5 Best iPhone Apps for Temporary Burner Phone Numbers

It’s important to keep your personal phone number private. One simple way to accomplish this is by using a temporary ‘burner’ phone number. These are perfect for situations like selling items online, meeting new people, or any time you need to verify your number.

In this post, we’ll introduce you to five iOS apps that provide temporary burner phone numbers. Each one will equip you with a safe, temporary number to use. Keep reading to learn how these apps can help secure your real number.

How Burner Phone Numbers Typically Work

A burner phone number is a disposable, temporary phone number. It acts like a stand-in for your real number, which you can use for a brief period before discarding. Here’s how it functions:

Suppose you’re selling something online and prefer not to share your personal number with strangers. Or, perhaps you’re registering for a service and want to avoid getting spammed with unwanted calls or texts. In these scenarios, a burner phone number proves extremely helpful.

You can use a burner number in lieu of your actual one. When someone dials or sends a text to the burner number, the call or message gets redirected to your real phone. You can respond to these calls or texts as you typically would, and the person on the other end only sees your burner number, not your real one.

The best part? Once you’ve finished using the burner number, you can simply delete it. This means that the number you distributed no longer functions, ensuring that your personal number stays private.

Essentially, a burner phone number serves as a protective shield, keeping your actual phone number hidden from exposure.

Why Use a Burner App?

Here’s why a burner app could be just the tool you need:

• Online Safety: The web can be full of scams. Using a burner app, you can get a temporary ‘fake’ number to use online. This keeps your actual number safe and secure.
• Protect Your Personal Number: Imagine you’re buying or selling items online, or perhaps chatting with new acquaintances. Burner apps allow you to use a disposable number, saving you from sharing your real number with people you might not know very well.
• Work Calls Made Easy: If you’re a small business owner or freelancer, a burner app can offer you a different number solely for work. This helps separate your personal life from your work life. When the number is no longer needed, simply discard it.
• Avoid Annoying Spam: Are you fed up with constant promotional calls and messages? Use a burner number when you sign up for services, and keep your real number free from unwanted spam.
• Secure Verification: When websites ask for your number to verify your account, use a burner app. This lets you use a temporary number instead of your real one, protecting your privacy.

In summary, burner apps are a simple yet powerful tool for protecting your personal information. They help keep your real phone number private, shield you from spam, and aid in managing your calls. It’s a small change that can make a big difference to your privacy.

1. 2Number

2Number is an app that allows you to have separate phone lines for personal and business use, without needing an extra SIM card. It even lets you call and text internationally. With this app, you can pick a custom phone number and make calls without revealing your actual number.

The app provides phone numbers from various countries including the USA, Canada, Israel, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and Estonia.

2Number operates on a credit system. Each incoming and outgoing call, as well as text messages (SMS/MMS), will use up these credits.

When you create a free account, you’ll receive 150 credits for free. You can use these to get your first temporary (‘burner’) number. If you need more, you can purchase additional credits. Prices start at $5.97 for another 150 credits, going up to $89.89 for a bundle of 3500 credits.

2. Hushed

First, you’ll need to download and create an account with Hushed. This app gives you access to local phone numbers from over 300 area codes across the US, Canada, and the UK. It’s perfect for private calls and texts. You can even manage multiple lines for different aspects of your life. When you make a call or send a text through Hushed, it comes from your Hushed number, not your regular cell number. This makes Hushed an excellent choice for classified ads, dating, and travel.

Hushed also offers a 3-day free trial. During this trial, you can get a second number from any available country at no cost. After the trial ends, you have the option to subscribe to their plans. Hushed offers two types of plans: prepaid plans, which start at $2.99 for 7 days and go up to $34.99 for a full year, and a pay-as-you-go plan, which costs $6.99 for 30 days of worldwide coverage. They even have an unlimited plan where you can get unlimited texts, pictures, and call minutes for just $4.99/month.

3. Dingtone

Let’s talk about Dingtone next. Dingtone is an app that allows you to make and receive calls to and from any type of number, including landlines, in over 195 countries. If you’re calling another Dingtone user, it’s free! And you can earn free credits by making calls to landlines and mobile phones. This is great for personal, business, or privacy needs because you can add as many local numbers as you need.

To begin, you need to sign up for an account. During this process, you’ll be asked to provide your local phone number.

Dingtone is generous, too! They start you off with 25 free credits so you can try out their services. If you decide you want a second number through Dingtone, the pricing starts at $4.99 per month or $23.99 per year.

4. Text Me

The Text Me app provides unlimited texting and calling to any number in the US and Canada at no charge. Additionally, it offers a free voicemail service and has competitive rates for acquiring a foreign number. Plus, it works on iPads and allows you to have as many custom phone numbers as you need.

After you sign up and log in, you’ll receive 10 free credits. If you need more, you can purchase additional credits – the prices range from $0.98 for 40 credits up to $39.98 for 2000 credits. Alternatively, the app also offers a subscription plan. For $8.98 per month, you can renew your number.

5. Wabi

Finally, we have the Wabi app. Wabi offers you a virtual number that you can use to set up a WhatsApp Business account. Not only that, but you can also use Wabi’s numbers for verifying accounts on other services. Wabi guarantees clean, dedicated phone numbers that are compatible with WhatsApp Business.

Getting a virtual number with Wabi starts at $5/month. If you’re in countries like the USA, UK, or Belgium, there’s a free trial available. Wabi also lets you pick the virtual number from the country and state you prefer. However, one thing that sets Wabi apart from other services is that you can’t see the full phone number until you decide to make a payment. Before that, you’ll only see the country code and a few numbers at the start.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the growing need for privacy in our increasingly digital world is clear. Protecting your primary phone number through the use of temporary burner numbers can add an invaluable layer of security. Whether you’re a small business owner, an online seller, or simply someone who values their privacy, these five iPhone apps for temporary burner phone numbers can provide a solution tailored to your needs.

From Hushed’s affordable plans and Phoner’s range of free numbers, to Burner’s robust functionality, TextMe Up’s flexibility, and Wabi’s specialized services for WhatsApp Business, there’s an app for every situation. Remember, the right app for you depends on your unique needs and budget. So, give these apps a try and find the one that fits best for you. In an era where data privacy is key, a burner app could be the tool you need to keep your personal information safe and secure.