How to get a US phone number from outside the US (2024)

The simplest way to get a US phone number from overseas is to buy a US phone number online from virtual number providers like iTeleCenter.

It’s a good idea to switch to the cloud. Instead of dealing with traditional SIM cards, you can use a virtual US number to connect with your customers.

With a US virtual phone number, you can call and text US contacts from the area codes they know. Also, if you have teammates working remotely or want to expand your local presence, US numbers can really help your business grow and make it easier for customers to reach you.

And the best part about USA virtual phone numbers? They’re not tied to a specific device or desk—as long as you’ve got WiFi, you can use your US virtual number to make calls wherever you are.

In this article, we’ll walk you through on how to add a free USA number to your existing devices no matter where you are right now.

How to get a US phone number

Getting a US phone number for your business is simple and easy. It literally only takes a few minutes to get going.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the process,

• First, decide what type of US number you want – local, toll-free or vanity phone numbers.
  
• Next, choose your city or area code in the US to select your phone number. You can even get a local number from just about any city or state across the country.
  
• Once you’ve gone through the signup process, download our mobile app.
  
• That’s about it! Open the iTeleCenter app, configure your new free US phone number app settings and start calling and texting.

Why get a US phone number

If your business isn’t located or based in the US, but you’re currently working (or plan on working) with US customers, you should get a US phone number.

There are many advantages to having a US phone number, such as

• Make your business / company look bigger and more credible to US customers.
• You can say goodbye to international calling fees when you’re reaching out to US based clients.
• People are more likely to pick up calls from familiar US area codes. You can even choose a local number and establish a local business presence in cities where you have more customers.
• Communicating with clients and teams that are located in the US becomes super easy and efficient.
• Enjoy better call quality without those annoying long distance call issues.
• And here’s an added bonus: Having a separate US number gives your team an extra layer of privacy. You and your team can share it while keeping your personal numbers private.

With iTeleCenter, you can get a US phone number in minutes. See for yourself why thousands of small businesses use iTeleCenter — sign up for our fourteen-day free trial today.

What are the types of US phone numbers

US virtual numbers are popular among businesses. Here are the different types of free US phone numbers you can purchase,

Toll free virtual number

Ever called a customer service phone line for a retail chain? Chances are, you dialed a toll-free virtual number like 1-800-123-4455.

Toll free numbers make it super easy for customers to get in touch without worrying about long-distance charges.

Local virtual numbers

Want to establish a business presence in a specific US area without a physical location? Local virtual numbers are the perfect fit.

You can get a US local virtual number for any state or area code.

Vanity virtual number

Want your business to stand out and be memorable? Businesses love these—think of a real estate agent advertising numbers 1-800-BUY-HOUSE.

It’s a quick way to create a brand identity and a number that sticks on people’s minds.

Virtual US numbers are the simplest way to get a number in minutes for your business.

Why buy a US phone number with iTeleCenter

iTeleCenter is one of the earliest players in the market and has been designed specifically for entrepreneurs and businesses.

With iTeleCenter, you can get a free US phone number from overseas in minutes on your existing smartphone.

To get a free US phone number for business, simply start a 14 day free trial, download the iTeleCenter app, and you’re all set to text and make calls.

Key features

• Free virtual local or toll free number(s) with each plan
• Unlimited calling
• SMS text messaging
• Call forwarding and call routing
• Business voicemail
• iOS and Android app
• Conference calling
• Call recording
• Virtual receptionist

.. and many other business phone features.

Pricing

Basic: $19.95 per month (1 free local or toll free number included)

Pro: $39.95 per month (2 free local or toll free number included)

Grow: $99.95 per month (4 free local or toll free number included)

How iTeleCenter stacks up against other platforms

So, when it comes to getting a US phone number, our top pick is iTeleCenter (yes, we’re a little biased but we can back it up)

But hey, we get it—options are great and you want to explore. Here are a few other US virtual phone number apps you might want to check out,

• Google Voice
• Grasshopper
• CallHippo
• RingCentral
• Skype

Feel free to explore these options and see which one works for you.

Google voice

Google Voice, a fairly common provider when it comes to getting a free US number. The free version of Google Voice is only available in the US, so if you’re outside the States, you’ll have to go for Google Voice Business.

To get a free US number from abroad, you’ll need to go for the Google Voice for Business plan and add in an active Google Workspace subscription (starting at $6 per user per month).

But even with the paid plan, texting and some other features are still strictly for US customers.

