Get a free second phone number

September 29, 2025

By Kim Komando

Here’s something smart to start your week. Get a free, private second phone number you can use from your smartphone. It’s perfect for keeping your personal number personal. 

With Google Voice, you get a real U.S. phone number that rings to your cell, computer or tablet. You can call, text, screen calls and get your voicemails transcribed to text, all without revealing your main number.

💡 Why you’d want one

• Selling something online? Don’t give strangers your real number.
• Want a business line without paying for another phone? Done.
• Dating? A second number lets you keep control.
• Sick of spam? Change the Google Voice number anytime, not your real one.
• Traveling abroad? Call and text for free over Wi-Fi.

⚙️ How to set it up

1. Go to voice.google.com on your phone or computer.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Pick a phone number, you can search by area code or city.
4. Link it to your mobile number (or any number you want it to ring).
5. Download the Google Voice app for iPhone or Android.

Now, when someone calls your Google Voice number, it’ll ring your real phone. 

📞 Features you’ll love

• Voicemail transcriptions: Read your messages like texts.
• Call forwarding: Route calls to multiple devices.
• Custom greetings: Set different ones for different callers.
• Do Not Disturb: Silence calls when you need space.
• Call screening: Hear who’s calling before you pick up.

For personal use, Google Voice is totally free. Calls and texts to the U.S. and Canada cost nothing. You only pay for international calls, and rates are low. The business version starts at $10/month. It adds auto-attendants, call routing for teams and admin tools.

Bottom line? If you don’t already have a second number, it’s free and easy to use. And get ready to groan. What are the first three digits of an opera singer’s phone number? The aria code. (You can’t say I didn’t warn you!)

🤝 Share this great insider tech tip with your family and friends using the handy-dandy icons below. They need a free number and just don’t know it, yet.