7 Google Voice alternatives worth installing in 2026
Google Voice is the cleanest free second phone number for personal users in the US — when you can sign up. The catches are real: only US-based Google accounts can register a personal number, an existing US phone number is required to verify the account, the service no longer supports new Google Workspace customers outside select markets, and porting a Google Voice number out is awkward. International users and small businesses outside the US can't get past the first screen.
This guide covers seven Google Voice alternatives we tested for picking up a second phone number in 2026 — across free consumer options, business-grade cloud phones, and apps that work outside the US.
| App | Best for | Free plan | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| TextNow | Free US/Canada number, no Google account | Yes | Unlimited free talk and text |
| Text Free | Casual second line | Yes | Real local US number, no verification needed |
| Burner | Multiple disposable lines | 7-day trial | Burn and replace numbers anytime |
| Hushed | International number coverage | 3-day trial | Numbers in 40+ countries |
| Sideline | Small businesses | 7-day trial | Business hours and auto-reply |
| Line2 | Business cloud phone | 7-day trial | IVR and call routing |
| Skype | International calling at rates | Yes | Paid Skype numbers in 25+ countries |
Why people leave Google Voice
US-only for personal accounts. Personal Google Voice only works for Google accounts based in the US, and Google verifies that with a US billing address and a US phone number for registration. International users get an error and a closed loop with no way around.
Workspace tier is a separate product. Google Voice for Workspace was rolled out to selected markets, but small businesses on the consumer-grade Workspace plan often can't access it. The pricing scales per seat and integrates only with Workspace identities — not consumer Gmail.
Number portability friction. Porting a Google Voice number into a real carrier requires a $3 unlock fee and a separate process. Porting numbers in from a carrier requires a $20 setup fee. Neither is hard, but both surprise users.
Voicemail transcript accuracy is uneven. Voicemail transcription works well for clear American English but degrades quickly with accents, background noise, or non-English speech. Users on Reddit consistently note this.
Limited business features. No business hours auto-reply, no IVR menu, no shared inbox for a small team, no built-in CRM hooks. For real small-business phone needs, Voice is the wrong tool.
The 7 Google Voice alternatives
TextNow — best free US/Canada number without a Google account
TextNow is the closest free alternative to Google Voice for North American users who don't want — or can't get — a Google Voice number. Unlimited free talk and text in the US and Canada, voicemail, real local area codes, and a working app on Android, iOS, web, and desktop. Sign-up requires only an email address.
For users locked out of Google Voice (international Google accounts, no US phone to verify with), TextNow vs. Google Voice on accessibility is a clear win for TextNow. The trade-off is ads on the free tier.
Where it falls short: Free tier is ad-supported. International calling requires paid credits, and rates are higher than Skype's. Some banks and verification services block TextNow numbers like other VoIP providers.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited US/Canada calls and texts, ad-supported
- Paid: monthly tiers remove ads and add international minutes
- vs. Google Voice: comparable on free US calling; TextNow works without a US-based Google account
Migrating from Google Voice: No direct port; pick a new TextNow number. If you want to keep the Google Voice number, set it to forward calls to TextNow.
Bottom line: Pick TextNow if you want a free North American number without Google's gatekeeping. Skip it if you want zero ads on the free tier.
Text Free — best for casual second line
Text Free by Pinger gives anyone a US or Canadian phone number for talk and text, with no Google account dependency. The free tier is ad-supported but the friction to get started is the lowest of any app on this list. For users in the US who want a second number for online shopping or marketplace deals — and who don't need verification codes on it — Text Free does the job.
Text Free vs. Google Voice on signup friction, Text Free wins; on ad load and number stability, Google Voice wins. Pick by which trade-off matters more.
Where it falls short: Ads in the inbox. Numbers can be recycled after extended inactivity. Many banks and verification services block Text Free numbers.
