With a virtual phone number from the United States, you have the power to receive SMS verification codes and call at all times from anywhere in the world, especially those who live abroad.
U.S. virtual phone numbers come without a SIM card. you can use them to receive or make calls through apps or websites across the Internet. USA virtual Mobile numbers are used forward incoming calls to one of the pre-set telephone numbers chosen or receive a text message.
What is A US virtual phone number?
A US virtual phone number, also known as DID or access number, is a telephone number that is not directly associated with a telephone line. These numbers can be programmed to forward incoming calls to one of the pre-set telephone numbers chosen by the client; either Landline, Mobile, or VoIP.
Many virtual phone providers allow you to port your traditional phone number to a virtual one. Having a virtual phone number can make you accessible by phone anywhere, anytime, while maintaining your personal number’s privacy.
How to get a free virtual phone number from outside the USA?
To get a virtual phone number or a VoIP number, turn to a provider. A VoIP phone service provider helps you get a VoIP number when you sign up for a VoIP service plan.
Lots of 2-tier MNO tied the four main operators: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint in the United States, and the sub operators are connected to various virtual operators and VOIP networks. There are many VOIP Internet phone operators that provide free phone number services, like virtual phone numbers, which can be used to send and receive text messages and make calls.
Five free VOIP phone providers of US virtual phones number.
1. Google Voice
Google Voice is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service that allows you to make and receive calls and messages. It is free that make calls and send and receive text messages in the US and Canada.
By logging into the Google Voice website or installing the Google Voice APP, you can make calls and send and receive text messages for free forever.
Google Voice pros and cons
Virtual US number, no monthly rent, no need to recharge, can be used for a long time from anywhere in the world, it is very convenient to receive text messages, you can install the Google Voice APP to make and receive calls from the United States, and the call effect depends on the quality of the internet. The number will be recycled if it is not used for half a year.
The phone voice recording of received text messages or calls can be forwarded to your Gmail mailbox. GV numbers can be used to verify most APPs. For example, Whatsapp, Facebook (Facebook), Twitter (Twitter), Paypal, Alipay, WeChat, Tiktok, Baidu, Sina Weibo, etc.
How to get a Google Voice number
You can’t create a Google Voice account unless you already have a US phone number to verify your account. But, if you are outside the United States, you can ask your American friend to help you verify your google voice account.
In order to save time, you can spend a little money buying a GV account.
2. Textnow
TextNow is an APP from the US that provides free US virtual numbers. You only need to link your Facebook, Google account, or Apple ID to create an account. After successful registration, you will get a free US virtual phone number. You can make and receive calls and send and receive text messages for free without any cost (only in the United States and between numbers in Canada). Textnow is very similar to Google Voice.
Textnow pros and cons
- Free to use
- Textnow website can only send and receive text messages, go to the google play store or apple store to download the textnow app, you can make calls
- There are ads. There are advertisements in the APP and web interface. It is easy to touch by mistake, spend 0.03$ to remove ads for 30 minutes.
- You can watch ads to earn a balance, and after you have a balance, you can make calls to non-US and Canadian regions
- Its number is not used for a week, it will be recycled, and a new number can be selected after recycling.
- Because it is a virtual number, some apps cannot be verified
How to create a Textnow account?
Open Textnow’s official website, http://textnow.com. Click Sign Up Free, then create an account, there are 3 ways to choose (FB, google account, and US Apple account), it is recommended to choose a google account, enter an area code, and get a random US virtual phone number.
How to avoid Textnow US virtual phone number being recycled?
If you want to keep your current TextNow U.S. number for a long time, you cannot guarantee to log in to TextNow once a week. You need to avoid Textnow US virtual phone numbers being recycled.
You can subscribe to advertisements and receive SMS guarantee numbers every week. Send “auto” from “67135”, and then reply to Y to subscribe to the advertisement push SMS, and receive 4 Autozone (an auto parts brand) advertisement push SMS every week. Send “2” to cancel the subscription.
