5 Best Free Business Phone Number Apps for 2021

The best free business phone number apps support unlimited calling and texting on a mobile device when using Wi-Fi and provide local and international numbers. Many also offer toll-free numbers and schedule-based call forwarding. While the services come with a free phone number, in some cases, you may have to pay additional per-minute or per-text fees or watch in-app advertisements in exchange for unrestricted services.

Based on our research, the best free business phone number apps are:

• Callcentric: Best for professionals needing multiple cheap business phone numbers
• Google Voice: Best for solopreneurs looking for free unlimited calling over Wi-Fi with call recording
• FreedomPop: Best for people wanting a free, no-frills phone service that works with cellular data
• Sideline: Best business phone number app for small teams who want a phone line they can share with teammates at no additional cost
• Phone.com: An honorable mention for best affordable voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service offering toll-free numbers

Callcentric: Best for International Phone Numbers

*Callcentric offers 17 inbound, outbound, and SMS plans, including international and multi-user business options. Some subscriptions require a setup fee ranging from $1.50 to $19.95. Please review the website to see a full list of plan options.

Callcentric offers customizable phone services and multiple phone number options, including inbound Dollar Unlimited plans that come with a free phone number and pay-per-minute packages. It differs from other free business phone number apps because it has more than 50 phone features, including interactive voice response (IVR), click-to-dial, and conference calling.

The provider really stands out when it comes to international business phone numbers; in total, you’ll be able to get a number in 45 countries. This is much more than the 31 international phone numbers available with Phone.com. For businesses looking to expand globally, this is essential since it grants international customers the ability to call your company without having to pay expensive long distance fees.

Callcentric also works with software and hardware used by businesses with call centers, like ZoIPER, 3CX, and Yealink. You don’t need a cell phone or landline to use Callcentric, as all calls go through your internet service.

Callcentric Features

• Anonymous call rejection: This feature is unique because you can choose to automatically send anonymous calls to voicemail or provide the caller with an error message saying you don’t accept anonymous calls. Your phone won’t ring, and you can cut down on the per-minute charges for incoming calls.
• Auto-attendant: Greet callers and invite them to use their keypad to select a specific extension or department for automatic call routing. This feature also comes with on-hold music.
• Call management: If you have multiple devices, you can create call routing and handling rules to forward calls to up to five numbers simultaneously or up to eight numbers via call hunting, which rings each device in a sequence before sending it to your voicemail.

Google Voice: Best Free App for Unlimited Calling & Recording

Google Voice is free for a single user, and its iOS and Android mobile apps receive higher ratings than other services. Its free version includes a business number and unlimited calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada via your wireless internet connection.

As a VoIP service, Google Voice differs from apps like FreedomPop, which is a cellular provider. To get a Google Voice number, you’ll need an existing U.S.-based landline or mobile phone number. If you don’t have current phone service, FreedomPop may be a better option.

Google Voice functions as a second line and can’t replace your current cellular or landline service. But it offers more features than you’ll find on most other free business phone number apps. The free plan comes with call recording, voicemail-to-email, and call forwarding.

Google Voice Features

• Track emails and voicemails: Google Voice lets you check voicemails and text messages on its desktop and mobile apps and through email. When you enable voicemail or text forwarding, Google transcribes the messages and automatically sends them to your email box, making it easy to filter and search messages.
• Call screening: Along with caller ID, Google Voice can also be set up to prompt incoming callers to state their names. From there, you can choose to answer the call or send it to voicemail.
• Do not disturb: Although the free version of Google Voice doesn’t support schedule-based call forwarding like Callcentric does, you can toggle the do-not-disturb (DND) button anytime to send calls directly to voicemail without it ringing your line.

FreedomPop: Best Freemium Plan With Data

*You must purchase a FreedomPop SIM card for your mobile phone. It’s $10 with free shipping.

FreedomPop stands out because it’s the only free business phone number app providing a freemium plan with data. The package also includes unlimited Wi-Fi calling, iMessage, and RCS messaging. FreedomPop is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offering cellular phone service, meaning if your wireless internet is unavailable, you can still make calls using your cell phone.

Unlike Google Voice, you don’t need existing phone service to get a FreedomPop account, making it a great option for your first or second phone line. However, FreedomPop automatically charges $2 if you go over your minutes or text messages and $8 if you need more data, and you must manually switch back to the freemium plan to avoid being charged the following month.

FreedomPop Features

• Cellular service: If you don’t have current cell phone service or have a spotty internet connection but need to accept incoming calls, FreedomPop might work for you.
• SIM card: A subscriber identity module card (aka SIM card) is a memory card that fits into your cell phone. Once installed, you can access, send, and receive calls using your cell phone with or without the iOS or Android application.

Sideline: Best Business Phone Number App for Shared Lines

*Users can save money by signing up for a six- or 12-month plan.

Sideline earns the top spot on our list of the best free business phone number apps because it’s the app offering a shared business phone line. Like Google Voice, Sideline supports SMS and MMS group messaging and provides voicemail. However, Sideline also offers vanity phone numbers and custom ringtones for your second number. Learn more about how these two apps differ by checking out our Sideline vs Google Voice review.

With Sideline, you can make unlimited calls and text messages using your wireless internet or cellular phone service. All calls made using the Sideline app show your business phone number on the recipient’s caller ID and keep business voicemails separate from your personal number. While you do have to pay a fee for this service with prices starting at $9.99 per month, multiple users can gain access to this line for free. You can then further reduce this cost to $8.33 a month by opting for a semi-annual or annual billing plan.

Sideline Features

• Team numbers: With a team number, any person on your team can answer an incoming call, read and respond to text messages, and monitor activity.
• Auto-reply: If you miss a phone call, you can set up an auto-reply to instantly send a text message with important details and your brand’s logo.
• Call announcement: Use call announcement to prompt callers to say their name so you or your team can screen calls. Google Voice also offers this feature on its free plan.

Phone.com: Best Free Number Provider for Video Conferencing

*Save 20% with an annual prepayment.

Phone.com is a VoIP provider offering mix-and-match calling plans. Although it doesn’t offer a free version, all subscriptions come with a free business phone number, and it functions as a complete small business phone system. For example, you can set up a dial-by-name directory, custom greetings, and a business schedule.

You’ll also find popular features like voicemail-to-email, on-hold music, and call routing on all plans. Callcentric comes with similar features at a lower price point, but only Phone.com supports video conferencing for 10 to 100 participants, and the Plus plan is HIPAA-compliant. Phone.com plan prices start at $12.99 per user, per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Phone.com Features

• Video conferencing: Share your screen and documents, chat with meeting attendees, and add custom branding elements to your conference room.
• Click-to-call: Insert a snippet of code on your website so visitors can simply click the button to call your business phone number instantly.
• Call handling: Set up rules based on your business’ schedule or incoming caller ID to improve customer experiences by forwarding calls to various devices or external phone numbers.

How We Evaluated the Best Free Business Phone Number Apps

We compared the best free business phone number apps by looking for primarily free services offering local numbers. However, we also examined low-cost cellular and voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) apps that come with a free phone number.

Click the tabs below to learn how we evaluated the apps that made our list:

Bottom Line

A business phone number keeps your work calls separate from personal ones. While many VoIP services come with free phone numbers, the price may dissuade you from using the service. Some of the best free business phone number apps include unlimited calling and texting when used on your wireless internet.