How Do You Get a US Phone Number When You Live Outside the US? (2026 Guide)

Maybe your family lives in Texas. Maybe your clients are in New York, or a US school or company keeps asking for "a US phone number". Or you used to live in the US and want Americans to keep reaching you easily. A US number makes you easy to call: for anyone in the US, it is just a normal local call.

The good news: you do not need to live in the US, and you do not need a US SIM card. This guide explains your options, how an app-based US number works, what it costs, and the honest limits to know before you pay.

Why get a US number if you don't live in the US?

• Family and friends in the US can call you as if you were next door, with no international rates for them.
• US clients, landlords, schools and doctors often expect a US number on forms and invoices.
• Some US companies only call or text US numbers, for example for appointments or deliveries.
• You can call US and Canadian numbers from abroad without paying international calling rates.
• It keeps a US presence if you moved away but still have ties there.

What are your options?

If you mostly need people in the US to reach you, and you need to call US and Canadian numbers, an app-based number is usually the simplest choice. We compare the main apps fairly in Virtual US number vs Google Voice vs Hushed.

How does an app-based US number work?

The number lives online instead of on a SIM card. The TripoSIM app connects to it over the internet:

• When someone calls your US number, your phone rings in the TripoSIM app, even when the screen is locked, as long as notifications are allowed.
• When you call a US or Canadian number, the person sees your US number.
• Your normal SIM stays the same. Your home number, WhatsApp and bank texts keep working as before.

All you need is a working internet connection: home Wi-Fi, hotel Wi-Fi, or mobile data. When you travel, a travel eSIM gives you that data without roaming charges.

How to get your US number with TripoSIM

1. Open the US Number page: go to /us-virtual-number and search by US state or area code.
2. Pick your number: choose one you like from the list. We hold it for you for 30 minutes while you check out.
3. Read the conditions and pay: $100 for one year, paid upfront.
4. Open the TripoSIM app: sign in on your iPhone or Android phone with the same account.
5. Allow notifications and the microphone: without them your phone cannot ring and callers cannot hear you.
6. Test it: ask a friend to call your new number from another phone, then call them back.

What do you get for $100 a year?

Each call is rounded up to the next full minute, and unanswered calls are free.

What can't a US internet number do?

We would rather you know this now than after you pay:

• No 911 or emergency calls. Always use a local mobile line for emergencies.
• Verification codes are not guaranteed. Many banks, payment apps and messaging apps, including WhatsApp, do not accept internet numbers for codes. Read will a virtual US number work for verification codes? before you rely on it.
• You can receive texts but not send them. Texts from senders outside the US and Canada usually cannot reach US numbers.
• Calls go to the US and Canada only. To call other countries, use WhatsApp or FaceTime.
• It needs internet and the app. If your phone is off, offline, or has notifications blocked, callers reach your voicemail instead.
• Some countries restrict internet calling apps, for example the UAE. Check our list of countries that block internet calls and our UAE calling guide. You are responsible for following the local rules where you use the app.

Who can buy it?

Anyone, in any country, except residents of sanctioned countries. You do not need to live in the US. The number is for personal and small-business use: no spam, robocalls or call centres.

Tips for picking your area code

• Choose where your callers are. If your family lives in Houston, a Texas number feels familiar to them.
• For work, choose your clients' city. People are more likely to answer a local-looking number.
• Be flexible. If your first choice has no free numbers, try a nearby area code in the same state.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a US phone number without living in the US?

Yes. The TripoSIM US Number is sold to people in any country except sanctioned ones. You use it in the TripoSIM app over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

How much does a US phone number cost from abroad?

The TripoSIM US Number costs $100 a year, paid upfront. That includes 300 outgoing minutes a month to US and Canadian numbers, incoming calls (fair use up to 300 minutes a month), voicemail and incoming texts from US and Canadian senders.

Do I keep my own phone number?

Yes. The US number lives in the app, so your SIM card and your normal number do not change. Learn more in does a travel eSIM change your phone number?

Can I use my US number for WhatsApp?

We can't promise that. WhatsApp and many banks may refuse internet numbers. Keep WhatsApp on your normal mobile number. See how to keep your WhatsApp number with an eSIM.

Can I call the UK, Lebanon or other countries with it?

No. Outgoing calls go to US and Canadian numbers only. For other countries, use WhatsApp, FaceTime or another calling app.

What happens if I stop paying?

You can cancel the renewal anytime in the app, and your number keeps working until the end of the year you paid for. After that it is suspended, kept for 30 days, and then released. A released number may go to someone else.

Can I get a refund?

Payments are non-refundable. The exceptions: if we cannot deliver your number within 72 hours of payment, you get a full refund, plus any refund the law of your country requires.

The bottom line

Getting a US phone number from abroad is easy: pick a number, pay once a year, and use it in the TripoSIM app wherever you have internet. It is great for staying in touch with people in the US and Canada. It is not a replacement for a mobile line for emergencies or bank codes. If that fits what you need, choose your US number in a few minutes.