Have you ever wanted to feel like James Bond and have two phone numbers on a single cell phone? (Okay, maybe that’s just me.)
There are actually multiple ways to add a second number to your cell phone, depending on what you actually mean when you say “second number,” as well as how much you want to pay.
The good news right from the get-go is that getting an alternative phone number is actually easier than you might think! Here’s how.
How To Get a Second Number on the Same Phone in Three Steps
Let’s start with the easiest way first, of course…
The fastest and cheapest way to get a second number on your phone isn’t through adding a second line through your phone provider (Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.), nor is it through signing up for an app service (more on that later). All you have to do is quickly buy a new number online, then forward your calls.
- Use NumberBarn to search for the number you want (or just find a random, cheap number for a few bucks). No marketplace is bigger or cheaper.
- Add the number to your cart, and check out in minutes. (I’m not kidding at all when I say this literally takes moments.)
- Set up a call forwarding plan for your new number. This could be as cheap as $6 a month, and comes complete with a whole suite of cool features, including call logs on your desktop/phone app, an auto attendant menu (i.e., “Press 1 to…”), and a lot more. (Check out the call forwarding page for all the details.
That’s it! Now you can feel like James Bond when people with your other number call your same phone. (Again, maybe that’s just me.)
Common Questions About a Second Phone Number With NumberBarn
Can I add more than one alternative number to my cell phone this way?
Heck yeah you can! (Although each additional number would require its own additional plan.) This might still be the most cost effective option though, compared to adding additional lines with your phone provider.
Will people calling my new number know they’re being forwarded?
Nope! Not unless you tell them, anyway. It’s a completely seamless process.
Does this work with international phone numbers?
Yep! Although there may be different rates for international minutes, depending. You can read more about that here.
What if I don’t want my new number anymore?
Then stop paying for it! There isn’t any commitment or contracts, so you aren’t stuck with a big, yearly thing like you might have with a traditional phone provider.
Bonus tip: If you want to keep your number for the future but don’t want to pay for it at the moment, there is also this thing called “number parking,” which you can read all about here.
Other Alternative Phone Line Options
There are other ways to get dual action on your cell phone, though they have some pros and cons that you will need to consider carefully.
1. Get a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) account (e.g., Google Voice, Dialpad, etc.).
You can get a free (or upgradable) online phone number that will allow you some basic features. Typically — like with Google Voice for example since that’s the VoIP option most likely to come up when you Google a solution (surprise, surprise) — you can download the Google Voice app and then route your number to your cell phone on that. Slightly more complicated, but still doable.
This isn’t a bad option, but keep in mind that you can only text and make calls within the contiguous U.S., and Canada using Google Voice. (International stuff will be charged separately, if it’s available in your area.)
And if you need even a tiny amount of business options, such as more than 10 users, online tools, or other things, that stuff is all behind a paywall that jumps up in price quickly. (Also, there’s technically the consideration that this gives Google a ton of your information for free, if that’s of concern to you.) Finally, you can’t really personalize or choose your digits, which is a bummer if you’re creative, and maybe a non-starter if you’re a business. (Google Voice will only allow you to choose from a set of numbers associated with an area code.)
In all, Google Voice and other services like it are best for the most basic alternate number use cases.
2. Buy a second SIM card, and activate it with your phone carrier.
If you have time and money and have a little bit of tech knowledge, getting two SIM cards inside your phone (if it has the additional ports, sometimes known as “dual sim”) could be a good option for you.
Why would people do this? It’s most common when hopping between two countries where you might have a prepaid number set up on one SIM card and your “regular” phone number on the other. However, this method can also be used in thrifty cases where you had two introductory phone plan rates at two different carriers, as opposed to adding lines to a single carrier. However, this is truly the option for people who actually are James Bond. (I’m definitely projecting at this point.)
Check with your phone carrier to see what their monthly plans and SIM card requirements are for your particular plan and phone, as it will vary depending on your plan and phone model. (Get ready to Google “android vs iPhone” stuff!)
Reasons For Having a Second Phone Number
Finally, if you’re wondering if you should get a second phone number, here are some of the most common reasons people do it:
Start-up Businesses – When someone calls and wants to speak to someone at the front desk, but you’re the only person at the company, a second phone number is basically perfect. (Because you obviously aren’t going to be plastering your home number on the side of a city bus.) Of course, this is where the VoIP alternatives like Google Voice really start to get pricey.
International Travel – If you are on the Canadian/U.S. or Mexican/U.S. borders, for example, it can get dicey keeping your phone bill intact. Forwarding or separate SIM cards are ideal for this scenario, whether you’re commuting around Europe or sailing around the Great Lakes.
Moving – If you’re moving houses or even just moving carriers, sometimes it’s handy to park a number and use an alternative set of digits for the short-term.
Identity Privacy – There’s lots of reasons why you’d wanna keep your identity on the downlow, and we don’t need to get into those reasons in detail here. But we can just assume Pedro Pascal doesn’t hand out his personal number to just anyone. (Pedro, call me please.)
Need Help With Adding a Second Phone Number To Your Cell Phone?
If you’re still a bit confused (or have a trickier situation, like with a landline or something else), you don’t have to go it alone! NumberBarn Support is ready to assist. Just reach out and we’ll help you out for free. (Don’t worry, we’re nice!)
