A US virtual phone number is a real +1 number with a US area code that is not tied to a SIM card or a phone line. Calls to it travel over the internet to an app, a browser tab or another phone, so you can live anywhere and still have people in the US call you at local rates. Many providers sell them to people outside the US, but they differ a lot in who can sign up, whether they handle text messages, and whether you can call out with the number as your caller ID.

This guide is for people who live outside the US and want a US number for family, clients or US companies that need to call them back.

What a US virtual number is (and is not)

A virtual number looks exactly like any other US number: +1, a three-digit area code, then seven digits. A caller in Texas dialing a virtual number with a 512 area code pays the same as calling any Austin number. The difference is all on your side. Instead of ringing a SIM in a phone, the call is routed over the internet to wherever you have the service open.

What it is not:

Not a SIM or eSIM. You do not get mobile data or a US mobile plan.
Not automatically a texting number. Many virtual numbers are voice-only, and even the ones that take texts often fail with bank and app verification codes.
Not a way around US carrier rules. Calls still go through the US phone network, and spam filters there treat new numbers with caution.

If you want the basics of how virtual numbers work in any country, our explainer on what a virtual phone number is covers it.

Three jobs a US number can do

Before comparing providers, decide which of these you actually need. Most confusion comes from buying a number that does one job well when you needed another.

Job	What it means	What you need from the provider
Inbound calls	People in the US dial your number and it rings where you are	The number rings in an app or browser, or forwards to your local phone
Outbound caller ID	When you call a US number, they see your US number, not a foreign one	The provider lets you display the number when you place calls
Text messages	You send and receive SMS on the number	SMS support, and acceptance by the service sending you codes

A small business abroad that wants US clients to call it needs inbound calls. Someone calling US banks or offices needs outbound caller ID so the call is not ignored as an unknown international number. Someone who wants to sign up for US apps needs texts, which is the hardest of the three to get from any virtual number.

Your options compared

Prices and rules change often. Treat this table as a map of how each type of service works, and check the provider's own site for current terms.

Approach	Who can sign up	Incoming calls	Call out with the US number	Texts	Main catch
Google Voice (personal)	People in the US with a US phone number	App and browser	Yes	Yes, in supported markets	Personal accounts are US-only
Business VoIP providers	Usually anyone, sometimes with business details	App, desk phone or forwarding	Yes	Depends on the plan	Monthly per-user plans built for teams
Second-number apps	Varies by app	In the app	Yes, in the app	Often	Need the app installed on a smartphone
BoraPhone numbers	Anyone with a BoraPhone account (some countries' numbers need ID documents)	Rings in your browser tab	Yes, as caller ID	No, voice only	No voicemail: the tab must be open to take calls

Google Voice

Google Voice is often the first suggestion, and for people in the US it is a good one. For everyone else it usually is not available: Google's App Store listing says it "only works for personal Google Accounts in the US", and Google's setup instructions ask for a phone that can receive a verification text. Workarounds that rely on borrowing someone else's US number are fragile. If you are already outside the US, our list of Google Voice alternatives outside the US goes through what works instead.

Business VoIP providers

These sell US numbers as part of a phone system: call routing, voicemail, business hours, several users. They suit companies with US customers. For one person who mainly wants family to reach them, the per-user monthly price and the setup are usually more than needed. Some ask for a business address or identity details before they assign a number.

Second-number apps

Phone apps that add a US line to your smartphone are simple to use and many include texting. The trade-off is that they live on one device, and like other internet-based numbers they can be refused when a service sends a verification code.

BoraPhone virtual numbers

BoraPhone sells US numbers that ring in your web browser. There is no app to install. When someone calls the number, it rings in the BoraPhone tab on your laptop, tablet or phone, in Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox. There is no voicemail or forwarding, so the call only reaches you while that tab is open. You can show the number as caller ID when you call out, or verify a US number you already own (BoraPhone calls it and you type in the code shown on screen) and show that instead. The numbers are for voice calls only: they do not send or receive text messages, so they are no use for verification codes. The monthly price is shown on the pricing page before you buy, and some countries require identity documents for their numbers. Calls out to the US start from $0.04 a minute at the time of writing (October 2026), and the dialer shows the exact rate before you call. Billing is per minute, rounded up, from a $5 minimum pay-as-you-go top-up with no subscription.

