before you start.
- Keep the landline active until the transfer finishes.
- Check how cancelling affects DSL, bundles, taxes, and contracts.
- Compare options on total cost, texting, voicemail, 911, and reliability.
Should You Get Rid of Your Landline in 2026?
Why people are switching
- An underused bill adds up for little benefit
- One number follows you everywhere
- Mobile and internet-based features beat a basic handset
- No separate phone equipment to maintain
What you give up
- Power or internet dependence for VoIP, and weaker service in outages
- Different emergency calling rules
- Trouble supporting older alarm, fax, or medical-alert devices
Not every "landline" is copper. Cable, fiber, wireless, and VoIP home-phone services are different products.
The FCC counts 14 million retail switched-access lines against 62 million interconnected-VoIP subscriptions at the end of 2025, though that switched-access figure isn't a copper-only count.
Copper retirement is also happening in phases, by carrier and region. AT&T says it aims to exit copper across most of its wireline footprint by the end of 2029, and Verizon has filed local notices, such as one for New Jersey. There's no single nationwide cutoff date, so check your own address.
Which Replacement Option Is Best for Keeping Your Number?
Call forwarding
Forwarding is the simplest short-term fix. Calls to your existing number get redirected to a mobile or another destination. The catch: the original service usually stays active, so the bill keeps coming. AT&T's home-phone forwarding, for instance, may add local or long-distance charges.
Porting to a mobile carrier
Best if you want the old number on your cellphone. Verify first that the carrier accepts landline numbers. T-Mobile does, quoting 3 to 10 days and no transfer charge. Texting on a ported landline number can be limited, so ask before you commit.
Porting to a VoIP or virtual provider
Good for people who want calls handled through an app, web account, email, or several devices. You depend on internet access, but you often gain voicemail, SMS, call recording, and IVR. Note that FCC portability rules cover interconnected VoIP, not automatically every product sold as a "virtual number." Ask the provider directly.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Call forwarding | Mobile porting | Virtual phone porting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanence | Temporary | Permanent | Permanent |
| Billing | Old line stays billed | Added to mobile plan | Separate plan, often monthly |
| Device access | One destination | One phone | App, web, multiple devices |
| Internet needed | No | No (cell signal) | Yes |
| Best for | Short bridge | Single-device users | Multi-device, privacy, business |
Where Tossable Digits fits
Tossable Digits is worth evaluating if you want a virtual number. Core capabilities include:
- Call and text forwarding to any existing phone
- SMS delivery by email
- Voicemail by website, phone, or email
- Mobile app and privacy features
Porting in has no fee and typically takes 1 to 5 business days, per the company. Plans run month to month with no contract. Confirm current transfer and pricing details on the provider's site before you decide.
How to Get Rid of a Landline but Keep the Phone Number
- Confirm eligibility. Ask both providers whether the number can be ported, whether its rate center is supported, and whether restrictions apply. The FCC notes you generally keep a number only within the same geographic area.
- Gather matching account details. You'll need the current bill, account number, account holder's name, service address, billing ZIP code, and a transfer PIN if one exists. Some providers also ask for a letter of authorization. Mismatched details are a common reason for delays or rejections.
- Start the port with the new provider. Follow its steps for identity verification, documents, and any one-time fee. Fees vary: T-Mobile quotes $0, while Ooma charges $39.99.
- Keep the landline active. Don't cancel, change the number, move the account, or alter billing details while the request is pending, unless the new provider says to.
- Test the number. Place and receive calls, check caller ID, test SMS where supported, try voicemail and forwarding, and make sure important contacts can reach you.
- Cancel last. Once everything works, cancel the old account. Get written confirmation, review the final bill, and return any rented equipment.
The FCC requires simple ports to finish within one business day, though provider estimates often run from a few days to several weeks.
What to Check Before Cancelling the Service
Cost
Add up the full landline bill: taxes, fees, equipment, long-distance charges, bundle discounts, and termination charges. Then compare it with your replacement service, including any mobile or internet plan it needs. Get actual quotes. No reliable national "average landline bill" exists to lean on.
Internet
Cancelling voice doesn't always cancel internet. Frontier says DSL uses telephone-line wires but doesn't require an active landline subscription, yet CenturyLink warns that cancelling one bundled service may change discounts. Ask whether speed, equipment, promo pricing, or contract terms will change.
Emergency calling
- Confirm E911 availability with any VoIP provider
- Register the correct service address and update it after a move
- Know that VoIP may fail during a power or internet outage
- On mobile, tell the operator your location
- Keep a backup option, such as a charged cellphone
Reliability
Before you cut the copper line, check:
- Battery backup for the modem and router, especially in storm-prone areas
- Cellular failover options and home Wi-Fi quality
- The provider's outage procedures
- Power source: the alarm industry group TMA notes copper was powered from the central office, while replacement equipment relies on your power
Equipment and privacy
- Test or replace alarms, fax machines, medical-alert devices, and intercoms. A dial tone alone doesn't prove alarm compatibility.
- Review spam blocking, account security, and two-factor authentication.
- Check voicemail privacy and recording rules. Federal law allows one-party consent, but some states require more.
- Use a provider with secure port-out authentication to guard against number hijacking.
Be careful with number retention too. With Tossable Digits, for example, a disconnected number may not be recoverable, and cancellations must arrive by the first day of a billing period.
Conclusion
The safest sequence: choose a replacement, verify eligibility, submit the transfer, keep the old service active, test the number, and cancel only after the port succeeds.
Mobile porting is usually simplest for one-device use. A virtual phone service suits multi-device access, privacy, SMS, voicemail, business continuity, or flexible call management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to keep my landline phone number?
It depends on your current mobile, internet, bundle, tax, and usage costs. Compare forwarding, mobile porting, and low-cost virtual-number plans using real quotes.
Is it a good idea to get rid of a landline?
Often, yes, for savings and flexibility. Weigh emergency calling, outages, internet dependence, connected equipment, and how much reliability your household needs.
Can I disconnect my landline and still have internet?
Frequently. But DSL service, bundle discounts, equipment, or contract terms can change. Confirm with your provider before canceling.
Are landlines going away in 2026?
Copper POTS retirement is underway in phased, local carrier actions, with no single nationwide shutdown date. Cable, fiber, wireless, and VoIP home-phone services aren't the same as copper lines.
Can I keep my landline number without a landline?
Generally yes, by porting it to a mobile carrier or virtual phone provider. Don't cancel the original service first.
Can I transfer my landline number to a VoIP service?
Yes, usually. Verify eligibility, match your account details, and submit the request. Test calls, SMS, voicemail, and 911 setup before you cancel the old line.