Pricing:
- Free: US/Canada number, ad-supported
- Paid: TextFree Plus removes ads and reserves the number
- vs. Google Voice: comparable for casual texting; Google Voice wins on no ads, Text Free wins on simpler signup
Migrating from Google Voice: Set up a Text Free account with a new number. Forward Google Voice calls to it if you want both numbers active for a transition period.
Bottom line: Pick Text Free if signup speed matters most and you can tolerate ads. Skip it for anything that needs verification codes.
Burner — best for multiple disposable lines
Burner handles a use case Google Voice doesn't: throwaway numbers for one-off purposes. Sell something on Facebook Marketplace, register on a dating app, sign up for a sketchy promo — get a Burner number, use it, burn it. The multi-line subscription lets you run several active numbers simultaneously under one account, each with its own name and contact list.
Burner vs. Google Voice on disposability, Burner wins decisively. Google Voice is meant to be your number forever; Burner is meant to be temporary by design.
Where it falls short: Paid only after the trial. US, Canada, and Australia only. Bank verifications usually fail. Auto-renewing subscription unless cancelled.
Pricing:
- Free: 7-day trial
- Paid: monthly subscription per line; multi-line plans for power users
- vs. Google Voice: not free; Burner wins on identity isolation
Migrating from Google Voice: Forward Google Voice to a Burner line, or just start fresh with Burner for new uses.
Bottom line: Pick Burner for compartmentalizing numbers by purpose. Skip it if you want one stable line that never changes.
Hushed — best for international number coverage
Hushed is the strongest answer to "I want a Google Voice number but I'm not in the US." Numbers are available in 40+ countries and over 300 area codes, with per-line subscriptions or pay-as-you-go credits. Calls, SMS, MMS, voicemail, and number portability all work over Wi-Fi or data — no carrier dependency.
For international travelers who want a local-looking number in another country, Hushed vs. Google Voice isn't really comparable. Voice doesn't go there.
Where it falls short: Paid only after the trial. Not all numbers in all countries are eligible for SMS verification with banks (rules vary by country). The interface is utilitarian. International call rates per minute are competitive but not the cheapest if you call heavily.
Pricing:
- Free: 3-day trial
- Paid: low monthly per-line plans plus credits for international calling
- vs. Google Voice: paid only; Hushed wins on global coverage by a wide margin
Migrating from Google Voice: Get a Hushed number in the desired country, forward Google Voice to it if you want to keep the US line active.
Bottom line: Pick Hushed if you need a number outside the US. Skip it if you only ever stay in North America.
Sideline — best for small businesses
Sideline covers the small-business feature gap Google Voice leaves. Business hours auto-reply, custom voicemail greetings, contact tagging, and team-number sharing across staff put it ahead of Voice for solo founders, real-estate agents, and freelancers. The interface is purpose-built for sales follow-up, with a clean separation between work and personal threads.
Sideline vs. Google Voice on business-specific features, Sideline wins. The trade-off is that Sideline is paid; Google Voice is free for personal users.
Where it falls short: No free tier past the 7-day trial. US-only numbers. Group SMS is limited. Team-number features sit at the higher tier.
Pricing:
- Free: 7-day trial
- Paid: monthly per-line subscription, team tiers add shared inbox
- vs. Google Voice: paid only; Sideline wins on professional features and number reliability
Migrating from Google Voice: You can port a Google Voice number into Sideline if you pay the $3 unlock fee on Google's end. Sideline supports the port-in process.
Bottom line: Pick Sideline if your second number is for a small business. Skip it for personal use.
Line2 — best for business cloud phone
Line2 is a step beyond Sideline for businesses that need real call routing. An IVR menu ("press 1 for sales"), business hours, voicemail-to-email, call forwarding across multiple devices, and CRM hooks. It's a step closer to a full cloud-PBX than a second-number app — but the per-line pricing keeps it accessible for one-person businesses.
Line2 vs. Google Voice on call routing and IVR, Line2 wins. Voice has no IVR option.
