Yes, you can get a second phone number for free, but free almost always comes with a catch. Free second numbers are usually paid for by ads, capped by usage limits, limited to people who meet eligibility rules, or taken back if you stop using them. Google Voice, TextNow, TextFree, and AvoCall each make that trade-off differently, so the best free option depends on which catch you can live with.
The free options at a glance
Facts below are from each company's own pages as of October 2026. Plans change, so check before you sign up.
| App | What is free | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | A Basic plan for personal use with calls to the US and Canada and texts | US only; needs another phone number and government ID verification; may be reclaimed after 3 months without calls or texts |
| TextNow | Calling and texting paid for by ads | A new number expires within 24 hours if you never call or text from it; inactive numbers can be revoked, with no fixed period |
| TextFree | Calling and texting paid for by ads | The number expires after 30 days without an outgoing text or call; short-code and verification texts need TextFree Plus |
| AvoCall | Eligible new Android accounts: an ad-supported plan with limited US and Canada minutes and texts | Allowances are limited; a number can be released after the inactivity period shown in the app |
Sideline, Hushed, and Burner do not have a free plan. As of October 2026, Sideline offers no free trial, Hushed occasionally offers a short trial on iPhone, and Burner offers a 3-day trial when you subscribe in the app. See the best second phone number apps for how the paid options compare.
The four catches of a free number
1. Ads
Ads are how most free numbers pay for themselves. TextNow's App Store listing says it partners "with brands to pay for your phone service... through in-app ads," and TextFree says ads "pay for all your inbound and outbound texts and pictures." AvoCall's free plan is ad-supported too. AvoCall+ removes in-app ads, and TextNow sells ad-free options.
2. Usage limits
Some free plans cap what you can use. AvoCall's free plan includes a limited monthly allowance of US and Canada minutes and texts, shown in the app. AvoCall+ raises that to unlimited US and Canada calls and texts. See current pricing.
3. Eligibility rules
Google Voice is free, but as of October 2026 Google's help pages say the Basic plan is only available in the US, needs another phone number to verify the account, and that new numbers cannot call or text until you complete identity verification with a government ID. That is fine for many US residents, but it rules out people who already live abroad.
4. Losing an unused number
This is the catch people notice too late. Free numbers that sit idle get reclaimed and can be handed to someone else:
- TextFree: "your number will expire... after 30 days of inactivity," meaning no message sent and no outgoing call (TextFree help).
- TextNow: a new number "will expire within the first twenty-four hours of activation" if it is not used to call or text, and after that "there's no hard-and-fast rule" on inactivity, though TextNow sends a warning first. TextNow sells a Lock In Number add-on to keep it.
- Google Voice: Google "may reclaim your Google Voice number... if you do not appear to be making use of the service... such as placing calls or sending text messages for a period of 3 months" (Google Voice policy).
- AvoCall: on the free plan, a number can be released after the inactivity period shown in the app, and a released number may go to someone else. AvoCall+ keeps your number for as long as you are subscribed.
If losing the number would hurt, for example because family abroad or your kid's school has it, use it regularly or pay to keep it.
How AvoCall's free plan works
- If you are an eligible new Android user, download AvoCall and verify your account with a supported mobile number.
- Pick a US or Canada number by area code or city.
- Use the free, ad-supported plan, with the current minute and text allowance shown in the app.
- Upgrade to AvoCall+ if you need more minutes and texts, voicemail transcription, no in-app ads, or want to keep your number while subscribed.
The free offer currently applies to eligible new Android accounts. iPhone uses the TestFlight beta and shows its available plans before you pay. International calling is separate: calls to supported countries use wallet credit at the rate shown before you dial.
What a free number is good for
- Selling on Marketplace or Craigslist without posting your real number
- Dating and early conversations with matches
- Sign-up forms, loyalty programs, and contests
What it is not good for: your bank's sign-in codes or anything you cannot afford to lose access to. Some services refuse virtual numbers for verification texts; see can a virtual number receive verification texts?. And AvoCall does not support 911, so keep your regular phone service for emergencies.
Related guides
- How to get a second number on iPhone without a SIM
- How to get a second phone number on Android
- Compare AvoCall with Google Voice, TextNow, and TextFree
Frequently asked questions
Can I really get a second phone number for free?
Yes. Google Voice, TextNow, TextFree, and AvoCall all offer a free way to get a second number. The trade-off is usually ads, usage limits, eligibility rules, or the risk of losing a number you stop using.
Why do free numbers get taken back?
Phone numbers are a limited resource, so free services reclaim numbers that sit unused. As of October 2026, TextFree says a number expires after 30 days without an outgoing text or call, and Google says it may reclaim a Google Voice number after 3 months without calls or texts.
Is AvoCall free?
AvoCall is free to download and currently offers eligible new Android accounts a free, ad-supported plan with limited US and Canada minutes and texts; the current allowance is shown in the app. AvoCall+ adds unlimited US and Canada calls and texts (fair use policy applies), and keeps your number while you are subscribed.
Do free second numbers work for verification codes?
Sometimes. Many free numbers are virtual numbers, and some services refuse them or send codes from short codes that do not reach them. Several apps, AvoCall included, put fuller verification-text support in their paid plans.
Which free second number app is best?
If you live in the US, already have a US mobile number, and are fine with ID verification, Google Voice is hard to beat on price. If you want ads in exchange for no subscription, TextNow and TextFree are options. If you want to pick a US or Canada number by area code or city and upgrade later, AvoCall's free plan is available to eligible new Android accounts.