Which Second Phone Number App Should You Use in 2026? Inovo Second Number vs Hushed, TextNow, Google Voice and Burner

The five apps people shortlist for a second number, compared on the things that decide whether the number still works in three months.

Five ways to get a second number, and the catch that comes with each.

Short answer: If you live in the US and want a free number for casual calls, Google Voice is still the default, as long as you keep using it. If you want a free number and can live with ads and possible recycling, TextNow works in North America. Burner is the polished US and Canada pick for disposable numbers you delete when the job is done, and Hushed is the flexible option for short-term US, Canadian or UK numbers. If you want a US, UK or Canadian number for your personal second line or freelance client calls and texts, Inovo Second Number is built for exactly that, within its person-to-person limits.

The 60-Second Version

• Google Voice: free US number, US residents only for personal use. Google may reclaim it after about 3 months of inactivity. Paid Workspace plans reach more countries but are business products.
• TextNow: free with ads, North America only. Free numbers can be recycled after inactivity, and TextNow says verification codes need a SIM or a paid upgrade.
• Burner: paid, US and Canada only, built for numbers you create, use and delete. Standard calls route through your carrier minutes, and the App Store listing says it does not work with SMS short code services.
• Hushed: paid, US, Canada and UK numbers, with subscription, prepaid and international plans. Prepaid numbers expire unless you extend them.
• Inovo Second Number: US, UK and Canadian numbers with calls, SMS/MMS and international calling, available on iPhone and Android. Verification codes work with most services, not all. Person-to-person use only, about 20 outbound texts a day. A lasting number you keep, for work or everyday life.
• No app on this list can promise every bank or platform will accept its number. Anyone who says otherwise is selling.

Why this comparison exists

Every "best second number app" list ends up recommending the same five names. What those lists rarely tell you is the catch each one carries, because the catch only shows up later: the week you stop using a free number and it goes to a stranger, the morning your bank refuses to text a code, the trip where you discover the app does not sell numbers in the country you live in.

We make one of the five apps, so read our section with that in mind. We have tried to be as blunt about our own limits as about anyone else's, and every competitor fact below links to that company's own help pages or pricing pages, checked on 6 October 2026.

If you are outside the US and specifically looking for a Google Voice replacement, our guide to Google Voice alternatives in the UK and Canada goes deeper on that one question. This page is the five-way comparison.

The full comparison table

The same comparison as the table below, at a glance.

Inovo Second Number

Hushed

Burner

TextNow

Google Voice

Number countries

US, UK, Canada

US, Canada, UK (plus Puerto Rico)

US and Canada (not Puerto Rico)

North America; sign-up blocked outside it

Personal: US only. Workspace: 14 countries or regions

Who can sign up

Available on iPhone and Android

iOS, Android, web store

iOS, Android, web app

Inside North America only, no VPN

Personal plans: US only, existing phone number required for the free plan

Calls and texts

Calls, SMS/MMS, international calling

Calls and texts; international calling on a separate plan

Calls, texts, picture messages; standard calls use your carrier minutes

Calls and texts over Wi-Fi or data; international calls with credits

Calls, texts, voicemail; Google's plan page lists "US texting"

Verification codes (honest version)

Work with most services, not all

Hushed says codes are not guaranteed

Not compatible with SMS short code services; a separate "Verified Numbers" plan exists

Needs a TextNow SIM or a paid upgrade; Canadian codes "largely unsupported"

Often accepted, but some banks and services block VoIP numbers

The catch with free

Not a free app

No free plan

Free download, 3-day trial for eligible new app users, then paid

Ads, and free numbers are recycled after inactivity

Free number can be reclaimed after about 3 months of inactivity

Usage limits to know

Person-to-person only; about 20 outbound texts a day; no automated or bulk sending

Prepaid plans include capped minutes or texts

Subscription-based lines; deleting a number is permanent

Free tier relies on regular activity

Subject to Google's Voice Acceptable Use Policy

Best for

A lasting personal or work second line for calls and texts in the US, UK or Canada

Short-term or prepaid numbers, including UK

Disposable US or Canadian numbers for dating and selling

Zero-budget casual texting in North America

Free personal US number you use regularly

What the competitors charge (as of 2026-10-06)

Inovo Second Number does not publish prices outside the app, so our column says "see in app". Competitor prices are their own published figures in USD unless noted. Taxes, app store pricing and promotions can change what you actually pay, so check the linked page before you buy.