Key features

• Free calling to the US
• Free texting (US customers only)
• Google Calendar and Google Meet integrations
• Call recordings (but you’ll have to upgrade)
• Ring groups (again requires an upgrade)
• Phone menus (requires upgrade)

Pricing

To unlock Google Voice’s paid plans, you’ll need to also get an active Google Workspace subscription (starting at $6 per user per month), plus choose one of these three Google Voice plans:

Starter: $10 per user per month (maximum of 10 users)

Standard: $20 per user per month for on-demand call recordings, ring groups, and phone menus

Premier: $30 per user per month for automatic call recordings and advanced reporting

Grasshopper

So, you might’ve come across Grasshopper—a well known virtual phone provider. They cater mostly to small businesses. They’re pretty generous when it comes to their user count except for the True Solo tier, which is a good option if you’re a one man shop.

The catch: A bunch of their features are only available for an extra cost (add-on), their system is a little old fashioned and lack some features like shared numbers and call recording.

Oh, and another major thing: Grasshopper is exclusive to the US and Canada. So, if you’re not physically present or have a presence in either of those countries, you’ll need a VPN to get a free american phone number from Grasshopper phone number for your business.

Key features

• Local SMS texting (international texting is not available)
• Voicemail transcriptions
• Call forwarding
• Auto-replies
• Call transfers

If you want to add simultaneous ringing, that’s an extra $10 per month.

Pricing

True Solo: $15 per month for 1 phone number, 1 extension and 1 user only.

Solo: $25 per month for 1 phone number and 3 extensions.

Small business: $55 per month for 4 phone numbers and 8 extensions.

CallHippo

CallHippo is a virtual phone system provider popular among customer service teams. It might not be the best option for small businesses that are looking to get a US number for their small business.

Also, here’s the thing: CallHippo is a bit limited when it comes to integrations and features, especially in its basic plan. Also, trying to get an issue resolved with their support team takes days.

Key features

• Call reminders
• Smart switch
• Click to dial
• Call analytics
• Multilingual IVR

Pricing

Starter: $18 per user per month (1 local or toll phone number)

Professional: $30 per user per month (only 1 number included, additional numbers at extra cost)

Ultimate: $42 per user per month (only 1 number included, additional numbers at extra cost)

RingCentral

RingCentral—a VoIP service provider that’s about getting unified communications to businesses. You can make calls, texts, and video calls, from the mobile app.

Drawbacks: For starters, a lot of their basic business features come with a much higher price tag. Take their base plan, for example—it only includes a measly 25 messages per user per month. And with a cap of 20 users on the basic plan, you might start feeling the pressure to upgrade before you’re really ready.

Oh, and here’s another thing: RingCentral’s shared number feature, it’s great for handling calls, but when it comes to texts, it’s on the lower end. And their shared inbox separates calls, texts, and voice messages into different spots, making it a bit hard to keep track of everything.

Key features

• IVR (that’s Interactive Voice Response)
• Internet fax
• Call recordings
• Android and iOS mobile app
• Business analytics
• Team messaging
• Document file sharing

Pricing

Core: $40 per user per month (unlimited calls in the US and Canada, plus 25 SMS messages per user per month)

Advanced: $45 per user per month (100 SMS messages per user per month, automatic call recording, and integrations)

Ultra: $55 per user per month (extra storage, device analytics, and 200 SMS messages per user per month)

Skype

Skype is another easy way to get a US number. You can grab up to 10 local phone numbers for your business. Skype is great for individuals looking to get a number and connect with other Skype users. But that’s about it.

Already have a business number and want to port? With Skype, you cannot bring your numbers along. First, you have to get subscription credits to reach your US customers. Once you’re loaded up, you can dive into those free voice and video calls

Moreover, Skype lacks in the business phone features department. Sure, you’ve got your basic two-way SMS and caller ID, but that’s about it. Plus, if you’re not in the US, you can forget about those incoming texts. In simple terms, there are a lot of constraints and it could get really pricey.

Key features

• Free calls to other Skype users
• Two-way SMS
• Outbound calls
• Caller ID

Pricing

You have to get credits to call and text non-Skype users. These credits come in three flavors: $5, $10, and $25.

Rates to reach others vary depending on where they are and the currency you’re using.

Get your new US number for free

Ready to get a US phone number? Start calling and texting with your new iTeleCenter US phone number.

Try a US phone number free for fourteen days.

Frequently asked questions