Burner phone or second number: how to keep your real number private
Data removal. Updated 2026-09-13. About 5 minutes to read.
Keep your real number for your bank, government and two-factor codes only, and give a second number to everyone else.
Most people who search for a burner phone do not need a second device. They need a second number to give to marketplaces, dating matches, landlords, loyalty programs and delivery forms, so their real mobile number stays with family, their bank and their two-factor codes.
Having a second number is legal almost everywhere. The right choice depends on whether the number needs to receive verification texts, whether you want it to last, and whether your country requires ID for a prepaid SIM. This guide compares the options honestly.
Pick the right option for the job
For dating and online selling, an app number or eSIM is usually enough. For renting, contractors and anyone who may need to reach you for months, choose a prepaid SIM or eSIM that will not be reclaimed if an app account lapses. A physical second phone is worth the cost only if you need to keep the second identity completely apart from your main device.
Second-number app: a number that lives inside an app, such as Google Voice in the US or paid apps like Hushed. Quick and cheap, but these are internet numbers, and some banks, apps and verification systems refuse them.
Prepaid SIM or eSIM in a dual-SIM phone: a real mobile number on your existing phone. It receives texts reliably and works for most sign-ups.
A separate cheap phone with a prepaid SIM: the true burner. Useful when you want no link at all to your main device, such as for sensitive work or travel.
Built-in masking: marketplaces, rideshare and delivery apps often hide both numbers already. Use in-app calling rather than handing over your number.
Which options need ID
United States: prepaid SIMs can generally be bought and activated without showing ID, though paying by card links your name. Google Voice needs a Google Account and, for personal accounts, is set up in the US.
United Kingdom: pay-as-you-go SIMs do not need to be registered to a name.
Australia: telcos must verify your identity before activating a prepaid mobile service, so an anonymous prepaid number is not an option. A second number still keeps your main number private from the people you give it to.
Many other countries require a passport to register a SIM, including for tourists. Data-only travel eSIMs are often exempt.
Second-number apps usually need an email address and a payment card, and some ask for an existing mobile number to verify you.
Set up a second number properly
Decide what the number is for: selling, dating, renting, deliveries, or sign-ups. Write it down so you stay consistent.
Get the number and save it in your own contacts as 'Second number' so you recognise calls to it.
Pair it with a matching email alias, so the same sign-ups never see your real number or real email.
Do not register WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram on it unless you want those contacts to reach you there.
Keep it active. Top up a prepaid SIM on schedule and use app numbers regularly so the number is not recycled.
Never set it as the recovery number for your email, bank or password manager.
Inactive numbers get reassigned. If a second number lapses and someone else receives it, they receive any codes and password resets still tied to it. Move accounts off a number before you let it go.
What a second number does not hide
A second number protects your privacy from strangers, companies and data brokers. It is not a tool for evading the law, and using any number to harass or defraud is still a crime.
Caller ID apps: crowd-sourced apps can label your second number with your name if contacts save it that way.
Payment records: paying for the SIM or app by card ties it to you.
Carrier and app records: providers keep account and usage data and respond to lawful requests from police and courts.
Your device: installing messaging apps can upload contacts and link the number to your phone.
Your behaviour: using the same photo, name or email with the number reconnects it to you.
Take your real number back off the internet
Search your number in quotes on Google and Bing and note where it appears.
Opt out of people-search sites that list it next to your name and address.
In Facebook's privacy settings, set who can look you up using your phone number to Only me.
Remove the number from old marketplace listings, business pages and forum profiles.
Add a port-out PIN or number lock with your carrier, because a public number is a SIM swap target.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to have a burner phone?
Yes, in most countries it is legal to own a second phone or number. Some countries require ID to activate a SIM, and using any phone to commit a crime remains illegal.
Will my bank accept a Google Voice or app number?
Often not. Many banks and verification services reject internet-based numbers for security codes. Keep your real mobile number, protected with a carrier PIN, for banking.
Can a burner phone be traced?
Yes, with legal process. Carriers can locate an active phone and hold records. A burner keeps your number private from people and companies, not from investigators with a court order.
What is the cheapest way to get a second number?
A second-number app or a low-cost prepaid plan on an eSIM in your existing phone. Prices change often, so compare current plans with carriers and app providers before you buy.
Can I use a second number for WhatsApp?
Yes, as long as it can receive a verification text or call. Remember that WhatsApp may show that number to people in shared groups.
Should my second number be a landline or a mobile?
A mobile number, whether a prepaid SIM or an eSIM, is the most useful because it can receive the verification texts that sign-ups and marketplaces send. Landline and some internet numbers cannot receive texts, so many services will reject them at sign-up.