How to Get Free US Number for WhatsApp: 5 Methods
Abigail Lewis
Need a free US number for WhatsApp for personal or business purposes? If you want a US number for privacy reasons or to market your product and services to the local US market, but you do not reside in the US or the locality you are targeting for your campaign, you can simply use a virtual US number. There are numerous VOIP/eSIMs that offer a free US number for WhatsApp. However, it is highly crucial to verify such services and use reputable free US number providers. That’s because picking a random virtual number service can lead to several issues.
For instance, free numbers may not support WhatsApp verification, calling and messaging might be limited within your area, calls may drop frequently, messages might remain undelivered, or you may face data breaches due to malware ads, etc. The services and methods that I have mentioned are based on my first-hand experience. Hence, I have given a short, unbiased description of each of these providers. Additionally, you will find a section on how to acquire a free US number for WhatsApp under each one of them. Read more…
Zoho Voice is a cloud-based VoIP phone software that manages business calls from any device or location. This VoIP software has a softphone and web application and makes and receives calls from any device.
How to Get Free US Number for WhatsApp?
After going through 30+ providers and spending 125+ hours, I have shortlisted the best services that will help you get a free US number for WhatsApp.
Method 1: Get Free US Number for WhatsApp Using Zoho Voice
Best for Business Communication
Zoho Voice is a comprehensive cloud-based phone system that offers excellent features for business communications. It provides reliable call quality with advanced call management features, making it ideal for professional use. Zoho Voice integrates seamlessly with other Zoho applications and third-party tools, ensuring streamlined business operations.
Zoho Voice offers features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, call recording, and multi-level IVR systems, which are essential for business operations. It also provides excellent customer support with 24/7 assistance, ensuring that any issues are resolved promptly. While it may not offer a completely free US number permanently, its comprehensive features and reliability make it a top choice for businesses looking to use WhatsApp for communication.
How to get a US number for free?
While Zoho Voice may not offer a free US number directly, you can explore their trial options or contact their support for potential offers. Here’s a general approach to getting started with Zoho Voice:
Step 1) Visit https://www.zoho.com/voice/ and navigate to the “Sign Up” section to start your free trial or select an appropriate plan.
Step 2) Choose the US phone number option, and decide on your preferred plan (even if you’re starting with a free trial). Zoho Voice offers business solutions that can scale as your needs grow.
Step 3) Select the region you want the US number from, and proceed with the sign-up process. After completing the setup, you will receive your US number.
15-Days Free Trial
Method 2: Using TextNow
Best for international calling
TextNow offers quick access to free US numbers and allows unlimited calling and texting. The best part about using TextNow is that you can choose how much data you require and pay on an hourly basis. This helped me save a lot even while using its paid version, as I had to pay only for how much I wanted to use and when.
However, I had to manually back up the chats. Thus, ensure you do it regularly so that your conversations are saved in the app. Additionally, WhatsApp verification may take time, I suggest reaching out to the support for help. They helped me with the entire process as it took me almost 2 days to get verified.
How to get a US number for free?
Here’s how I acquired a free US number using TextNow:
Step 1) Start by downloading the TextNow app on your device.
Step 2) Now, create an account on TextNow, you can use your email to sign up.
Step 3) The app will now allow you to choose a US number by typing your choice of area code. Select the ones with “free” next to them.
Free Download
Method 3: Get US Number for WhatsApp Using RingCentral
Best for business communications
RingCentral is basically an all-in-one business communication virtual number provider. It is best for people who want to open a WhatsApp business account. If you just want a simple free US number, then you can use its ordinary virtual number instead of the RingCX WhatsApp API. However, it may take some time to get verified, and if it doesn’t, I suggest using the API instead.
The API integration helped me regroup and reroute the interactions to the right agents for better customer engagement. It also supports the live location-sharing feature. The only drawback is that it might not be beginner-friendly as it requires a slight technical knowledge to set it up. I used support assistance to understand it better– the team is quite helpful, so you can get in touch for a smooth process.
How to get a US number for free?
Here’s how you can get a free US number from RingCentral.
Step 1) Visit the RingCentral site, navigate to pricing, and click on the Try Free option.
Step 2) Sign up, enter your business information, and choose a US number when prompted.
Step 3) You can also change the number if you want. Once you receive the number, you can use it to send WhatsApp messages.
14-Days Free Trial
Method 4: Using Google Voice
Best overall free US number provider
Google Voice is one of the most widely used virtual phone number providers, and it is excellent for both personal and professional use. I used it as my personal phone number to share it with services such as salons and supermarkets and registered it with WhatsApp. It allows you to text, call, video chat, share media, and send voice notes, just like your regular carrier.