3. Textfree
Textfree and Textnow are like sisters, with similar interfaces and functions. The parent company of Textfree is Pinger, which specializes in virtual phone numbers, sending and receiving text messages. After registering Textfree through a Google or Facebook account, you can assign a free US virtual phone number, which can be used to send and receive text messages, and make calls to the US and Canada in its APP.
Textfree pros and cons
- Send and receive text messages and make calls for free
- Easy to create an account, but requires FB or Google account to assist verification
- Can register Facebook, WhatsApp, TG, and other social accounts
- The number will be recycled if it is not used for a month, and the number can be reassigned after recycling
How to create Textfree account?
Open textfree.us, click register in the upper right corner, or use Facebook, Google account to link registration, enter account password to register to choose one of the 3 ways to assist verification.
By default, an area code and a corresponding batch of numbers are assigned for you to choose. If you want to define your own area code, you can re-enter a US area code, and Textfree will assign a batch of phone numbers for that state according to the area code of the US state you entered.
4.Talkatone
Talkatone is also like Textnow, Textfree is a free phone app from US. After successful registration, you will get a free U.S. number, and you can make unlimited free calls and send and receive text messages with U.S. phone numbers and numbers in Canada.
Talkatone pros and cons
- You can send and receive text messages for free and make calls for free
- You can change the phone number unlimitedly, the first time is free. Replace once after 0.99 knives
- Talkatone has no web version, only APP
- High requirements for registered IP, it is best to use the native IP to register, not the IP of the computer room
- Talkatone Plus for $3.99: 1. Never expires number 2. Call forwarding 3. Voicemail
How to create a Talkatone account?
Download the Talkatone APP in the Google Play Store or Apple Store. It is best to use a USA IP address to register. Open the Talkatone APP. Just prepare a mailbox. You can also use Google, Facebook account link to register. Then you will receive a verification code by email, enter it to complete the registration.
5. Twilio
Twilio is a communication PaaS platform for program developers, which can automatically send and receive short messages for verification codes of websites or apps. Twilio will give you a $15.50 trial credit when you sign up, which can be used to buy a virtual phone number in the United States. If you only receive text messages, the trial fee can be used for one year.
The U.S. phone number provided by Twillo is a mobile number, a non-fixed number.
Twilio pros and cons
Free US phone number for one year, unless it expires, it will not be recycled if not used in the middle
In the registration process, no need to log to Google or Facebook account auxiliary verification code.
The number is a mobile phone number, not a fixed phone number, can register more applications
Because it is for programmers, sending and receiving text messages in the background is a little more complicated
Can’t make phone calls, only text messages.
How to create a Twilio account?
Go to www.twilio.com/referral/U9yonT to get an additional $10 trial credit through my link, then click sign up at the top right of the page to enter the registration page. Enter your name, email, and 14-digit password.
Next, enter your mobile phone number to receive the verification code, even your location phone number. After successful registration, you will receive $15.50, and then click Get a Trial Number to get a trial phone number. You’ll get a new US phone number on the next screen.If you prefer another number, just search through the available options and find the area code you like, and pick the new number of your choice.
How use Twilio to receive text messages?
Click on your number in the main menu # -> Phone Numbers -> Number column.
Click Message Log –> Incoming –> Hover the mouse cursor to your number under the To column, you can see the content of the received text message in the pop-up prompt box.
Summary
The above are 5 ways to get a free US phone number. Among them, Google Voice is more difficult to obtain outside USA. But the GV phone number is not only attractive but also long-lasting, and it can be associated with important applications.
Textnow and Textfree numbers are easier to get, but it is not easy to keep the number and can be used to temporarily receive SMS verification codes. Twilio number is easy to obtain, and it is still a mobile phone number. It is more troublesome to check text messages, but after using it, the Twilio phone number is still very practical, and there is no need to the number living. If you only send and receive text messages, you can use it free for more than one year.