Want to get a US phone number? If you are based outside of the US, getting a virtual US number has countless benefits to make your life easier.
This article gives you everything you need to know about how to get a virtual US number. With your existing number or a new VoIP phone number, you will be able to easily contact people in the US from anywhere in the world. Read on to discover how.
It's not exactly the same wether you're looking to get a US phone number for your business or for your personal use. If you have a business with customers based in the US, having a US phone number is a no-brainer. Getting a US phone number makes your brand look more approachable and also gives your target audience an easy to reach out to you without paying international call rates. They assume that your business has a branch nearby and thus they are more willing to do business with you.
Moreover, it increases the likelihood of cold calls being answered. A recent survey showed that people are 4 times more likely to answer calls from numbers with local area codes.
Virtual phone numbers look and behave like regular phone numbers, but they aren't tied to physical locations or devices. These numbers are linked to a cloud communication platform. A virtual number can be used to make and receive calls or exchange messages from a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Some IP deskphones also support virtual phone numbers.
Virtual phone numbers leverage Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology for communication over the internet. Your voice or text message is digitized into data packets, compressed and transferred over the internet. At the other end, it is decompressed and converted back into analog form.
There are many VoIP service providers who offer US phone numbers for businesses outside the country. Rather than offer standalone phone numbers, these service providers offer monthly subscription plans at varying price points. For example, with Quicktalk, you could pay as little as $19 per month (including 3 users) for a local US number and access to a range of other features.
If you are looking for a phone number just to download an app, open an account, enable two-step verification, you can get a US phone number for free easily with mobile application such as TextNow.
There are other service providers that advertise themselves as providers of free US numbers. However, these numbers aren't really free because you would still end up paying for each call you make. Instead, it is better to choose a monthly subscription plan that includes a local US phone number and unlimited local outgoing and incoming calls.
You can get a virtual US phone number from cloud business phone systems or second phone number apps like TextMe, Hushed or Flyp. You can browse through all the available plans, choose what suits your business and sign up for a monthly plan. Many service providers offer a free trial period. That said, as a business, you need a reliable communication plan. Hence, it is best to work with cloud communication platforms that specialize in business phone systems. Some of the best options for you are:
Quicktalk is a mini call center software targeted at startups and small businesses. Quicktalk services are available in 36 countries and help businesses manage customer calls without the hassle of complex phone systems
Quicktalk offers a simple, all-in-one plan priced at $19 per company per month. This is inclusive of 1 business phone number that can be accessed by 3 users. Add-on packs are available for additional users and phone numbers.
Google Voice is a communication service provided to Google account holders in the USA and Google Workspace users in select countries. It can be used for calling, messaging, call forwarding and voicemail.
Google Voice has been available only in the US for a few years, but finally, it has now opened to many other countries:
The monthly subscription fee of Google Voice plans ranges from $10 to $30 per user.
You can get a US phone number by signing in to the Google Voice app or from voice.google.com.
Grasshopper is a Virtual Phone System that allows businesses to leverage VoIP technology to make and receive voice and video calls and exchange messages over the internet.
Grasshopper monthly plan subscriptions start from $28 per user for the Solo plan and go up to $89 per user for the Small Business plan.
OpenPhone is a business phone system for professionals and small businesses. It offers subscribers local US or toll-free numbers with the ability to communicate through them from desktop or mobile devices.
The OpenPhone Standard plan is priced at $13 per user per month while the Premium plan is priced at $20 per user per month when billed annually. Both plans are inclusive of unlimited calling within the USA.
Nextiva is a business communication and collaboration software based in the USA. It focuses on cloud-based communication and offers its services through the NExtOS platform. In addition to calling and messaging, Nextiva services include videoconferencing, screen sharing and integration with other apps.
Nextiva has three monthly plans with subscription rates dependent on the number of users. The Nextiva Essential plan is priced at $17.95 for businesses with 100+ users and $23.95 for businesses with up to 4 users. Hence, this is better suited to large businesses.
Yes, you can get a US phone number from VoIP service providers even if your business is located in Canada.
While you are based in the UK, you can get a local American phone number by subscribing to monthly plans by VoIP service providers. These numbers can be used from your smartphone or desktop to make and receive calls, exchange messages and more.
Yes, you can get a US phone number even if your business is located in India and does not have a physical presence in the USA. This service is available with VoIP service providers like Quicktalk.
You can get a US phone number in Europe from VoIP service providers. Service providers like Quicktalk offer local US numbers with monthly subscription plans for calling, messaging and access to other features. You can make and receive calls with this number through smartphone or desktop apps.
Paul is a tech and business phone system enthusiast always open to discuss ideas. If you’re interested in collaborating on content projects or getting a product listed on our blog, don’t hesitate and reach out to us: [email protected].
