What's the best app for a burner number?

March 2, 2019 12:48 PM

I use my mobile phone for work (I work remotely, and my job doesn't provide another phone), and want to be able to give out a different phone number than my own. Ideally, I'd also like to not be forwarded texts/calls outside of work hours or on the weekends. I'd also like to use the number for things like selling something on Craigslist. I haven't used an app like this before. What do you recommend? Are there any decent free options?
posted by pinochiette to Technology (10 answers total)

Google Voice might work for this, except I'm not sure about your restriction for forwarding only during work hours.
posted by 3lliot at 12:59 PM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Google Voice is exactly what you want, and can absolutely be set up only to forward during work hours. The rest of the time it can go to voicemail.
posted by Grandysaur at 1:27 PM on March 2, 2019 [4 favorites]

For true burner numbers, I use Burner or Talkatone. Free and disposable.
posted by sudogeek at 1:39 PM on March 2, 2019 [2 favorites]

I use Google Voice for a burner number to give to the parents of the students I take on overseas trips, so they have a local number they can reach me at in case they have a family emergency and need their student sent home early. During the trip I have it forwarded to my personal cell, but the rest of the time it's set up to go straight to voicemail and forwards any voicemails to my school email.
posted by abeja bicicleta at 1:40 PM on March 2, 2019

Another vote for Burner.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 1:47 PM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

Burner is the way to go.
posted by sockermom at 2:29 PM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

With Google Voice, you get a fairly good transcript of voice messages. Texts are forwarded to email. So handy. If you want to spend, you can make calls originating from the GVoice number. I have not tried the other options.
posted by theora55 at 3:04 PM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

I use google voice for this.
posted by escher at 7:10 PM on March 2, 2019

I have 6 GV numbers of which at least one of them is for a similar purpose. I set it to do not disturb on a schedule. Voice calls go to voice mail and texts come in but do not give any notification.
posted by AugustWest at 7:17 PM on March 2, 2019

i use burner for this. it has the advantage that once you're done with the transaction you can retire (burn) the number
posted by zippy at 8:48 PM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]