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Getting a virtual US phone number takes about ten minutes, but which route works depends on one question: are you already in the US with a US phone number? If yes, Google Voice gives you a second number for $0. If not, the free route is closed, because basic Google Voice is US-only and asks you to verify with another phone number. Then you need a paid business phone app, which starts around $10 to $15 a month.
Here are the three routes that work in 2026, what each really costs, and the extra fees people miss when they start texting US customers.
Pick your route in 30 seconds
| Your situation | Best route | Starting cost |
|---|---|---|
| In the US, personal use, already have a US mobile number | Google Voice (free) | $0 |
| In the US, one person, want a business line without linking another number | Google Voice Starter (standalone) | $10/mo |
| Outside the US, or a team that needs shared numbers | A VoIP provider such as Calilio or Quo | $12 to $19 per user a month |
Route 1: Google Voice, free for US residents
Basic Google Voice is a no-charge plan for personal use. You sign in to the Google Voice web app with a personal Gmail account, search for a number by city or area code and pick one. Google's own plan table spells out the limits:
- US only. Local numbers on the free plan and the single-user paid plans are available only in the US.
- You need another phone number. The free plan requires a phone number to forward calls to and to verify your account. The paid plans remove that requirement.
- No 1-800 numbers. Google Voice does not offer toll-free numbers.
- Calls are almost all free inside North America. When you call from the US, nearly all calls to the US and Canada cost nothing; a few specific numbers cost 1 cent a minute.
- No call recording or 911 support on the free plan.
That makes free Google Voice a good second line for a US resident, and a dead end for anyone abroad or anyone who wants the number to belong to a business account.
Route 2: Google Voice Starter for one person
If you are in the US and want a proper business line on your own, Google Voice Starter (standalone) costs $10 a month for one user on a personal Gmail account. It adds call recording, three-way calling and call transfers, desk phone support, 911 support and 24/7 Voice support, and you do not need to verify with another number. Local numbers are still US-only.
Teams on a paid Google Workspace plan can add Voice instead: Starter is $10 per user a month for up to 10 users, Standard is $20 and Premier is $30, with local numbers in 14 countries or regions.
Route 3: A business VoIP provider
Business phone apps rent you a US number and let you call and text from a browser, desktop app or phone. This is the route for teams that want several people answering one number and, with a provider that sells US numbers internationally such as Calilio, for founders outside the US selling to American customers. Two options with clear public pricing:
- Calilio: Standard is $15 per user a month, or $12 on yearly billing ($144 a year), for up to 10 users. It includes one free local US, UK or Canada number, 200 outgoing and 100 incoming minutes, and 100 texts each way to US and Canada numbers. Premium is $35, or $28 yearly, with unlimited users, an IVR menu and a power dialer. Calilio sells numbers in 100+ countries and lists a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Quo (formerly OpenPhone): Starter is $19 per user a month, or $15 on yearly billing ($180 a year), with one new or ported local or toll-free number per user and calling and texting to US and Canadian numbers. Quo offers a 7-day free trial.
How to get a US number on Calilio, step by step
- Create an account and choose Standard or Premium. Yearly billing saves 20%.
- Pick the country and number type. Choose the United States, then local or toll-free. Search by area code if you want a specific city.
- Claim the included number. Your first US, Canada or UK local number is free once your account is verified. Extra local US numbers cost $2 a month and toll-free US numbers $3 a month.
- Submit any verification documents. Calilio says some countries and number types need ID, an address or KYC checks before the number goes live.
- Install the app on your phone or computer and set call forwarding, voicemail and business hours.
- Register for A2P 10DLC before you text US customers for business (see below).
If you already have a business number elsewhere, Calilio says porting it in carries no porting fee. You can pick a US number on Calilio before you pay to see which area codes are available.
What a virtual US phone number costs once you use it
The plan price is only the start. On Calilio, minutes and texts beyond the bundle come out of a prepaid wallet. Its published US rates are $0.0178 a minute for outbound calls to the US and Canada, $0.0157 a minute for inbound calls on a US local number, $0.0275 a minute for inbound calls on a toll-free number, and $0.0034 per text.
A worked example: a heavy month of 700 outbound minutes, 300 inbound minutes and 400 texts each way on Standard adds about $14.08 in usage, for roughly $29 in total. That is still below Premium's $35, so upgrade for Premium's features, not to save on minutes.
Texting US customers? Budget for 10DLC first
US carriers require business senders on regular local numbers to register under A2P 10DLC. Calilio lists a one-time $4.50 brand registration fee, a $15 campaign screening fee and recurring campaign fees that vary by use case. Plan for about $19.50 up front before your first marketing text. If you mainly want bulk SMS campaigns rather than a phone line, a dedicated texting platform may suit you better; see our SimpleTexting deals.
Where a virtual number will not work
A virtual US phone number is legal when used within telecom rules, but it is not accepted everywhere. Calilio itself warns that some apps, banks and online platforms refuse virtual numbers for verification codes, so do not rely on one to open a bank account or recover an important login. Keep a real mobile number for those, and use the virtual number for customers, ads and listings. If you run ads and want to know which campaign made the phone ring, a call tracking tool is a separate product; our CallRail page covers that option.
Virtual US phone number FAQ
Can I get a free virtual US phone number?
Yes, if you are in the US. Basic Google Voice is free for personal use, but local numbers are US-only and the account must be verified with another phone number. Paid providers such as Calilio include one US number free with a subscription.
Can I get a US phone number from outside the US?
Yes, through a VoIP provider that sells US numbers to international customers. Calilio sells numbers in 100+ countries, includes one free local US number with a plan and may ask for verification documents before activation.
How much does a virtual US number cost?
From $0 on free Google Voice to about $10 to $19 a month on paid plans. Google Voice Starter is $10, Calilio Standard is $12 yearly or $15 monthly, and Quo Starter is $15 yearly or $19 monthly. Extra Calilio US numbers are $2 a month.
Can I get a US toll-free number?
Not on Google Voice, which does not offer 1-800 numbers. Calilio lists US toll-free numbers at $3 a month, and Quo includes one local or toll-free number per user.
How we researched this
On October 8, 2026 we read Google's Google Voice plan comparison and setup help, the Google Workspace Voice pricing page, Calilio's pricing page, FAQ and virtual number page, and Quo's pricing page. The usage example is our own arithmetic from Calilio's published rates. We did not buy numbers for this guide; it is a research-based how-to. Current Calilio offers are on our Calilio discount page, and our method is in how we review software.
Sources (checked October 8, 2026): Google Voice Help (subscription types; set up Google Voice), Google Workspace Voice pricing, Calilio pricing and virtual phone number pages, Quo pricing page.
Research-based guide: no vendor paid for or reviewed this article.