App

Free option

Paid entry point

Other published prices

Source (checked)

Inovo Second Number

See in app

See in app

See in app

In the app

Hushed

None

Unlimited 1-line US/Canada: 6.99 USD a month (66.99 USD a year)

UK 1-line: 9.99 USD a month. Prepaid 30-day: 7.99 USD (50 minutes or 150 texts). Worldwide 30-day pay-as-you-go plan: 8.99 USD including 1 USD of credit

Hushed Support: Pricing & Packages, as of 2026-10-06

Burner

3-day trial for eligible new users who sign up in the app

One number on the web: 7.99 USD a month or 47.99 USD a year

App Store or Play Store: from 9.99 USD a month or 59.99 USD a year. Web Premium: 12.99 USD a month or 69.99 USD a year

Burner FAQ and Burner pricing, as of 2026-10-06

TextNow

Free, ad-supported

Lock In Number: 1.99 USD a week (2.49 CAD)

Ad-Free+: 6.99 USD a week (8.99 CAD)

TextNow: Upgrades (published 2026-04-03), as of 2026-10-06

Google Voice

Basic Google Voice: no charge (US only)

Voice Starter (standalone, personal Gmail): 10 USD a month

Voice Standard standalone: 20 USD a month. Workspace add-ons: Starter 10, Standard 20, Premier 30 USD per user a month, plus a separate paid Workspace plan

Google Voice Help: subscription types and Google Workspace: Voice plans, as of 2026-10-06

A pattern worth noticing: the "free" apps sell the fix for their own catch. TextNow's Lock In Number exists because free numbers get recycled. Google Voice's paid Starter plan advertises that "your number will not be reclaimed due to inactivity", which tells you what happens on the free one.

Inovo Second Number

Yes, this is our app. Here is what it does and what it will not do.

What you get:

• A real phone number in the US, the UK or Canada, on the phone you already have. No second SIM.
• Calls, SMS and MMS from that number, plus international calling, which matters if part of your life is in another country.
• Verification codes that arrive from most services. Not all. Some banks and platforms run line-type checks and reject any number that is not a carrier SIM, and no app can talk its way past that. Our guide to websites that won't accept a VoIP number explains what is actually happening when a code never shows up.
• Available on iPhone and Android.

What it will not do (by design):

• It is for person-to-person use. You, texting a buyer, a client or a match. Not software texting hundreds of people.
• You can send about 20 outbound texts a day. That is plenty for a personal line or a freelancer replying to clients. It is nowhere near enough for marketing blasts, and it is not meant to be.
• No automated sending, no bulk or A2P messaging, no store order alerts, no shared team inbox. If you need business messaging infrastructure, you need a business messaging provider, not a second number app.

Where it fits: a UK freelancer who wants client calls off their personal mobile, a Canadian seller who needs a number buyers can text, tradespeople running their own work line, landlords running a property line for tenants (see a separate phone number for tenants), a traveller who wants a US number that keeps receiving texts from abroad (more on that in our guide to receiving verification texts abroad), or anyone who wants a second line that is not tied to an ad-supported free tier. It is a lasting number for an active account, not a throwaway.

Where it does not fit: anyone who needs high-volume texting, and anyone who needs a guarantee that every bank will accept the number. Nobody can honestly offer that last one.

Price: see in app.

Get it on the App Store or Google Play.

Hushed

Hushed, made by AffinityClick in Ottawa, has been selling second numbers for years and still has one of the widest menus of plans in the category.

Pros:

• US, Canadian and UK numbers, which puts it in a short list of consumer apps that cover the UK at all.
• Three ways to pay: auto-renewing unlimited subscriptions, prepaid plans that do not renew, and a worldwide pay-as-you-go plan for international calling, per Hushed's pricing help page.
• Voicemail, call forwarding to local numbers and SMS auto-reply are included on all plans.

Cons:

• The plan structure takes reading. Plans are "not stackable", so local, international and prepaid each need their own number. Hushed also notes that international texting is only available for US and Canadian numbers, and UK numbers can only call internationally.
• Prepaid numbers expire. In Hushed's words, "When your number expires, you just need to extend it manually." Forget, and the number you gave a client stops working.
• The prepaid 30-day plan includes 50 calling minutes or 150 SMS messages, so it suits light use.
• Verification is explicitly not promised. Hushed's own verification code help page says numbers "are NOT guaranteed to work with third-party verification", and that changing your number will not get around another company's policy.

Best for: short-term numbers, including UK numbers, when you want to pay for a fixed window and walk away.

Burner

Burner, from Ad Hoc Labs in Los Angeles, launched in 2012 and more or less named the category.

Pros:

• Built around the create, use, delete cycle. Deleting a number removes its calls, texts and voicemail, which is exactly what you want after a sale or a few dates.
• Ad-free, with spam filtering on by default, auto-reply and per-number Do Not Disturb, per the Burner FAQ.
• Works on iOS, Android and the web, and supports many lines at once on iOS.
• Burner offers a separate "Verified Numbers" subscription for a number that, in its words, "behaves more like a traditional mobile one". That is an honest admission that standard Burner numbers get rejected by some sites.

