How to Get a Private Phone Number Online? [Methods & Alternatives]

From online registrations to business calls, sharing your personal number everywhere can lead to spam, unwanted calls, and security risks. That is why many people prefer a private phone number. It separates personal and professional communication, keeps your identity secure, and gives you control over who can reach you.
So, how to get a private number online? Well, there are different options to choose from. You can get a virtual number from a VoIP service provider or disposable numbers from temporary number providers.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step method to get a private phone number online. Additionally, we’ll share tips on making your existing phone number look private, without requiring you to buy a new phone number.
Keep reading!
Key Highlights:
- A private phone number is useful for protecting privacy, separating work and personal calls, and managing multiple accounts.
- Before you buy a private phone number online, consider: purpose, reliability, features, cost, compatibility, and security.
- You can buy a private number online through a virtual phone number service or a temporary/burner number service.
- Alternatives like caller ID blocking, number masking apps, or carrier privacy settings can make your existing number private.
Why Use a Private Phone Number?
A private phone number gives you control, security, and flexibility in how you communicate. Instead of exposing your personal number, a private number helps you separate personal and business calls.
- Protect Privacy: A private number hides your personal line when used for online registrations, applications, or listings, helping you avoid spam or unwanted calls.
- Separate Work and Personal Life: It lets you handle business calls separately, so you stay professional while keeping personal conversations private.
- Improve Security: Using a private phone number instead of your personal one lowers the risk of exposing sensitive details that scammers could misuse.
- Multiple Accounts & Verifications: A private number helps you manage multiple accounts for work, marketing, or social media without relying on your personal number.
Things to Consider Before You Buy a Private Phone Number Online
Before buying a private online phone number, consider your needs, the reliability of the provider, supported features, and compatibility with your devices and apps. Also, compare costs, check for strong privacy protections, and avoid free numbers that may come with hidden risks.
- Purpose of Use: Decide if you need a private number for business, sign-ups, marketing, or international use. This helps you choose between a long-term virtual number or a short-term disposable one.
- Service Reliability: Pick a trusted provider with positive reviews and strong support. Avoid unknown services that may fail to deliver consistent service.
- Features: Check if the number supports the features you need, including custom caller ID.
- Compatibility: Make sure the private number works on your devices and apps. If you need it for account verification, check that the provider supports the platforms you use.
- Cost and Plans: Compare prices and plans carefully. Free private numbers often come with hidden limits, so look for transparent and affordable options.
- Privacy and Security: Choose a provider that protects your data and uses robust encryption.
How to Buy a Private Phone Number Online?
To buy a private phone number online, you can sign up with a virtual phone number provider for long-term use or use a burner app for temporary needs. Both methods help protect your identity and keep communication separate from your main phone number.
Method 1: Using a Virtual Phone Number Service
A virtual phone number service is the most secure and flexible way to get a private phone number online. These online numbers are cloud-based and designed for long-term use. They work through VoIP technology, allowing you to make and receive calls or SMS from any device (desktop, mobile app, or tablet) without exposing your personal number.
Providers like Calilio offer virtual numbers with built-in custom caller ID and call masking features. These features don’t just protect your identity but also ensure professional call handling, scalability, and a stronger brand image.
Follow these steps to get a private online phone number for your business through Calilio:
- Visit the Calilio website
- Sign up and create your account.
- Navigate to Settings > My Numbers > Purchase Number.
- Select and buy a virtual number from the available options.
- Once your number is activated, configure key settings such as call forwarding, voicemail or caller ID.
- Start making calls and sending texts.
Method 2: Utilizing a Temporary or Burner Number Service
If you only need a private number for a short period, getting a temporary or burner phone number is a quick, low-cost option. You can use it for short-term tasks such as signing up for apps, verifying online accounts, or running classified ads. These numbers are usually provided by online platforms or apps such as Google Voice, Burner, TextNow, or Hushed.
Once you complete the task, the number either expires automatically or can be discarded manually. This makes them convenient when you don’t want to reveal your personal number but also don’t want to commit to a paid subscription for long-term use.
Follow these steps to get a private phone number online using a temporary number service:
- Download and install the app from Google Play, App Store, or use the web version.
- Create an account with your email or existing phone number if needed.
- Choose a temporary number from the list provided.
- Use it to make calls, send texts, and receive messages.
- When you no longer need the number, you can delete the number from your account.
Alternative Ways to Make Your Phone Number Private
If you don’t want to buy a private number online, you can use a caller ID blocking code, mask your phone number, or adjust your carrier’s privacy settings to make your phone number look private. These options rely on built-in phone or carrier features and let you make anonymous calls.
Use Caller ID Blocking Codes
In many countries, dialing a code like *67 before the number hides your caller ID for that call. It allows you to block your number from showing up on someone else’s screen.
For example, dialing *67 followed by the number ensures your call appears as “Private” or “Unknown” on the receiver’s screen.
Mask Your Number
Apps like Google Voice, Skype, or TextNow let you mask your phone number with another one. When you make calls or send texts through these apps, the recipient sees the masked number instead of your personal line. This gives you an extra layer of privacy and is a convenient option if you want to protect your identity without buying a separate private number.
Adjust privacy settings with your carrier
Many mobile carriers allow you to change your caller ID settings permanently. By contacting your provider or using their mobile app, you can request to make your number appear as private or hidden all the time. This is useful if you regularly want to keep your number undisclosed.
Conclusion
Getting a private phone number online is one of the simplest ways to protect your privacy and stay in control of your communications. Whether you choose a long-term virtual number for business or a temporary burner number for short-term use, both options help you keep your personal line safe.
You can also use simple alternatives like caller ID blocking or number masking if you don’t want to buy a new number.
For a more reliable option, platforms like Calilio make the process simple. Calilio provides a virtual phone number with a customizable caller ID, which allows you to choose how your number is displayed to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a private online number for free?
Yes, you can get a private online number for free through some apps and temporary number services, but they usually come with limitations. These numbers are often shared with other users and lack advanced call management features.
Are private phone numbers legal?
Can I use a private number for international calls?

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