"Best" depends on the job. Privacy, texting, business call handling, and temporary contact each point to a different app. And not every virtual number works with every verification service.
Below, we compare five apps (Tossable Digits, Google Voice, Hushed, Grasshopper, and MySudo), explain how we judged them, and flag limits to check before you pay.
Key Takeaways
- A virtual number routes calls and texts through an app or forwarding system, so you don't need a second phone.
- Pick by number type, SMS support, privacy controls, pricing, and how long you'll keep the number.
- Tossable Digits suits people who want forwarding, messaging, and call management in one service.
- Confirm verification acceptance and short-code delivery before tying a number to an important account.
Overview of Virtual Phone Number Apps in the US
A virtual number isn't fixed to one handset. Twilio defines it as a number that can route a call or text to any phone or workflow.
Four Categories to Know
- App-based VoIP numbers: voice over the internet, flexible and cheap
- Carrier-backed mobile numbers: tied to a mobile network
- Temporary or burner numbers: replaceable lines that limit exposure of your main number
- Business phone systems: extensions, greetings, and team routing
Each trades off differently on privacy, permanence, and verification. VoIP numbers may be rejected by some services, which is why a number that works for selling a couch may fail on a bank login.
Common US Use Cases
- Protecting a personal number on marketplace listings
- Separating work and personal communications
- Supporting remote work
- Tracking which ads generate calls
- Serving customers from a professional line
Legal and Acceptable-Use Context
This isn't legal advice. Owning a virtual number is generally different from misusing one.
Keep these boundaries in mind:
- FCC rules target caller-ID transmissions made to defraud or cause harm, and they govern certain robocalls and texts
- Spoofing isn't always illegal, but fraud, harassment, and breaking a platform's terms stay off-limits
- Recording rules vary by state, so check yours
Best Virtual Phone Number Apps in the US
This is a use-case comparison, not a universal ranking. We weighed current US availability, calling and SMS reliability, privacy, app quality, transparent pricing, and business features.
Tossable Digits
Operated by Telusion, Inc. since 2005, Tossable Digits grew out of a simple problem. CEO Peter Beckman built it in 2006 to sell a car online without posting his own cell number.
It forwards calls and texts to any existing phone, with no extra device. Local numbers cover 500+ US cities, plus toll-free and vanity options, and US numbers need no registration. The company says every number includes 60+ features:
- Voicemail-to-email with MP3 attachments
- Unlimited SMS, call recording (with a verbal announcement), IVR, and call screening
- Robocall blocking and virtual number groups
- A mobile app and API access
It has no contract. You can keep a number for 2 minutes or 10 years. US and Canadian numbers port in free, typically in 1–5 business days.
Caveats: local-number SMS is limited to person-to-person messaging, and business texting belongs on toll-free numbers. Two-factor authentication protects your account, but not every verification service will accept these numbers.
It doesn't handle MMS. Tossable Digits is BBB Accredited since 2016 with an A+ rating; check the BBB profile for the current grade.
| Tossable Digits | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Privacy, separate identities, multiple numbers, ad tracking, light business use |
| Features | Forwarding, SMS, voicemail, recording, IVR, app, API, local/toll-free/international numbers |
| Pricing | No contract; confirm current plan prices and fees on the site |
Google Voice
Google Voice fits people already living in Google's ecosystem. Personal Basic is a free US consumer service. Workspace Voice is a separate business product with local numbers, calling, US-only SMS, voicemail, forwarding, and desk phone support.
Strengths: simple calling and texting, voicemail transcripts, Android and iOS apps, and a free tier. Limits: Google says it collects call history, and the number ties to a Google account, which privacy-minded users may dislike. Google's plans don't include general MMS or short-code delivery.
| Google Voice | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Individuals, freelancers, Workspace teams |
| Features | Calls, US SMS, transcripts, forwarding, porting for business numbers |
| Pricing | Personal Basic $0; standalone Starter $10/month, Standard $20/month; Workspace add-ons $10, $20, or $30 per user/month; personal port-in $20 |
Hushed
Hushed targets privacy and short-term use: marketplace deals, dating, travel, or a line you retire later. It offers US and Canada numbers, plus international options, with calls, SMS, voicemail, and forwarding.