Cons:

• US and Canada only. The App Store listing says "Available in the US and Canada (excluding Puerto Rico)." No UK numbers.
• The same listing says "Calls use your existing phone service provider minutes" and that Burner is "Not compatible with SMS short code services or emergency (911) calls." Short codes are the five and six digit senders many services use for login codes.
• No call or text forwarding to another number.
• Paid after the trial, and the app store price is higher than buying on Burner's website.

Best for: US and Canadian users who want disposable numbers for dating, Marketplace and Craigslist. Our marketplace selling guide and dating privacy guide cover how to use any second number safely in those situations.

TextNow

TextNow is the free option most people try first, and for casual texting in North America it is genuinely useful. The catch is written plainly on TextNow's own help pages.

Pros:

• Free calling and texting to North American numbers over Wi-Fi or data, paid for by in-app ads.
• Optional paid upgrades if you want to remove ads or keep your number.
• Works on Android and iOS.

Cons:

• North America only. TextNow's country availability page says you cannot register from outside North America, and its login help says it is not supported through a VPN. Travellers and expats are out.
• Free numbers are recycled. TextNow says that if a number "hasn't sent a text or made a call in a while", it is removed from the account and given to someone else, per its upgrades explainer. TextNow's verification code help page is candid about the risk: a recycled number "could create security concerns" for accounts tied to it.
• Verification codes are gated. TextNow says you receive most codes only "by activating a TextNow SIM card or purchasing" Lock In Number or Ad-Free+, that some services do not support TextNow numbers at all, and that Canadian verification codes "are largely unsupported at this time."
• Ads, unless you pay to remove them.

Best for: zero-budget casual texting in the US, where losing the number would not hurt. Do not hang a bank account, a client relationship or anything you log into on a free TextNow number.

Google Voice

Google Voice is the first answer on every forum thread, and for people in the US it deserves to be. It is free, it works across devices, and it plugs into your Google account.

Pros:

• Basic Google Voice is a no-charge personal plan with voicemail transcription and unlimited domestic calls and texts, per Google's subscription guide.
• Works on Android, iPhone, iPad and the web.
• If you outgrow it, Google now sells paid Starter and Standard plans to personal Gmail users without a Workspace account.

Cons:

• US only for personal use. Google's guide says the single-user plans "are only available in the US", and the free plan requires an existing phone number. UK and Canadian readers can stop here (and read our Google Voice alternatives guide instead).
• The free number can be taken back. Google's Voice Acceptable Use Policy says it may reclaim your number if you are not placing calls or sending texts "for a period of 3 months". After the reclaim date you get 45 days to recover it, per Reclaim your Voice number.
• The version available in more countries is a business product. Voice for Google Workspace covers 14 countries or regions (Google Workspace: Voice plans), but needs a paid Workspace plan on top of the Voice add-on, admin setup and an organisation. Google's Voice plans page also describes texting on these plans as "US texting", so check SMS support before relying on a UK or Canadian Workspace number for texts.
• Google Voice numbers are VoIP numbers, and some banks and services reject them for verification. Whether a specific service accepts yours is the service's decision, not Google's.

Best for: US residents who want a free second number and will actually use it every few weeks.

A note on Skype Number

Older comparison posts, including some of ours, still list Skype Number. Do not choose it. Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025 and stopped selling Skype Numbers, per Microsoft Support.

The free app catch, in one picture

This is the single most underrated difference between the five apps. With TextNow's free tier and Google Voice's free plan, the number is yours only while you keep using it. That is fine for a number you text from every week. It is a real problem for a number you gave a client last spring, or one you used to sign up for an account you rarely open. Whoever gets that number next can receive the texts meant for you, including login codes.

If a number is tied to anything you log into, either keep it active, pay for the option that locks it, or use a paid app.

What verification actually looks like

All five apps give you an internet-based number, and every one of them says, somewhere in its help pages, that some services will refuse it. Hushed says it outright. TextNow says it outright. Burner sells a separate verified number product because of it. Google leaves the decision to whoever is sending the code.

The honest ranking is not "which app works everywhere", because none do. It is:

1. Does the app tell you the truth about it?
2. Does the number stay yours, so a code that worked once keeps working?
3. Does the app support the senders you care about (for example, short codes)?

Inovo Second Number numbers receive verification codes from most services. When one does not, it is almost always the service's line-type check, and the fixes are in our VoIP rejection guide.

How to choose: a decision guide by use case

You live in the UK and want a UK number for your personal second line or freelance work. Inovo Second Number or Hushed. Burner, TextNow and personal Google Voice do not offer UK numbers.

You live in Canada. Inovo Second Number, Hushed or Burner all offer Canadian numbers. TextNow works in Canada, but says Canadian verification codes are largely unsupported. Personal Google Voice is US only.

You are in the US and want a free number for casual use. Google Voice, if you will use it at least every few weeks. TextNow if you also accept ads. Neither is a good home for anything you log into.

