Google Voice Alternatives in 2026: Getting a US Number from Anywhere
Google Voice is free but US-only and needs a US number to sign up. The best alternatives for people abroad, people without a US line, and businesses.
The best Google Voice alternative for most people outside the US is a paid virtual US number, because Google Voice itself is built for US residents and asks for an existing US phone number at signup. On callmins a US (+1) number costs $2.00/month + $1.00 setup, needs no ID check and no US address, and is live in about a minute in any web browser. If you live in the US and just want a free second line, Google Voice is still hard to beat; ad-supported apps like TextNow and business systems like Dialpad or RingCentral fill the other gaps.
Google Voice is a great product with a narrow door. Below we explain who gets stuck at that door, compare the realistic alternatives honestly, including where Google Voice is the better choice, and show how to get a US number from anywhere.
Why look for a Google Voice alternative?
For personal use, Google Voice gives you a free US number that rings in an app and a browser, free calls to the US and Canada, and per-minute international calling. The limits are in who can have it:
- It is aimed at people in the US. The free personal service is offered in the US, and setup from abroad often fails.
- New accounts need an existing US number.To claim a Google Voice number you verify a US mobile or landline first. If you don't have one, you are stuck before you start, which is exactly the situation of most people who want a US number in the first place.
- It only gives you US numbers. There is no UK or other country option on the free personal service.
- Unused numbers can be taken back. Google may reclaim a free number that sits without activity for a long stretch, so it is not ideal for a number you rarely touch but must keep.
- Some services reject it. Because Google Voice numbers are free and quick to create, some sign-up forms and most banks refuse them.
That leaves three groups looking elsewhere: people living outside the US who need a US number, people in the US without a number to link, and businesses that need more than a single personal line.
Google Voice alternatives compared
| Option | Who can sign up | Numbers | Pricing model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice (personal) | US residents with an existing US number | US | Free US and Canada calls; international per minute | A free second line inside the US |
| callmins US number | Anyone, from any country, no ID check | US (+1), also UK (+44) after an ID check | Monthly rent plus pay-as-you-go calls | A US number when you live abroad or have no US line |
| Ad-supported apps (TextNow and similar) | Mainly users in the US and Canada | US and Canadian | Free with ads; paid upgrades | A free throwaway-grade number in North America |
| Carrier second line | Customers of that US carrier | US | Monthly add-on or second plan | A second line that passes nearly every check |
| Business VoIP (Dialpad, RingCentral, Google Voice for Workspace) | Companies, per user | Many countries, varies by provider | Per-seat monthly subscription | Teams that need queues, menus and integrations |
Prices and availability change, so check each provider's site before you commit. We describe them by how they charge, not by a number we might get wrong.
Who is each alternative right for?
Google Voice: still the pick if you qualify
If you live in the US, already have a US mobile, and want a free extra number for calls and texts inside North America, use Google Voice. Nothing paid beats free for that job, and its voicemail transcription and Gmail integration are good. Look elsewhere only if you hit one of the limits above.
callmins: a US number from anywhere
callmins rents real +1 numbers to people in any country. You sign up, top up a wallet by card, pick a number, and it works straight away because US numbers need no paperwork. Calls ring in your browser or the Android app, texts land in a Messages inbox, and you can show the US number as caller ID when you ring out. Receiving calls and SMS is free; rent renews monthly from your wallet.
Calling out from your US number is pay-as-you-go:
- US landlines and mobiles: $0.017/min
- Canada: $0.017/min
- UK: $0.016/min to landlines, $0.038/min to mobiles
- Texts to US numbers: $0.09 each
Rates to every other country are on the callmins international call rates page.
A 20-minute call to a US client costs $0.34. The trade-off against Google Voice is plain: you pay rent, and calls to the US are not free. In return you don't need a US address or an existing US number, and the number stays yours for as long as the rent renews. See exactly what you get on the US virtual phone number page.
TextNow and other ad-supported apps
These apps give you a free US or Canadian number paid for by ads, with paid tiers to remove ads or keep a number longer. They are fine for a casual second line if you are in North America. The catches: the free numbers are recycled when they go unused, many services block them for verification because they are so easy to get, and they are designed around users in the US and Canada rather than people abroad.
A carrier second line
US carriers sell second lines and multi-number features on the phone you already have. Because it is a true mobile line, it passes almost every verification check, including banks. It costs more than an app, needs a US carrier account, and is tied to that carrier. If you are not a US mobile customer, it is not an option.
Business VoIP: Dialpad, RingCentral, Google Voice for Workspace
For a company phone system, these are the serious options: call queues, IVR menus, CRM integrations, admin controls, and numbers in several countries, charged per user per month. Google also sells Voice as a paid Workspace add-on for businesses, which is a different product from the free personal app. If your team mainly needs to make outbound calls on one bill, that machinery may be more than you need; a callmins company account lets an admin and several callers share one wallet, with no per-seat fee, and the admin sees the team's usage.
Can I use Google Voice outside the US?
If you set up Google Voice while living in the US, it may keep working when you travel, but signing up from abroad is where most people get stuck, and Google's terms tie the free service to the US. Workarounds that involve borrowing a friend's US number or hiding your location break the rules and put the number at risk of being reclaimed, often at the worst moment. If you are abroad, a paid number you are actually allowed to hold is the safer route.
Will a Google Voice alternative work for verification codes?
Usually, but not always, and that is true of every option here except a carrier line. WhatsApp, Telegram, most social apps and most online shops accept internet-based numbers. Some banks and payment apps refuse VoIP numbers, including Google Voice and callmins numbers, and a few sign-up forms block well-known free providers. If a service matters to you, test the number with it before you depend on it. Our guide on how to get a second phone number compares which options pass verification most reliably.
What about people who used Skype as well?
Plenty of people outside the US used Skype Numbers for the same job Google Voice does inside it: a phone number that rings on a computer. With Skype closed since May 2025, those users are often searching for both. Our roundup of Skype alternatives covers app calls and cheap calls to phones; this page is about the number itself.
Do I need a US number, or would a UK number do?
Pick the country your callers are in. A US number suits US clients, US sign-ups and family in the States, who then call you at their normal domestic rate. If your contacts are in Britain, a UK number does the same job there: callmins UK numbers are mobiles (+44 7), cost $3.00/month + $2.00 setup, and need a one-time ID and proof-of-address check, which usually takes a couple of days. You can compare both on the virtual phone number page.
How to get a US number without Google Voice
- Create a free callmins account with Google or your phone number. Nothing to install.
- Top up your wallet by card, from $5.
- Open the Numbers section, choose United States, and pick a number. It is active within a minute, with no ID check.
- Text and call the number from another phone to check it rings in your browser and the message arrives.
- Choose it as your caller ID in the dialer when you want people to see a US number.
Questions people ask
Is there a free Google Voice alternative?
For North America, ad-supported apps give out free numbers, with the trade-offs above. Outside the US, truly free numbers are generally shared public inboxes, which anyone can read and which are unsafe for any account you want to keep.
Can I keep my callmins number long term?
Yes, as long as the monthly rent renews from your wallet. If the rent fails, the number is released and may go to someone else, so keep a small balance if accounts are linked to it.
Can I call emergency services from it?
No. Like other internet-based numbers, a callmins number needs data or Wi-Fi and can't dial 911. Keep a normal SIM for emergencies.
Can I move my Google Voice number to callmins?
callmins sells new numbers. If porting an existing number in matters to you, email info@callmins.com before you buy and ask about your case.
Living outside the US, or just without a US line to link? Get a US virtual number on callmins and have it ringing in your browser in about a minute.