Your real phone number is one of the most powerful pieces of identifying information you carry — it’s linked to your identity through your carrier, used for two-factor authentication, and increasingly demanded by services for “account recovery.” Using a private secondary number protects your real number from being shared, sold, or used to track you across services. This guide covers the best options for getting a private phone number in 2026.
Why You Need a Secondary Number
A dedicated private number is useful for:
- Online marketplaces (Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace) — interact with strangers without exposing your real number
- Services that demand your phone number — give a secondary number to apps that require SMS verification
- Dating apps — meet people without revealing your real identity until you choose to
- Business use — separate work and personal calls
- High-privacy situations — whistleblowing, journalism, activism
Option 1: MySudo — Best Privacy-Focused Option
MySudo (iOS and Android) provides virtual phone numbers with their own email addresses, browsing, and payment cards — designed specifically for compartmentalized privacy.
Features:
- Multiple “Sudo” identities, each with a unique number, email, and (US-only) browser
- Calls and texts routed through MySudo’s servers with no logging of content
- E2EE calls between MySudo users
- Doesn’t require your real number or email to sign up (use anonymous payment)
Pricing (USD):
- 1 Sudo: Free (limited)
- 3 Sudos: ~$1/month
- 9 Sudos: ~$5/month
- 14 Sudos: ~$15/month
Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want multiple identities for different life areas.
How to get started: Download MySudo → Create an account (use a temporary email for maximum privacy) → Tap “Add Sudo” → US/CA phone numbers are assigned automatically.
Option 2: JMP.chat — Open Source XMPP-Based Number
JMP.chat provides a real North American phone number that routes through the open-source XMPP messaging protocol. You receive calls and texts through any XMPP client (like Conversations on Android).
Features:
- Real SMS/MMS + voice calls
- Routed through XMPP — works with privacy-respecting clients
- No app lock-in — use any XMPP client
- Can use with Cheogram (Android) for a polished experience
- Accepts cryptocurrency payment
Pricing: ~$3.50 CAD/month
Best for: Technical users who want a privacy-respecting, open-protocol option.
Setup: Sign up at jmp.chat → Install Cheogram (Android) or any XMPP client → Follow the setup instructions to link your SIP/XMPP account.
Option 3: Google Voice — Easy but Not Private
Google Voice gives you a free US phone number that rings to your Google account. Good for general secondary number use, but:
- Not private — Google has full visibility into your calls and texts
- Requires an existing Google account
- Not available outside the US
For pure convenience and zero privacy concern (e.g., for business calls you don’t mind Google seeing), Google Voice is the easiest option.
Option 4: TextNow / TextFree — Free Anonymous Numbers
TextNow and TextFree provide free US phone numbers with Wi-Fi calling and texting:
- Genuinely free for Wi-Fi use
- No real phone number required to sign up
- Supported by ads
- Numbers can be “reclaimed” if not used periodically
Good for disposable one-time SMS verification. Not ideal for long-term private communication since the services are ad-supported and log data.
Option 5: VoIP Services — Maximum Control
If you want maximum control and no third-party trust, self-hosted or paid VoIP gives you a real DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number:
VoIP.ms
A Canadian VoIP provider that offers direct inward dial numbers:
- Pay-as-you-go pricing (~$1.50/month per DID + per-minute charges)
- Accepts Bitcoin and PayPal
- Connects to any SIP client (Linphone, Groundwire, Zoiper)
- Logs are minimal and configurable
Twillio / Vonage
Developer-focused platforms with API access. More complex to set up but give you full control over call routing, SMS forwarding, and logging behavior.
Setup with VoIP.ms
- Create an account at voip.ms (use a privacy email like ProtonMail)
- Fund your account (Bitcoin accepted)
- Go to DID Numbers → Order DID → choose a number
- Configure a Sub Account for SIP credentials
- Install Linphone (free, open source) on your phone or desktop
- Enter your voip.ms SIP server and credentials in Linphone
Your new number rings on your phone through Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Option 6: Physical SIM — Best for Calling Quality
For the best call quality and cellular coverage, buy a prepaid SIM with cash:
- Purchase from a convenience store, Target, or Best Buy
- Pay cash — no credit card linkage
- Activate with minimal personal information (varies by country/carrier)
- Carriers like Mint Mobile, Straight Talk, or consumer-grade prepaid MVNOs
Privacy note: In the US, prepaid carriers still collect billing addresses and phone identifiers (IMEI). True anonymity with cellular requires purchasing with cash and activating with fake information — which may violate terms of service.
Comparison Table
| Service | Cost | Privacy Level | Setup Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| MySudo | $1–15/month | High | Easy |
| JMP.chat | ~$2.50/month | High | Medium |
| Google Voice | Free | Low | Easy |
| TextNow | Free (ads) | Low | Easy |
| VoIP.ms | ~$2/month + usage | High | Medium-High |
| Prepaid SIM | $5–30/month | Medium | Easy |
For most privacy-conscious users, MySudo (for mobile) or VoIP.ms (for desktop/power users) offers the best combination of usability, real phone number functionality, and genuine privacy protection.