Quick Answer
It depends less on the price tag and more on what's included. US virtual numbers come as free apps with limits, monthly or yearly subscriptions, pay-as-you-go credit, and business phone systems. Before you pay, check what's included: the number itself, calls out, calls in, texts, voicemail, and what happens when you stop paying. Our own price, for comparison: the TripoSIM US Number is $100 a year (about $8.33 a month), with 300 minutes a month of calls to the US and Canada included, incoming calls, voicemail, and incoming texts from US and Canadian senders.
"How much is a US number?" sounds like a simple question. But two plans with the same price can be very different once you look at minutes, texts, renewals and extra fees.
We won't list other companies' prices here: they change often, and we'd rather you check each provider's own pricing page. Instead, this guide explains the main pricing models, what to look for, and the hidden costs people miss. Then we show our own price, line by line.
The main pricing models
| Model | How it usually works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Free number apps | No fee, but with limits | Often made for people in the US or Canada, may need a US number to sign up, may show ads, and may take back numbers you don't use |
| Monthly subscriptions | A fee every month | Flexible, but the yearly total can add up |
| Yearly plans | One payment a year | Usually cheaper per month, but paid upfront |
| Pay-as-you-go credit | You buy credit and pay per minute or text | Cheap if you rarely call, but costs can surprise you |
| Business phone systems | A fee per user per month | Built for teams, with more features than most people need |
| A US mobile line | A monthly plan from a US phone company | A real mobile line, but usually needs you to be in the US |
There's no single "right" price. A free app can be perfect for someone living in the US. Someone abroad may need a paid plan that actually lets them sign up from their country.
What should the price include?
Use this checklist when you compare any offer:
- The number itself. Is there a separate fee to choose or keep it?
- Calls out. How many minutes, and to which countries?
- Calls in. Are incoming calls included, or do they use minutes or credit?
- Texts. Can you receive them? Send them? From which countries?
- Voicemail. Included, or extra?
- Extra minutes. What does it cost when you go over?
- Where you can buy and use it. Some services only sell to people living in certain countries.
The hidden costs people miss
- Renewal price. Check what you'll pay after the first period, not just the first payment.
- Bank fees. If your card isn't in US dollars, your bank may add a foreign-currency fee and its own exchange rate.
- Data for the app. Calls run over the internet. Wi-Fi is fine, but data roaming on your home SIM can cost a lot. A data eSIM or local SIM when you travel keeps this cheap.
- Losing the number. If a renewal fails and the number is released, anything tied to it can be hard to get back.
- Verification codes. Some services refuse internet numbers for codes, so ask any provider what has been tested. With ours, WhatsApp and popular apps sent their codes in our tests (Oct 2026), while some banks may still refuse internet numbers. Read will a virtual US number work for verification codes?
Our price, line by line
| What | TripoSIM US Number |
|---|---|
| Price | $100 a year, about $8.33 a month, paid upfront |
| Monthly option | None. Yearly only. |
| Your number | Included, chosen by US state or area code |
| Calls out | 300 minutes a month included, to US and Canadian numbers only |
| Calls in | Included, fair use up to 300 minutes a month, then voicemail |
| Voicemail | Included, greetings in 18 languages |
| Texts | Receive from US and Canadian senders included. Sending is not included. |
| Missed-call alerts and caller blocking | Included |
| Extra minutes | 100 minutes for $5 |
| Verification codes | WhatsApp and popular apps tested and working (Oct 2026). Some banks may refuse. |
| Welcome gift | $5 TripoSIM credit for eSIM data, eSIM top-ups or extra US minutes |
| Renewal | Every year unless you cancel the renewal. Price and allowances stay fixed for the year you paid. |
| Refunds | None, except if we can't deliver your number within 72 hours, or where the law requires |
Each call is rounded up to the next full minute, and unanswered calls don't use your minutes. Minutes reset each month on the day you bought the number, and unused minutes don't carry over.
TripoSIM US Number
One yearly price, with the important things included: your number, 300 minutes a month to the US and Canada, incoming calls and voicemail. Choose your US number →
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Is it worth it for you?
Probably yes if you: live outside the US, need US clients or family to reach you, and call the US and Canada regularly.
Probably not if you: need to send texts, need to call other countries, need it mainly for bank codes, or want to pay month by month.
How to get the TripoSIM US Number
- Pick your number: on the US Number page, search by state or area code. We hold it for 30 minutes.
- Read the conditions: check the yearly renewal and the no-refund rule before you pay.
- Pay $100 for the year: by card.
- Install the app and sign in: on iPhone or Android, using our app install guide.
- Allow notifications and the microphone: so calls can ring and people can hear you.
One phone, three lines, no extra hardware
You don't need to buy a second phone. Keep your own SIM as line 1, use any data connection as line 2 (Wi-Fi, a local SIM, or any data eSIM; a TripoSIM travel eSIM is one option, never required), and add your US number in the app as line 3. Incoming calls reach you over the internet wherever you travel, with no roaming charges to receive them (fair use up to 300 minutes a month).
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free US phone number?
Some free apps exist, but many are made for people in the US or Canada, have limits, or need a US number to sign up. Check the rules before you rely on one.
Why is the TripoSIM US Number yearly only?
One yearly payment keeps the price simple and lower per month: about $8.33. There's no monthly option.
Are there extra fees?
Extra minutes cost $5 for 100 if you need them. Your bank may add a foreign-currency fee. There's no separate fee for the number, incoming calls or voicemail.
How does it compare with Google Voice and Hushed?
Read our fair side-by-side: virtual US number vs Google Voice vs Hushed.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
No. Payments are non-refundable, except if we can't deliver your number within 72 hours, or where the law requires a refund.
The bottom line
The cheapest number isn't always the best value. Look at what's included, what renews, and what you lose if you stop paying. If a yearly plan with calls to the US and Canada, incoming calls and voicemail fits your life, choose your US number. New to all this? Start with how to get a US phone number when you live outside the US.
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