The Best Google Voice Alternatives in 2026 (Especially If You're in the UK or Canada)

If you've ever tried to sign up for Google Voice from the UK or Canada, you already know how this story ends. You click through, feeling organised and ready to sort out your phone situation, and then Google politely informs you that Google Voice isn't available in your country.

It's one of the most common frustrations we hear. Google Voice is the default answer whenever anyone asks "how do I get a second phone number?" on Reddit or in a Facebook group. But that advice only works if you live in the United States. The personal (free) version of Google Voice requires a US phone number to sign up and is only officially available to people in the US.

So if you're in London, Toronto, Manchester, or Vancouver, you need a Google Voice alternative. And honestly, even if you're in the US, there are good reasons to look at other options (more on that below).

In this guide we'll cover:

• Why Google Voice doesn't work in the UK or Canada
• What to look for in a Google Voice replacement
• The 7 best Google Voice alternatives in 2026, compared honestly
• Which one to pick based on how you'll actually use it

Let's get into it.

Why Google Voice Doesn't Work in the UK or Canada

There are actually two versions of Google Voice, and this is where most of the confusion comes from.

Google Voice (personal) is the free one everyone talks about. It gives you a free US number for calls, texts, and voicemail. The catch: it's US-only. You need an existing US phone number to verify your account, and Google restricts sign-ups to the US. There is no free UK or Canadian version, and there never has been.

Google Voice for Google Workspace is a paid business product. It's available in the UK, Canada, and a handful of other countries, but it requires a Google Workspace subscription on top of the Voice licence, admin setup, and a business context. If you just want a second number for dating apps, selling your sofa on Facebook Marketplace, or keeping work calls off your personal line, it's overkill. You'd be paying for a business phone system to solve a personal problem.

Some people try workarounds: VPNs, borrowed US numbers, US Google accounts. These sometimes work for sign-up and then break later, usually at the worst possible moment, because Google can flag and suspend accounts that violate its regional terms. A number you can lose overnight isn't a number you can rely on.

The good news is that the alternatives have gotten genuinely good. Here's how to judge them.

What Actually Matters in a Google Voice Alternative

Before the list, a quick filter. Whatever app you choose, check it against these five things:

1. Real numbers, not shared ones. Some free apps hand out recycled or shared VoIP numbers. These get flagged constantly, which is why your bank or WhatsApp refuses to send a verification code to them. A dedicated number that belongs only to you is worth paying a few pounds or dollars for.
2. Local numbers where you live. If you're in the UK, you probably want a UK mobile number your contacts can call without international charges. Same logic for Canada. A US-only app doesn't solve your problem.
3. Calls AND texts. Plenty of "virtual number" services are receive-only or SMS-only. A proper second phone number app should handle incoming and outgoing calls, SMS, and ideally picture messages.
4. Works for verification codes. One of the biggest reasons people want a second number is to receive OTPs and sign-up codes privately. Cheap shared numbers routinely fail here.
5. No second SIM required. The whole point is convenience. The number should live in an app on the phone you already own.

Keep those in mind as you read the comparisons. Now, the list.

The 7 Best Google Voice Alternatives in 2026

1. Inovo Second Number (best overall, especially for UK & Canada)

Yes, this is our app, so take the ranking with the grain of salt it deserves. But here's the honest case for it.

Inovo Second Number gives you a real, dedicated phone number in the US, UK, or Canada in about 60 seconds. No SIM card, no new device, no VPN tricks. You pick your country, browse available numbers, and the one you choose is yours alone. That matters more than it sounds: because the number is dedicated and real, it behaves like a normal mobile number. People can call it, text it, and yes, verification codes generally arrive on it.

What you get:

• Real US, UK, and Canadian numbers (this is the big one Google Voice can't offer outside the US)
• Full calling and texting, including picture messages
• Up to 5 numbers on one phone, each with its own alias (label one "Dating", one "Marketplace", one "Work")
• Release a number when you're done with it. Your real number stays yours.
• Sign in with Google or Apple, no password needed

Pricing: subscriptions start at $19.99/month or $49.99/year, and every billing period includes bundled calling/texting credits that roll over and never expire. There's also a weekly plan at $6.99 if you only need a number for a short stretch, like a trip or a house sale.

The catch: it's iOS only for now, and it's not free. If you want a genuinely free number and can tolerate ads and a shared-quality number, TextNow (below) exists. But if the number needs to actually work, dedicated beats free.

2. Hushed (best for short-term burner numbers)

Hushed has been around for years and is a solid pick if you want a temporary number for a few days or weeks. It offers numbers in the US, Canada, and the UK, with prepaid plans that don't require a subscription.

Good: flexible prepaid model, wide country selection, decent app.

Less good: the cheapest plans have tight limits on minutes and texts, numbers on short plans expire quickly, and quality on verification codes can be hit and miss depending on the number you get.

If your use case is "I need a number for exactly one week and then never again", Hushed is worth a look.

3. Burner (best-known name in the US)

Burner more or less invented the "burner number" app category. It's polished, well-reviewed, and great for the classic use cases: dating, Craigslist, keeping your real number private.

