7 Best Virtual Phone Numbers You Can Try For Free

Managing a business means managing the communication traffic you get on your mobile phone. And when the business grows, business phone calls start to blow out of proportion. This is the reason why the majority of, if not all, companies use virtual phone number apps to help them scale the traffic and manage them.

In this article, we are listing down some of the best virtual phone number apps you can get in 2021. Plus, we’ll give you insights on each option to guide you in making a choice.

What Is a Virtual Phone Number?

Big companies and businesses agree that getting a virtual phone number helps in managing their business phone calls traffic. The idea is that this direct access service allows anyone to use the same number across platforms (e.g. phone, laptops, desktop, and handsets to name some) and have calls forwarded or recorded. Since virtual phone numbers rely on the Internet instead of traditional landlines,  you can select which internet-capable devices can receive or make calls.

It is fairly easy to get a virtual phone line. Below is a quick rundown:

1. Sign-up for an account with a virtual phone number provider.
2. Once signed up, you will be granted access to a provider’s features.
3. Choose a business location and a hotspot for major consumers.
4. Your virtual phone number will then be activated.

It is safe to say that this service is pretty much a good tool to help eCommerce stores and small business websites manage their businesses and customer transactions without worrying about giving out your personal phone number around.

Best Virtual Phone Number Apps To Get

Below is our catalog of some of the best direct access lines to get in 2021 to help businesses maintain an open line for their customers.

1. Grasshopper

Trial Period: seven days free trial

Setup Fee: $25 

Grasshopper’s claim to fame is that it’s a virtual phone number for small businesses. The Grasshopper virtual phone system seamlessly integrates a cross-platform setup that requires no hardware and wires. It is perfect for small businesses as the app allows any user to manage his/her business’ phone system with any device. Moreover, this direct access line service allows you to choose your own number, toll-free number, and a local number. Of course, that depends on where you want to use the number for.

Below are Grasshopper’s pricing plan details:

Grasshopper’s package includes call forwarding, voice mail, business texting, business VoIP and WiFi calling, and automated greeting among others.

Visit Grasshopper For More Details

2. MightyCall

Trial Period: seven days free trial

Setup Fee: free

MightyCall promises its customers control of their business wherever they are using their slick phone app and their direct access line reliability. With this virtual phone line, you can accept or reject phone calls. On top of that, you will also be able to control actions for voice mails. MightyCall is one of our top five picks because it allows you to control and have your business running for extended hours, plus it keeps a log of your communications.

Below are MightCall’s plan pricing details:

Additionally, choosing toll-free or area code numbers will not incur additional charges. And finally, as an added perk, you can also record phone calls using MightyCall’s software.

Visit MightyCall For More Details

3. Phone.com

Trial Period: 30 days free trial

Setup Fee: free

If you are looking for a virtual phone line that can easily be configured, Phone.com is the app for you. It is a service that offers some of the top-tier and modern features of big-enterprise phone lines but without the complexities of costs. It combines both customization and standard direct access line features in one app, which makes it appealing. For example, you can customize your calls with greetings and organize your extensions. It also supports call blocking, forwarding, and screening. On top of these features, Phone.com is a certified Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA-compliant service.

Below are Phone.com price plans and details:

Read also: 15 Best Call Blocker Apps on Android & iOS [100% Effective]

Visit Phone.com For More Details

4. Hushed

Trial Period: 30 days free trial

Setup Fee: free

Hushed is another decent and prominent virtual phone number provider whose deals are pretty solid. This is quite true if you are considering a lifetime deal for a cheaper yearly cost. Hushed is perfect because you can use the line wherever you may be in the world, but you will only be provided with either a Canada or US phone number. Aside from the usual calling features, you will get the ability to send or receive SMS and MMS. It even has an option to auto-reply.

However, Hushed phone lines can’t be used in third-party verification systems. With that said, we do not advise you to buy this service just because of the verification purposes.

