Why Get a Virtual Phone Number?

  • Privacy when selling on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree — keep your personal number private
  • Separate work and personal calls on one phone
  • A local number when travelling internationally
  • Avoid giving your real number to businesses or websites
  • A second number for two-step verification on accounts you want to separate

Free Options

  1. 1

    Google Voice (free, US number)

    Google Voice (voice.google.com) provides a free US phone number that can receive calls and SMS. Works well for accounts that accept international numbers. Calls and texts via the app use your data or WiFi. Limitation: the number is a US number, not an Australian one.

  2. 2

    TextNow (free, with ads)

    TextNow provides a free North American number for calls and SMS via app. Free tier is ad-supported. Good for basic privacy needs or US number requirements.

Paid Options with Australian Numbers

  • Hushed: $2–5/month for a local number in many countries including Australia. Good for temporary or privacy-focused use. Numbers in Australian area codes available.
  • Skype Number: ~$5/month for an Australian mobile or landline number that rings in the Skype app. Good if you already use Skype.
  • Telstra/Optus/Vodafone secondary SIM: A second SIM card plan ($10–20/month) in a dual-SIM phone gives you two real Australian mobile numbers on one device. Most modern iPhones and Android phones support dual SIM or eSIM.

  • eSIM plans: Many carriers offer eSIM plans that can be activated on a compatible phone without a physical SIM, effectively giving you a second number on the same device.
Temporary numbers for one-time verificationFor one-time use (verifying an account, receiving a single SMS), free temporary number services like receive-sms.com or temp-number.com provide disposable numbers. These are public — anyone can see the messages — so only use for throwaway verifications, not anything sensitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — WhatsApp can be registered with a virtual number that can receive SMS verification codes. Google Voice numbers work for WhatsApp registration. Once registered, you can use WhatsApp without the virtual number staying active. Note: WhatsApp only allows one account per phone number and one active session per account on the main device (though WhatsApp Business and linked devices expand this).
Yes — virtual phone numbers are legal in Australia. They are widely used by businesses for call routing and by individuals for privacy. The only restrictions apply to using numbers for fraud, harassment or impersonating emergency services. Standard personal use for privacy or a second number has no legal issues.