However, before you go ahead with it, I’d like to inform you that I found certain features on Google Voice unavailable in regions like Hawaii, Alaska, and Virgin Islands. It might also lack full support for WhatsApp’s verification needs in these areas. Therefore, verify the functionality you require beforehand, and consider alternative services if needed.
How to get a US number for free?
Here’s a step-by-step on how I used Google Voice to get a free US number for my WhatsApp:
Step 1) Visit https://voice.google.com/ and sign into your Google account or download the app on your device.
Step 2) Once you open it, select a number of your choice with the area code you require. Then, enter a valid phone number to receive a verification code.
Step 3) After you receive the code, verify it and follow the straightforward prompts on the screen. Finally register it with WhatsApp and start using it. If you want to use it on the same phone, go to settings on WhatsApp, tap on Add Account to create another account with the Google Voice number.
Link: https://voice.google.com/u/0/about
Method 5: Using Numero eSIM
Best for Using While Travelling
Numero eSIM provides a virtual number that supports all countries. Therefore, frequent travelers and tourists can use it from anywhere. I found it quite useful for my business trips as I could consistently use a single SIM no matter where I was, and it helped me keep my client communications organized.
It was quite convenient for me, although I faced slight delays in message delivery. However, fixing my internet connection helped me get past this issue. In case your messages don’t get delivered, try resending the message once the connection is stronger. The other problem that I faced was that it didn’t support calling in some regions, I suggest using voicenotes in such cases.
How to get a US number for free?
Here’s how you can get a free number using Numero eSIM:
Step 1) First, download the Numero eSIM app and sign up. Then, look for the United States number in the search bar by selecting the country.
Step 2) Next, look for offers within the app, as it mostly comes with one-time payment. Once you get the number, you can start using it for WhatsApp.
Comparison Table:
| Features | Zoho Voice | TextNow | RingCentral | Google Voice | Numero eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free US Number | Limited | ✔️ | Limited | ✔️ | Limited |
| Supports WhatsApp | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Permanent number | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| SMS Verification | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Available outside US | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Ad-Free | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Limitations of Free US Number and their Solutions
Here are the common limitations that you could face while using a free US virtual number for WhatsApp. I have also given their solutions side-by-side.
| Limitations | Solution |
|---|---|
| You could face dropped calls, delayed messages, or even service outages. | Free services are often inconsistent with performance. I suggest having a backup for communication. |
| There is no proper customer support. | Find online resources and ask help from tech-savvy friends about how to troubleshoot issues yourself, as the support will either be minimal or nonexistent with free services. |
| Free numbers are often recycled. Hence, someone else might have used it previously, causing confusion. | Contact support to allocate you another number if this particular one has been flagged as spam by several people or services due to the previous owner’s actions. |
| Privacy and data confidentially Risks | There’s a chance of privacy risk with free services. Hence, if that’s your major concern, try getting the lowest paid plan that’s within your budget for proper data security. |
Difference Between VoIP and Burner Phone Numbers
I understand that it can be slightly confusing when you do not know the difference between a virtual phone number and a burner phone. Let me clear this up for you using a table:
| VoIP | Burner |
|---|---|
| Operates using an internet connection | It functions using a cellular network |
| It is an app or a software-based service | This is a physical phone |
| Offers free and affordable calls, including international | Uses prepaid plans and can be expensive |
| Supports multiple devices such as smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets, etc. | It’s a physical phone; hence, all the services can be accessed only by using the burner device |
| Includes features like voicemail, call forwarding, call recording, etc. | It usually provides basic phone services like calls and SMS |
| You can keep the virtual number for a long time | Physical burner phones are used for a short period as they are meant to be untraceable |
| The numbers can be easily ported to different providers | It is not portable as it is a physical phone, and all services rely on a single device |
Which is Best for WhatsApp?
- Best Overall: A VoIP number, such as Zoho Voice, is one of the most reliable for WhatsApp verification. That’s because it can be used for a long time and supports all WhatsApp features.
- Best for Privacy: For extra privacy, using a burner phone is the safest option as it can be disposed of easily after a temporary period.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re serious about keeping your WhatsApp number long-term, we suggest you avoid free services, as these numbers usually get reassigned. Instead, consider a VoIP service with a minimal fee to ensure reliability.
FAQs
Conclusion
Acquiring a free US number for WhatsApp is an easy process using reliable VoIPs like the ones mentioned above. In my experience, Zoho Voice, TextNow, and RingCentral are the best options. However, not all free numbers can be verified by WhatsApp. Therefore, you may need to try multiple numbers before you can sign up with the app. I also suggest going for the paid version, as the free trials and basic free plans offer limited services, especially if you want to use it for business purposes.
Zoho Voice is a cloud-based VoIP phone software that manages business calls from any device or location. This VoIP software has a softphone and web application and makes and receives calls from any device.