Below are the pricing plans for Hushed:

Visit Hushed For More Details

5. PhoneBurner

Trial Period: seven days free trial

Setup Fee: $149/month

PhoneBurner is another virtual phone number that is cloud-based. That means there is no need to install hardware or equipment, although you may still keep phones for the job. The service is quite robust if we factor in features like call forwarding, call recording, getting a local caller ID, and email tracking among others. It claims that their service is the preferred one to engage and grow sales pipelines, making them palatable to any small business.

Below are the pricing schedules for PhoneBurner:

PhoneBurner also offers yearly plan schedules with the Standard plan starting at $126/user/month.

Visit PhoneBurner For More Details

6. VirtualPBX

VirtualPBX is a competitive virtual phone number system provider. It’s one of the preferred providers that allow you to monitor calls in real-time and monitor traffic through a feature called Automatic Call Distribution (ACD). Never mind showing your caller ID when making outbound calls; VirtualPBX gives you the ability to customize how it appears on the receiving numbers when you make calls.

Unlike the other providers we have listed, VirtualPBX has a wide range of plans and pricing schedules. The majority of its plans offer unlimited minutes, from its basic Flex Plan ($14.99/user/month) up to the high-end plan for $49.99/month. The Flex Plan offers video conferencing and business SMS as package inclusions.

Visit VirtualPBX For More Details

7. TalkRoute

If you want a less complicated and easy-to-use virtual phone number system, TalkRoute offers you the ability to make inbound and outbound calls without effort. On top of that, TalkRoute is perfectly capable of making and receiving business SMS as well. In a similar way with other providers, users can customize their TalkRoute phone numbers that suit their business.

Below are TalkRoute’s plans and pricing schedules:

Other added features when getting the TalkRoute line include customizing welcome messages and setting up three to four digits direct-dial extensions.

Visit TalkRoute For More Details

Drawbacks of Using Virtual Phone Numbers

Virtual phone number enables calls to be routed from a landline to a mobile phone, or any Internet-capable devices. Considering how it can save anyone from having to give away their personal phone number, it does make a good solution for business transactions. While virtual phone lines are really efficient to connect multiple employees and ensure the growth of a business, there are some drawbacks that we can’t ignore. For one, virtual phone numbers require a steady and constant connection to the Internet to receive and make calls.

In addition, reading the first sentence of this section, you are required to have a pre-existing phone line for the virtual phone line to be able to route calls. That seems to prove a little drawback given that instead of just maintaining a single line, you must have two. Some people find it hard to separate the business line from the personal as well.

Another issue cloud-based phone lines are experiencing is latency. While it is a natural occurrence to wireless networks, it does seem off-putting for cloud-based virtual numbers. It can result in choppy phone lines, delayed responses, and unnecessary echoes.

Virtual Phone Number vs VoIP

You might have heard of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIPs are often compared to virtual phone numbers. To put it simply, VoIPs are more preferred by medium-to-large companies because they can replace a company’s phone plan. In contrast, virtual phone lines still require a pre-existing line streamlined back-and-forth. However, virtual phone lines are cheaper compared to VoIPs. And that is why direct access lines are still in business. While they are limited in terms of robust features, they do offer affordable services that work.

VoIP also provides video conferencing, something virtual phone line doesn’t. VoIP is part of the virtual phone number system. Both are efficient in ensuring communication carries on in case of mitigating circumstances. For instance, communications failover in case of a severe storm to data centers who are on standby for such cases. This means the service does not cease to operate.

Takeaways

Businesses are always sprouting everywhere. While some remain small-to-medium size ones, others take the leap and evolve to a medium-to-large enterprise. Regardless of the situation, we all need to address our customers via phone call or SMS. And let’s admit that providing our personal phone numbers just doesn’t figure in this very need. This is why virtual phone numbers and even VoIPs are in business — to offer the needed support in terms of communications. Grasshopper remains to be a well-recognized provider with its affordable price schedules and features. At the end of the day, as we always say, choose one that best suit your considerations and business needs.

Virtual Phone Number FAQs