You are selling on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Any paid app you can walk away from. Burner is built for this in the US and Canada; Inovo Second Number and Hushed work too. See our marketplace selling guide.

You are dating online. A number you can drop without drama. Burner (US and Canada) or Inovo Second Number. Our dating guide covers when to share your real number.

You are a freelancer taking client calls and texts. Inovo Second Number for a US, UK or Canadian line that is not tied to a free tier. Keep it person-to-person: you replying to clients, not automated reminders.

You travel or live abroad and need to keep receiving texts on a US, UK or Canadian number. Inovo Second Number or Hushed. TextNow blocks sign-ups outside North America, and Google Voice personal requires a US setup. Read our guide to receiving verification texts abroad first.

You also call family in another country. International calling is built into Inovo Second Number. Hushed sells a separate international plan. TextNow and Google Voice charge separately for international calls.

You need to send texts to hundreds of people, run order alerts or share an inbox with a team. None of these consumer apps is the right tool, and Inovo Second Number's Terms do not allow it. Look at a business messaging provider that handles A2P registration.

You need a number your bank will definitely accept. A carrier SIM or eSIM. No app-based number can guarantee this. Our guide to getting a second number without a SIM explains the app vs eSIM vs dual SIM trade-off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best second phone number app in 2026?

It depends on where you live and what the number is for. Google Voice is the best free choice for active US users. TextNow is the free choice if you accept ads and recycling. Burner suits disposable US and Canadian numbers, Hushed suits short-term numbers including the UK, and Inovo Second Number suits a personal second line or freelance client calls and texts in the US, UK or Canada.

Hushed or Burner: which is better for a number you keep?

Hushed covers the US, Canada and the UK and offers prepaid plans that do not renew. Burner covers only the US and Canada, but is built around deleting and replacing numbers and includes spam filtering by default. If you need a UK number, Burner is not an option. If you want a lasting number you keep for work or everyday life, rather than one you delete after a sale or a few dates, look at Inovo Second Number or a Hushed subscription you renew.

TextNow vs Google Voice: which is better?

Both are free in their home markets and both can take a number back after inactivity. Google Voice personal is US only and needs an existing phone number to sign up. TextNow works across North America with ads, and says receiving most verification codes requires a TextNow SIM or a paid upgrade.

Is TextNow really free?

Yes, the basic service is free and paid for by ads. The trade-offs are that free numbers can be recycled after inactivity and most verification codes require a SIM or a paid upgrade, per TextNow's help center.

Is Google Voice available outside the US?

Not the personal version. Google says its single-user plans are only available in the US. Voice for Google Workspace covers 14 countries or regions, but it needs a paid Workspace subscription and is designed for organisations.

Can a second phone number be recycled and given to someone else?

Yes, on some free services. TextNow recycles inactive free numbers, and Google says it may reclaim a Voice number after about 3 months without calls or texts. If a number is linked to an account you log into, keep it active or use a paid option.

Which second number app works best for verification codes?

None works for every service, and each provider says so in its own help pages. Paid numbers that stay assigned to you are more dependable than free, recyclable ones. Inovo Second Number receives verification codes from most services. Some banks and platforms reject all internet-based numbers, and only a carrier SIM gets past that.

Can I use Inovo Second Number as a work number?

Yes, as your own work line. Freelancers, sellers, landlords, tradespeople and small business owners use it for one-to-one calls and texts with clients and customers, and keep the number for as long as they need it. It is person-to-person only, with about 20 outbound texts a day, so it is not for bulk or automated texting or a shared team inbox.

Does Inovo Second Number work on Android?

Inovo Second Number is available on iPhone and Android.

Is Skype Number still an option?

No. Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025 and stopped selling Skype Numbers. Choose one of the apps above instead.

Do I need a second SIM card or a second phone?

No. All five apps put the number in an app on the phone you already have. If you specifically need a carrier number, that is where eSIM or dual SIM comes in, covered in our no-SIM guide.

Are second phone number apps legal and safe?

Yes, for ordinary privacy uses like selling, dating and work. They add privacy from the people you contact, not anonymity from the law. Our legality and safety guide covers what happens to your texts.

Keep reading

• How to get a second phone number in 2026: the step-by-step starting point.
• Google Voice alternatives in the UK and Canada: if Google Voice is the app you wanted but cannot get.
• A second phone number without a SIM card: app vs eSIM vs dual SIM.
• What to do when a website won't accept your VoIP number: the fixes, in order.
• Are second phone number apps legal and safe?
• Selling online without giving out your personal number
• Keeping your real number private while dating
• Receiving SMS verification abroad

Inovo Second Number gives you a US, UK or Canadian number on the iPhone or Android phone you already own, for calls, texts and picture messages, with your personal number kept private. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.