Where it falls short: Paid only after the trial. The mobile app is functional but lags behind the web client. Cheapest plan is single-line.
Pricing:
- Free: 7-day trial
- Paid: monthly per-line subscription; Pro tier adds IVR and CRM integrations
- vs. Google Voice: paid only; Line2 wins on professional call handling
Migrating from Google Voice: Port-in is supported. Pay the Google Voice $3 unlock fee, then submit the port request through Line2's onboarding.
Bottom line: Pick Line2 for cloud-PBX features at a single-line price. Skip it for personal or one-off uses.
Skype — best for international calling at rates
Skype is the veteran of cross-border calling. Skype-to-Skype calls and chat are free worldwide, Skype Credit lets you call any landline or mobile at low per-minute rates, and Skype Numbers (paid subscription) let people call you from regular phones in 25+ countries. Microsoft has confirmed Skype's life will extend through 2026 and beyond despite consolidation rumors — the consumer product is still actively shipped.
For users who need to call landlines in dozens of countries — especially family abroad, or businesses calling international suppliers — Skype vs. Google Voice on international calling costs, Skype wins because Voice's international rates are paid too but per-minute prices are typically higher.
Where it falls short: The interface is showing its age and has gone through several redesigns. Some users still find Microsoft's account linking confusing. Skype Credit balances expire after 180 days of inactivity. The mobile app's video call quality is good but not Zoom-grade.
Pricing:
- Free: Skype-to-Skype calls, chat, and video
- Paid: Skype Credit pay-as-you-go and Skype Numbers monthly subscription
- vs. Google Voice: comparable for US-to-US (both free); Skype wins on international rates and global number availability
Migrating from Google Voice: No port-in. Get a Skype Number in the country you want, share it with the contacts who'd call from regular phones.
Bottom line: Pick Skype if international landline calling is the main job. Skip it for a US-only second number — TextNow or Text Free are cleaner.
How to choose
Pick TextNow if you want a free US/Canada number and you're not signed in to a US-based Google account.
Pick Text Free if you want the lowest-friction signup for a free US number.
Pick Burner if you want multiple disposable lines under one app for separating purposes.
Pick Hushed if you need a number in a country outside the US — that's the gap Google Voice can't fill.
Pick Sideline if your second number is for a small business and you want auto-replies and team numbers.
Pick Line2 if you need IVR and call routing on a single-line budget.
Pick Skype if international landline calling rates are the deciding factor.
Stay on Google Voice if you're a US-based personal user, you already have a Google account, and free + no-ads is the right combination. For those users, Voice is still the strongest free option — none of these alternatives beat it on that specific scenario.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Google Voice outside the US?
Personal Google Voice requires a US-based Google account with a verified US phone number. Google Workspace Voice is available in select markets through enterprise plans. For most international users, Hushed or Skype are the practical alternatives.
Is there a free alternative to Google Voice?
TextNow is the closest free alternative for US and Canadian users. It's ad-supported but full-featured. Text Free is similar but with more aggressive ads.
Which Google Voice alternative is best for business?
Sideline for solo or small-team setups, Line2 if you need IVR and call routing. Both are paid but cost less than dedicated cloud-PBX services and handle voicemail-to-email, business hours, and shared numbers.
Can I keep my Google Voice number when switching?
Yes, but you have to port it out. Pay Google's $3 unlock fee, then submit the port request through the receiving carrier (Sideline and Line2 both support porting in). The process takes a few business days.
Do banks accept Google Voice for SMS verification?
Some do, most don't. Major US banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) usually reject Google Voice numbers along with other VoIP services. Smaller banks and most non-financial services accept them. Always register with a real carrier number for sensitive accounts.
Why did Google Voice stop accepting new Workspace customers in some markets?
Google adjusts Workspace Voice availability based on regulatory and carrier-partnership conditions. Where it's not available, the official guidance is to use a third-party telephony provider that integrates with Workspace, or one of the alternatives on this list.
