A burner phone number is a temporary or disposable number you can use for various purposes without revealing your cell carrier phone number. You might need a burner phone number for reasons such as:

  • Protecting your privacy and security from unwanted callers, marketers, scammers, or stalkers.
  • Maintaining anonymity for online activities like dating, shopping, or whistleblowing.
  • Avoiding spam and robocalls on your primary phone number.
  • Have a backup or emergency phone number in case of loss, theft, or damage to your primary phone.
  • Separating your personal and professional life, such as for freelance work, job hunting, or business deals.

There are two main ways to get a burner phone number:

  • Buy a cheap phone with a SIM card or a service like Mint: This option involves buying a low-cost phone and a prepaid SIM card or a service that offers cheap plans. You can use this phone as your burner and discard it when you are done. The pros of this option are that you get a physical device that you can utilize for calls, texts, and other functions and that you don’t need an internet connection. The cons are that you must pay for the phone and the service and carry an extra device.
  • Download a burner phone app: This option involves downloading an application that provides you with a virtual phone number that you can use on your existing smartphone. Depending on the app, you can utilize this number for calls, texts, and other features. The pros of this option are that you don’t have to buy or carry an extra device and can get multiple numbers and manage them easily. The cons are that you need an internet connection to use the app and must pay for the app or the service unless you use a free app.

There are many burner phone apps available for Android and iOS devices. Here are three of the most popular ones:

  • Burner: This is one of the best-known and most straightforward burner phone apps. It offers numbers for the US and Canada, with local area codes. You can use the number for calls, texts, and picture messages and delete or switch the number anytime. You can also integrate the app with various services like Dropbox, Evernote, Slack, and SoundCloud. The app is free to download and comes with a 7-day trial period. After that, you must pay for a subscription or a prepaid plan, starting from $4.99 monthly for one line.
  • Hushed: This is another popular burner phone app that offers numbers for over 40 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, and Puerto Rico. You can use the number for calls, texts, and picture messages and delete or switch the number anytime. You can also customize your voicemail greeting and set up call forwarding. The app is free to download and comes with a 3-day trial period. After that, you must pay for a subscription or a prepaid plan, starting from $1.99 monthly.
  • CoverMe: This is a burner phone app that also offers secure messaging and encryption. You can use the number for calls and texts and send encrypted messages, photos, videos, and documents to other CoverMe users. You can also hide your contacts, messages, and call logs with a private vault and set up self-destructing messages and decoy passwords. The app is free to download and comes with some free credits. After that, you must pay for more credits or a subscription, starting from $2.99 monthly.

In conclusion, embracing the use of a burner phone number is a savvy move for anyone looking to bolster their privacy in an increasingly interconnected world. It’s a simple yet effective layer of defense that keeps your number out of the public domain, shielding you from unwanted calls and potential data breaches. Whether navigating online marketplaces, setting up accounts, or dating online, a burner number is your privacy shield, keeping your accurate contact details under wraps. Remember, in the digital age, your personal information is as precious as gold; protect it wisely. Stay informed, stay secure, and let burner phone numbers be your stealthy companion in the quest for digital privacy.