Good: mature app, auto-reply and spam-blocking features, easy to burn a number and start fresh.

Less good: it's US and Canada focused (no UK numbers), and it's subscription-priced similarly to dedicated-number apps while still being VoIP-first. UK readers can skip this one.

4. TextNow (best free option, with big trade-offs)

TextNow gives you a free US or Canadian number supported by ads. For zero dollars, that's genuinely impressive, and for casual texting it can be enough.

Good: free, unlimited calling and texting to the US and Canada.

Less good: the free numbers are recycled and widely flagged, so many services (banks, WhatsApp, Google itself) refuse to send verification codes to them. Numbers can be reclaimed if you go inactive. No UK numbers. And you're the product: the app is ad-heavy.

Rule of thumb: if failure doesn't cost you anything, TextNow is fine. If the number matters, pay for a dedicated one.

5. Skype Number (best if you live in Microsoft's world)

Microsoft still sells Skype Numbers in around 25 countries, including the UK and Canada. You get a real local number people can call, and you answer in Skype.

Good: wide country coverage, backed by Microsoft, reasonable monthly pricing.

Less good: it's built around the ageing Skype app rather than a native phone experience, SMS support is limited (receiving texts works in few regions, and verification codes often don't arrive), and Microsoft's long-term commitment to Skype is an open question. Better for receiving calls than for living your texting life.

6. Sideline (best for US small businesses)

Sideline positions itself as a work line for your existing phone. It uses your phone's minutes rather than VoIP for calls, which makes call quality reliable.

Good: solid call quality, business features like auto-replies and team numbers.

Less good: US-centric, no UK numbers, and pricier than most consumer options. If you're a US freelancer who mostly calls clients, it's a fair pick. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

7. Google Voice for Workspace (best if you already run Google Workspace)

Worth an honourable mention because it is, technically, the way to get Google Voice in the UK or Canada. If your company already pays for Google Workspace, adding Voice licences gets you real UK or Canadian business numbers with Google-grade reliability.

Good: deep Gmail/Calendar/Meet integration, proper business phone system features.

Less good: requires Workspace plus a per-user Voice licence, admin setup, and it's designed for organisations. For a personal second number, this is a sledgehammer for a drawing pin.

Quick Comparison

How to Get a Second Number in the UK or Canada in 60 Seconds

Here's the whole process with Inovo Second Number, start to finish:

1. Download the app and sign in with Google or Apple. No forms, no password.
2. Pick your country and browse numbers. US, UK, or Canada. Search by area code if you want a local look.
3. Claim your number and start using it. Calls, texts, and picture messages work immediately. Add an alias so you always know which line is ringing.

That's it. No SIM card in the post, no carrier phone call, no VPN gymnastics to convince Google you live in Ohio.

Which Google Voice Alternative Should You Choose?

If you skimmed to the end, here's the honest short version:

• You're in the UK or Canada and want a real second number: Inovo Second Number. Dedicated local numbers, full calls and texts, up to 5 lines on one phone.
• You need a number for a week and then never again: Hushed's prepaid plans.
• You want free and can live with the limitations: TextNow, with the understanding that verification codes and reliability are a coin flip.
• Your company already pays for Google Workspace: Google Voice for Workspace is the only "real" Google Voice route outside the US.

Your real number is for people you trust. For everyone else (buyers, matches, clients, sign-up forms), a second number keeps your private life private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google Voice available in the UK?

Not the free personal version. Personal Google Voice is US-only and requires a US phone number to sign up. In the UK, Google Voice is only available as part of a paid Google Workspace business subscription.

Is Google Voice available in Canada?

Same situation as the UK. Personal Google Voice doesn't support Canadian sign-ups. Google Voice for Workspace supports Canada, but it's a paid business product. For a personal second number in Canada, an app like Inovo Second Number is the simpler route.

Can I use Google Voice with a VPN outside the US?

People try, and it sometimes works at sign-up. But it violates Google's terms, requires a US number to verify anyway, and accounts get flagged. Don't build anything important on a number you can lose without warning.

What's the best free Google Voice alternative?

TextNow is the strongest free option, offering ad-supported US and Canadian numbers. Just know the trade-offs: recycled numbers, frequent verification-code failures, and no UK numbers.

Do second phone number apps work for verification codes (OTPs)?

It depends on the number quality. Shared and recycled VoIP numbers are widely flagged and often rejected. Dedicated numbers, like the ones Inovo Second Number provisions, are yours alone and generally receive verification codes normally. No provider can guarantee 100% of services (a few banks insist on carrier SIM numbers), but dedicated beats shared every time.

Do I need a second SIM card or phone?

No. All the apps in this guide work over the internet on the phone you already have. Your second number lives in the app, alongside your existing SIM number.

Can I have more than one second number?

With Inovo Second Number you can hold up to 5 numbers at once on a single phone, each with its own label. Handy if you want separate lines for work, selling, and dating.

Inovo Second Number gives you a real US, UK, or Canadian phone number in about 60 seconds. Calls, texts, and picture messages, with your personal number kept private.