In today’s digital age, personal privacy has become a major concern, especially when it comes to phone numbers. While your Android phone number is essential for communicating with friends and family, it’s not as private as you might hope. Due to strict SIM registration laws, carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile require your personal information before assigning a new phone number, meaning your number is directly linked to your identity.
This linkage makes it risky to share your phone number freely, since it can be traced back to you. If you want to keep your real number private, simply getting a second number from your carrier won’t protect you — it still requires registration with your personal details. The best alternative? Use free Android apps that provide burner phone numbers, which work like digital temporary phones without needing a new device or plan.
Here are five top free apps that let you use burner numbers easily and securely.
Hushed
Hushed offers temporary phone numbers across over 300 area codes in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. The app uniquely keeps your real identity completely separate from your burner numbers, so your privacy stays intact. Features include voicemail, call forwarding, auto-reply, and the ability to create multiple numbers you can delete anytime.
Hushed relies on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to enable worldwide calling and messaging over the internet without costly international fees. The other party doesn’t need any special setup; they receive calls and texts as usual. While Hushed has a free trial, ongoing use requires a subscription. It’s available for free on the Google Play Store.
Burner
Burner is a versatile app that allows you to create multiple anonymous temporary numbers you can rotate or delete at will. It supports VoIP for calls and texts but uses your real phone’s minutes for outgoing calls, so your cell plan remains relevant. Incoming calls to your Burner number are forwarded to your real number, concealing it from the caller.
Burner also includes spam-blocking, Do Not Disturb mode, and voicemail features for added convenience. You can download it free with a trial on the Google Play Store.
Call.com
Call.com lets you create up to four temporary numbers at a time, supporting phone numbers from nine countries including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia. It uses VoIP for cost-effective global calls. While making calls or sending texts incurs charges, communication is free between Call.com numbers.
The app is free to download, but requires a subscription for full use. No free trial is offered, although small credit purchases allow testing the service. Call.com is available on Google Play.
Second Number
Second Number supports over 20 countries, making it ideal for travelers. It provides VoIP calling and messaging, plus essential features like call forwarding, blocking, voicemail, group calls, and call recording. Uniquely, Second Number allows you to port your burner number to a traditional carrier like Verizon or Sprint if desired.
The app is free to download and user-friendly, enabling you to keep your real phone number private while enjoying a wide range of functions.
Text Me
Text Me is another excellent app for burner numbers, offering support for multiple countries including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Belgium, and more. Calls and messages, some with MMS support, run on VoIP requiring internet connectivity.
Additional features include call forwarding, spam blocking, voicemail, and an intuitive interface that’s quick to set up. The app is available for free on the Google Play Store.
Using these apps, you can protect your privacy and keep your real number confidential without the hassle of new hardware or expensive plans. Choose the one that fits your needs and start securing your communications today.
