In a world where privacy is increasingly under threat, protecting your phone number is more important than ever. Whether you’re signing up for a dating app, selling items online, or contacting a business, sharing your real number can expose you to spam, robocalls, or worse—identity theft. Thankfully, several apps are designed to help you hide your real phone number and communicate securely.
These apps allow you to use temporary or secondary phone numbers, masking your real identity while still enabling you to make and receive calls and texts. In this article, we’ll look at the best apps available to keep your number private and your digital life safer.
1. Burner
Best for: One-time use, short-term privacy
Burner is one of the most well-known apps for creating temporary phone numbers. With Burner, you can generate a secondary number that routes calls, texts, and voicemails to your real phone. When you’re done, you simply “burn” the number and it disappears.
Key Features:
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Multiple numbers for different purposes
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Call, text, and voicemail support
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Integration with Slack, Dropbox, and Evernote
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Auto-reply and custom voicemail
Cost: Free trial available; paid plans start around $4.99/month
2. Google Voice
Best for: Long-term secondary number
Google Voice gives you a free phone number that you can use for calls, texts, and voicemails. It’s tied to your Google account and works across devices. While not anonymous in the strictest sense (Google knows who you are), it allows you to keep your real mobile number private from the public.
Key Features:
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Free number with voicemail and texting
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Syncs across desktop and mobile
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Spam filtering
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Voicemail transcription
Cost: Free in the U.S. for personal use
3. Hushed
Best for: International numbers and privacy-focused users
Hushed is similar to Burner but offers more flexibility with global numbers. It supports numbers from over 60 countries, making it ideal israel phone number list for international business or travel. Like Burner, numbers can be temporary or permanent.
Key Features:
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International numbers available
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Voice and SMS support
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Custom voicemail and auto-reply
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Encrypted communication within the app
Cost: Pay-as-you-go or subscription options; starts at $1.99 for basic use
4. TextNow
Best for: Free calling and texting with a secondary number
TextNow provides a free phone number in the U.S. or Canada for calling and texting. It’s ad-supported, which means you How to Combine Email and Phone Lists in Paraguay can use it without paying anything, though premium versions are available to remove ads and unlock more features.
Key Features:
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Free U.S./Canada number
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Unlimited calling and texting in the U.S./Canada
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Voicemail and call forwarding
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Works over Wi-Fi or data
Cost: Free with ads; premium starts at $9.99/month
5. CoverMe
Best for: Ultra-private messaging and call encryption
CoverMe offers disposable numbers but goes beyond basic number masking. It includes private messaging, encrypted calls, and whatsapp database philippines even a “vault” for securing personal files. If you’re looking for advanced privacy features, this app is worth a look.
Key Features:
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Encrypted calls and texts
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Self-destructing messages
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Private vault for files
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Burner phone numbers
Cost: Free to download; in-app purchases for credits
When Should You Use These Apps?
Here are some common scenarios where hiding your number is useful:
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Online dating or social apps
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Buying/selling on classified sites
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Job hunting or freelance gigs
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Signing up for services or subscriptions
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Traveling internationally
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Protecting your number from spam or robocalls
Final Thoughts
Your phone number is a valuable piece of personal information — and once it’s out there, you can’t take it back. Using an app to hide your real number helps you take control of your privacy, limit spam, and stay safe online.
Whether you need a short-term burner number or a long-term secondary line, there’s an app for your needs. Just choose one that fits your use case, budget, and level of privacy desired.