How to Get a US Phone Number From Outside the US
You can get a US number while living abroad with a second-number app that works over the internet. Here is how it works, what it costs, and what a US number cannot do.
Quick answer
Yes. The simplest way to get a US phone number from outside the US is a second-number app that runs over Wi-Fi or mobile data. You choose a US number in the app, then call and text with it from the phone you already have. A US number does not give you a US address or residency, and some services may still reject it for verification.
People outside the US want a US number for ordinary reasons: family and friends in the US who would rather call a local number, US clients, apartment or school applications, or simply not wanting to give a personal foreign number to every website. You do not need to travel to the US or buy a US SIM card to get one.
How a US number works when you live abroad
A second-number app assigns you a real US number and connects it to the app on your phone. Calls and texts travel over the internet, so the number works wherever you have Wi-Fi or mobile data. Your local SIM keeps working as normal for everything else.
For people in the US, calling or texting you is just a normal call or text to a US number. They do not need an international plan or a special app.
Your options
A second-number app. You pick a US number, often with the area code of your choice, and use it inside the app. This is the most practical option for most people abroad.
Google Voice. It is free for eligible users, but setup is built around the US. Its help page describes choosing a number "if you're in the US" and verifying with a phone that can receive a text code. Check whether it works from your country before relying on it. See how it compares in our Google Voice alternative guide.
A US SIM or eSIM. A real carrier line works well while you are physically in the US. From abroad, roaming costs and activation requirements can make it impractical, and many travel eSIMs are data-only, so check whether a plan actually includes a phone number.
What a US number can and cannot do
A US number is useful for staying reachable by US contacts and for keeping your personal number off forms and websites. It is not a US identity.
- It does not prove where you live. Services that need a US address, US bank account, or US tax details will still ask for them.
- Verification is decided by each service. Many services send codes to app-based numbers, but some reject them. WhatsApp usually rejects VoIP numbers. It sometimes works with HashPhone, but that is not guaranteed.
- It needs an internet connection. Without Wi-Fi or mobile data, calls and texts will not come through until you are back online.
Use the number for your own accounts and conversations. Do not use it to create accounts in someone else's name or to get around a service's rules.
How to get a US number with HashPhone
- Check that HashPhone is available in your country's App Store or Google Play.
- Download the app and choose a US number. You can pick the area code, for example a New York number or one from the city where your contacts live. Canadian numbers are available too.
- Review the current offer and renewal price shown in the app. Prices are shown in your local currency by your app store.
- Turn on notifications so you do not miss calls and texts.
HashPhone runs free trials and introductory offers from time to time. Availability depends on your platform, region, and eligibility, and it can change. Open the app to see the current offer and renewal price for your account before you subscribe.
Current status (checked October 10, 2026): eligible Android users can start with a free trial. iPhone users do not currently see a free trial.
Get a US number from wherever you liveChoose an available US number and review the current offer before you subscribe.
Check HashPhoneChecked October 10, 2026: Google Voice's setup guide describes choosing a number in the US and verifying by text. The HashPhone App Store listing describes a dedicated number with the US area code of your choice. Availability and offers can vary by country.