Ever found yourself wishing you could keep your work calls separate from your personal life?
Or maybe you’re setting up a small business and don’t want to give out your personal number.
Perhaps you’re just tired of spam calls coming to your main phone. Whatever your reason, getting a second phone number is easier than ever before—and you probably won’t need another physical phone to do it.
Having multiple phone numbers doesn’t mean carrying multiple devices. Let’s explore your options and find the solution that works best for your specific situation.
Why You Might Need a Second Phone Number
Before diving into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” There are plenty of good reasons you might want or need a second phone number:
- Work-life separation – Keep your personal time personal by having dedicated numbers for work and home life
- Privacy protection – Avoid giving your primary number to businesses, websites, or people you don’t fully trust
- Dating and social situations – Share a secondary number until you’re comfortable giving out your primary one
- Travel needs – Have a local number when traveling without changing your main line
- Side business – Run your hustle without mixing business and personal calls
- Online selling – List items on marketplace sites without exposing your personal number
I used to give my personal number to everyone—clients, random websites, delivery services—and ended up with a phone that rang constantly with spam and work calls outside business hours. It was exhausting. A second number changed everything.
The real question isn’t whether you need a second number (you probably do), but rather which solution makes the most sense for your specific situation.
Virtual Phone Number Services
The easiest and most flexible option for most people is a virtual phone number. But what exactly is that?
A virtual phone number isn’t tied to a physical SIM card or specific device. Instead, it works through apps and internet connections, allowing you to make/receive calls and texts through your existing smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Think of it like email—you can check your Gmail from any device that connects to the internet. Virtual phone numbers work similarly, except with calls and texts.
The benefits are pretty compelling:
- No need to carry a second physical phone
- Generally much cheaper than traditional carrier options
- Works across multiple devices (your phone, tablet, and computer)
- Flexible features like automatic voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and text messaging
- Can be set up in minutes rather than visiting a store
The way it works is simple: you download an app, select a number complete a brief signup, and you’re ready to go.
When someone calls your virtual number, the call routes through the internet to your app. When you make calls from the app, the recipient sees your virtual number on their caller ID.
How to Choose the Right Virtual Number Service
Virtual phone services come in several varieties:
Full-featured virtual number services provide both calling and texting capabilities through specialized apps. These are ideal if you need a complete phone number replacement with all functionality.
For example, 160.com.au offers virtual SMS numbers that allow you to both send and receive text messages, with additional call forwarding features so you can receive calls on your virtual number. Their Yabb app provides a complete virtual number solution with international calling capabilities.
Text-only virtual numbers are perfect if you primarily need messaging capabilities rather than voice calls. These services let you send and receive SMS messages through an app or web interface, which is great for business communications or online marketplace activities where texting is the primary form of contact.
Free alternatives like Google Voice offer basic second number functionality, though they often have limitations regarding features or geographic availability.
When comparing services, consider:
- Monthly costs and any per-minute charges
- Whether you need international capabilities
- Call quality (some services are better than others)
- Text messaging features
Alternative Options
While virtual services are the simplest solution for most people, they’re not the only option. Here are some alternatives:
Traditional Carrier Second Line
Your current mobile provider can almost certainly provide a second line. This usually takes one of two forms:
- A completely separate account with its own phone and number
- A “second line” service where they add another number to your existing account
The advantage here is reliability—it works exactly like your main number with the same coverage and quality. The downside? It’s typically more expensive than virtual options, often requiring monthly line access fees on top of your regular plan.
Dual-SIM Phones
Many modern smartphones support dual SIM cards, allowing you to have two phone numbers on a single device. This works by literally having two separate carrier connections in one phone.
The iPhone XS/XR and newer models, along with many Android phones, support this feature—though implementation varies by device and carrier. Some use one physical SIM and one eSIM (electronic SIM), while others have two physical SIM slots.
Benefits include:
- No apps needed—works at the system level
- Full carrier-grade reliability for both numbers
- Can choose different carriers for each number (useful for coverage or international use)
The main drawback is the setup complexity and the need for a compatible phone.
Prepaid Phones and “Burners”
If you need a truly separate number that can’t be traced back to your primary line, a prepaid phone (sometimes called a “burner phone”) might be appropriate. These are physical phones with prepaid service that require no contract or personal information.
While they offer maximum privacy, they’re inconvenient—you’ll need to carry two devices and manage separate chargers, contacts, etc.
Setting Up Your Second Number: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let’s walk through the process of setting up the most popular option—a virtual phone number through an app:
- Choose a service based on your needs (calling, texting, or both)
- Download the app (although not all services require an app to be downloaded)
- Create an account with your email and payment information
- Select your new number, usually by choosing an area code and then picking from available numbers
- Set up voicemail and customize other preferences
- Test it out by making a call or sending a text to another phone
For the Yabb app specifically (provided by 160.com.au):
- Download the Yabb app from your device’s app store
- Complete the registration process
- Select your subscription for a virtual number
- Add credits for calling
The whole process typically takes less than 10 minutes. Once complete, you can immediately start sharing your new number with others.
Making the Most of Your Second Phone Number
Having set up your second number, here are some tips to maximize its usefulness:
Organization
- Label contacts with tags or prefixes to identify which number they’re associated with
- Use different ringtones for each number if your app allows it
- Consider using separate notification settings for work and personal calls
Professional Touches
For business users, don’t forget to:
- Set up a professional voicemail greeting for your business line
- Configure business hours if your service allows call scheduling
- Use text message templates for common responses
Privacy Management
- Be strategic about which number you share where
- Regularly clean up old temporary numbers if you switch them frequently
- Review privacy settings in your virtual number app
Technical Tips
- Make sure to enable notifications for your virtual number app
- Check that battery optimization isn’t preventing message delivery
- Consider forwarding important messages between your numbers when appropriate
One often-overlooked benefit of virtual numbers is their flexibility for international communication. If you regularly text or call internationally, look for a service with good international rates, as these can be significantly cheaper than traditional carrier rates.
Common Questions and Concerns
Will people know I’m using a virtual number?
No—when you call or text, recipients just see the phone number. There’s no indication it’s virtual.
What happens if I lose my phone?
Unlike your primary carrier number, which is tied to your SIM card, virtual numbers exist in the cloud. Simply install the app on a new device and log in to regain access.
Are virtual numbers reliable?
Today’s top services are quite reliable, though they do require an internet connection (cellular data or WiFi). Traditional carrier numbers work anywhere with cellular coverage.
Can I port my existing number to a virtual service?
Many services allow this, though the process varies in complexity depending on your current carrier.
What about emergency calls?
This is important: Most virtual number services cannot be used for emergency services like 911/000 calls. Always use your primary carrier number for emergencies.
Finally…
Getting a second phone number is easier and more affordable than ever. For most people, a virtual phone service offers the best combination of convenience, features, and cost.
If you primarily need a number for texting with call receiving capabilities, a virtual SMS number from a provider like 160.com.au might be ideal. Their service lets you send and receive texts while also offering call forwarding so you never miss important calls.
For a complete solution that includes making calls from your second number, their Yabb app provides everything you need—including international calling features and text messaging credits—all managed from your existing smartphone.
Whatever option you choose, having a second phone number gives you more control over your communications, better work-life balance, and enhanced privacy in an increasingly connected world. It’s one of those simple technological solutions that can make everyday life just a little bit easier.