A dedicated contact phone number separates personal and professional calls, protects your private number from public-facing listings, and can be ported or changed without swapping a SIM. Virtual number services deliver all of this through an app. These five options cover the range from free personal use to full business phone systems with extensions and auto-attendant features.
| Product | Price | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | Free / $10/mo | Individuals and small teams | 4.7/5 |
| OpenPhone | $13/mo | Small business | 4.6/5 |
| Grasshopper | $14/mo | Entrepreneurs | 4.5/5 |
| Sideline | $10/mo | Second personal number | 4.4/5 |
| Dialpad | $15/mo | Teams with AI features | 4.3/5 |
Google Voice — Best Free Option
Google Voice provides a free US phone number that forwards calls and texts to your existing phone. The free personal plan covers one user; the Google Workspace versions add team features. Call quality is reliable on Wi-Fi and LTE. Voicemail transcription is automatic and accurate enough for most messages. The main limitation is that Google Voice numbers are not always accepted for business accounts or carrier-based 2FA. For individuals who need a clean separation between a private number and a public contact number, it is unmatched at the price.
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OpenPhone — Best for Small Business
OpenPhone is built specifically for small businesses that need a shared team number, business hours settings, and call routing without a legacy phone system. Numbers can be shared across team members so calls are covered even when one person is away. The app is clean and the setup takes less than ten minutes. Integrations with Slack, HubSpot, and Zapier connect calls to your existing workflow. The per-user pricing is transparent with no hidden per-minute fees for domestic calls.
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Grasshopper — Best for Entrepreneurs
Grasshopper is a long-running virtual phone service popular with solo entrepreneurs and small business owners who want a professional phone presence without hiring staff. You get a toll-free or local number, voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and an auto-attendant greeting. Extensions can be configured for different departments even if the same person answers all of them. The desktop and mobile apps are reliable. Pricing is flat per account rather than per user, which keeps costs low for one or two person operations.
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Sideline — Best Second Personal Number
Sideline is designed for individuals who want a second number on their existing phone rather than a business system. It works like a second line on the same device: separate inbox, separate voicemail, and a different number displayed when you call or text. Useful for dating apps, marketplace listings, freelance work, or any situation where you want to give out a number without sharing your personal one. The app is straightforward and the call quality matches the underlying carrier.
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Dialpad — Best with AI Features
Dialpad brings AI transcription and call summary to every call automatically. After a call ends, you get a written summary with action items flagged, which is useful for sales teams or anyone who takes notes during calls. The auto-attendant and routing features are comparable to other business phone services. Voice intelligence features include real-time coaching prompts and keyword tracking. The AI differentiators are worth the slightly higher price for teams where call notes are part of the workflow.
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How to Choose a Contact Phone Number Service
Decide first whether you need a solo number or a team system. Solo users and freelancers are well served by Google Voice (free) or Sideline. Small business owners who need shared numbers, routing, and integrations should look at OpenPhone or Grasshopper. Teams that want AI-assisted transcription and coaching get the most value from Dialpad. Check that the service accepts your use case for 2FA and third-party account verification before committing, as VoIP number restrictions vary across platforms.
For more business communication tools, see our guide to best contact ordering systems and best contact pages. For our rating process, visit the methodology page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a virtual contact phone number and how does it work?+
A virtual phone number routes calls and texts through an app or web dashboard rather than a physical SIM card. The number appears real to callers. You can forward calls to any device, set business hours, and manage voicemail remotely. Most services work over Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Can I use a virtual phone number for two-factor authentication?+
Some virtual numbers work for SMS two-factor authentication and some do not. Many services like Google and banks block VoIP numbers for 2FA. If you need a number specifically for 2FA, check the provider's compatibility or use a number from a carrier-based service rather than a pure VoIP app.