Privacy separation isn't anonymity. Hushed says third-party verification isn't guaranteed because some services block VoIP numbers. Prepaid numbers expire, and restoration isn't guaranteed. Forwarding uses plan minutes for both call legs.
| Hushed | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Temporary lines, personal privacy, short projects |
| Features | Calls, SMS, voicemail, forwarding, US/Canada local numbers |
| Pricing | Unlimited local: $6.99/month (1 line) or $18.99/month (3 lines); prepaid from $7.99/30 days; international pay-as-you-go $8.99/30 days |
Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled 48 hours ahead. Taxes may apply.
Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a business phone system for solo operators and small teams who want a professional line. It offers local, toll-free, and vanity numbers, business texting, forwarding, extensions, voicemail transcription by email, and desktop and mobile apps.
It isn't built for temporary verification numbers. Business texting may need registration: the support page lists a $19.50 one-time local-number registration and $1.50/month messaging fee, and toll-free numbers need verification before texting.
The trial gives one number, three extensions, and 50 minutes for seven days, no card required. Porting is free. Check the pricing page for current plan prices.
| Grasshopper | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Solo operators and small teams |
| Features | Extensions, forwarding, texting, transcription, apps |
| Pricing | Subscription plus possible registration and messaging fees |
MySudo
MySudo creates separate "Sudo" identities, each with its own number, email, and contact list. It suits people juggling personal, shopping, and professional personas.
Calls and texts are end-to-end encrypted only between MySudo users. Messages to ordinary phones aren't. External calling reaches Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the US, and MMS works only for US and Canada. No short-code guarantee exists.
| MySudo | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Several personal identities, privacy |
| Features | Sudo-to-Sudo calls and texts, US/Canada/UK numbers |
| Pricing | Free (no numbers); SudoGo $1.99/month; SudoPro $4.99/month (3 numbers); SudoMax $14.99/month (9 numbers) |
How We Chose the Best Virtual Phone Number Apps
Official product pages, documented limitations, and reputable reviews matter more than feature lists alone. No independent head-to-head test covers all five apps, so treat this as a practical guide. The classic mistake is buying the cheapest app without checking number type, texting, or retention.
What We Checked
- Number type and reliability: VoIP or carrier-backed, SMS support, short codes, and verification. NIST's current guidance no longer bans VoIP numbers, but it doesn't require any site to accept them.
- Privacy and security: account protections, data policies, call-recording disclosure, and how easily you can port or retire a number.
- Features and usability: apps, forwarding, voicemail, IVR, number groups, API access, and setup.
- Pricing and retention: base cost, fees, renewal rules, and porting. Prices change, so confirm before buying.
- Audience fit: sellers, travelers, remote workers, and small businesses need different things.
Matching Apps to Needs
- Privacy and selling online: Tossable Digits or Hushed
- Already in Google's ecosystem: Google Voice
- Professional business line: Grasshopper
- Multiple personas: MySudo
For a long-term recovery number, number recycling is a real risk. A 2021 study found 171 of 259 sampled carrier numbers tied to existing accounts at popular services. Pick a service that holds your number.
Conclusion
The best app is the one that matches the job: private second-line calling, temporary contact, business routing, or multiple identities. Where account verification matters, treat acceptance as something to test, not assume.
Before linking a number to anything important, confirm:
- US availability
- SMS and short-code support
- Platform acceptance
- Retention
- Porting
- Security
- Total cost
If you want privacy-focused forwarding, messaging, multiple identities, and flexible call management, review the current Tossable Digits options and choose a plan without a long-term contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best virtual phone number app?
It depends on your priority: privacy, business routing, multiple identities, temporary use, or account compatibility. Tossable Digits is an option for flexible forwarding and call management, but no app is universally best.
Are there apps that provide a virtual phone number for calls and texts?
Yes, many do. Country availability, SMS type, short-code support, and third-party acceptance vary by provider, so check each one.
Are virtual phone numbers legal?
Virtual numbers are commonly used for legitimate personal and business communication in the US. Fraud, harassment, impersonation, and breaking platform terms aren't made lawful by using one. Check applicable laws and provider policies.
What is a VoIP phone number?
VoIP carries voice over an internet connection, as the FCC explains. VoIP numbers differ from mobile or landline numbers in routing, features, and portability, and some services block them for verification.
What is a burner phone number?
A burner number is a temporary, replaceable number that limits exposure of your main one. Retention, traceability, calling, texting, and account recovery depend on the provider.