The SMS verification trap

This is where most people get burned, so it gets its own section.

Banks, payment apps, messaging apps and many US websites send a one-time code by text when you sign up or log in. A lot of them check what kind of number they are sending to and refuse internet-based numbers. Others accept them at first and then stop. There is no reliable public list of which services accept which providers.

Practical rules:

If you need a number for codes, keep a real US mobile line if you have one. Our guide on keeping your US number when you move abroad walks through the cheapest ways to do that.
Use an authenticator app or passkey wherever a service offers one, so you depend on the number less.
Buy a virtual number for what virtual numbers are good at: being reachable by phone and calling out with a US caller ID.

How to choose an area code

US area codes are tied to places, and people notice them. A few ways to pick:

Match the people who will call you. If most calls come from family in Chicago, a Chicago area code (312, 773 and overlays) makes the number feel local to them. If your clients are spread out, a major city code is a safe default.
Match the business you are presenting. A consultancy selling to New York firms might want a New York code. An online business may not care.
Keep your old area code if you are replacing a number you had in the US. The people who already have it in their contacts will recognize it.
Know that toll-free is different. 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888 numbers are toll-free numbers, not local ones. They are free for US callers but are priced and handled differently, and many cannot be dialed from outside the US.

Availability depends on the provider and on stock. Popular area codes in big cities can run short, so have a second choice ready.

Caller ID: what US recipients actually see

When you call from a US virtual number, the person you call sees the number. They may or may not see a name, since US caller name display depends on the recipient's carrier and the databases it uses. Many people in the US do not answer numbers they do not recognize, and carriers apply spam labels to some numbers, especially new ones that make lots of short calls.

To give your calls the best chance:

Call people who expect to hear from you, or text or email first to tell them your new number.
Keep the number long term. A number with a steady history of normal calls looks more trustworthy than a new one.
If you already have a US number you want to show (for example, one you kept after moving), check whether your calling service lets you verify it and use it as caller ID instead of buying a new one.

Checklist before you pay any provider

Do you need texts, or only calls? If texts, confirm the services you care about accept that provider's numbers.
Can you sign up from your country, and are identity documents needed?
How do incoming calls reach you: app, browser, forwarding to your local phone? What happens when you are offline (voicemail, missed call)?
Can you use the number as caller ID on outgoing calls?
What is the monthly price, and what do calls cost on top of it?
Can you cancel or move the number later, and is there a fee?

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a US virtual phone number from outside the US?

Yes. Many providers sell US numbers to people living anywhere, including business VoIP services, second-number apps and browser-based calling services. The main exception is Google Voice, whose personal accounts only work in the US. Check whether the provider needs identity documents and whether its numbers support the features you need.

Can I get a US phone number for free?

Google Voice gives US residents a free number, but its personal accounts are US-only. Outside the US, free numbers are rare and usually come with limits, adverts or a risk of the number being taken back. A paid number is the dependable choice if people need to reach you on it for years.

Can I use a US virtual number for WhatsApp or bank verification?

It depends entirely on the provider and on the service sending the code, and many reject virtual numbers. Voice-only numbers cannot receive texts at all, so check that a number supports SMS before buying it for verification. If you need codes, keep a real US mobile line or use an authenticator app where possible.

Do incoming calls to a US virtual number cost the caller extra?

No. A caller in the US pays the same as calling any other US number with that area code, because the number is a normal US number. Any cost for getting the call to you abroad sits with you and your provider, not the caller.

Which area code should I choose?

Pick the area code of the people who will call you most, or keep the code of a number you used to have in the US so it is familiar. Avoid toll-free prefixes unless you specifically need one, because they work differently from local numbers. If your first choice is not available, nearby overlay codes cover the same area.

US Virtual Phone Number: How to Get One From Outside the US