What a Google Voice number is and why you might want one

A Google Voice number is a phone number that Google assigns to you for free. It rings through to any phone you choose — your mobile, your computer, your home phone, or all three at once. You can make calls and send texts from that number without using your actual phone's minutes or plan. Google keeps a searchable record of your calls and texts, and you can listen to voicemails as transcribed text.

People use Google Voice numbers to separate work from personal calls, to keep their real phone number private when selling something online, or to have a single number that follows them if they change phones or carriers. Because it's cloud-based — stored on Google's servers rather than tied to a specific device — you can access it from a web browser, a phone app, or any phone you borrow.

The main trade-off is that Google reads your messages and call metadata to show you targeted ads. If you use Gmail or any other Google service, Google already has this data about you. If privacy from Google is a priority, a Google Voice number adds one more stream of information to what they collect.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a Google account and a phone number (mobile, home, or work) that can receive a verification code before you can create a Google Voice number.
  • Google Voice is free to set up and use for calls and texts within the United States; international calls cost money, usually between 1 and 20 cents per minute depending on the country.
  • Once you set up Google Voice, you choose which of your existing phones ring when someone calls your Google number, and you can change this choice anytime.
  • Google stores transcripts of your voicemails and a log of all your calls and texts, which it uses to target ads to you.

Step-by-step: Creating your Google Voice number

Go to voice.google.com in any web browser and sign in with your Google account. If you don't have a Google account, you'll need to create one first at accounts.google.com — this takes about five minutes and requires an email address and a password.

Once you're signed in to Google Voice, click the Set up Google Voice button. Google will ask you to choose a phone number. You can search by area code (the first three digits of a phone number, like 212 for New York or 415 for San Francisco) or let Google suggest one. Type in your preferred area code and click the search icon. A list of available numbers appears. Pick one and click Select.

Next, Google asks for a phone number where it can send you a verification code. This can be your mobile phone, your home phone, or any phone you can answer right now. Type the number, choose whether you want the code by text or call, and click Send code. You'll receive a six-digit code within seconds. Type it into the box on the screen and click Verify.

Google then asks you to name your Google Voice account — this is just for your own records and doesn't affect how the number works. Type a name like "Work" or "Personal" and click Create account. Your Google Voice number is now active.

Choosing which phones ring when someone calls your Google number

After you create your number, Google asks you to add the phones you want to ring. This is called forwarding — when someone calls your Google Voice number, Google forwards the call to whichever phones you've listed here. You can add your mobile phone, your work phone, your home phone, or any combination.

To add a phone, go to voice.google.com, click the Settings gear icon in the top right, and select Settings. On the left side, click Phones and devices. Click the Add another phone button, type the phone number, and click Send code. Google sends a verification code to that phone. Answer the call or text and enter the code to confirm you own that phone.

Once a phone is verified, you can turn it on or off anytime. When it's on, calls to your Google Voice number ring that phone. When it's off, they don't. You can also set different phones to ring at different times — for example, your work phone during business hours and your mobile phone after 5 p.m. To do this, click on a phone in the Phones and Devices section and look for the Notifications or Do Not Disturb settings.

Making calls and sending texts from your Google Voice number

You can make calls and send texts from your Google Voice number in three ways: through the Google Voice website, through the Google Voice app on your phone, or through Gmail if you use it.

To call from the website, go to voice.google.com, click the phone icon on the left side, type the number you want to call, and click the call button. Your phone will ring first — answer it, and Google connects you to the person you called. The call appears in your Google Voice history.

To send a text from the website, click the message icon on the left, type the phone number, type your message, and click send. The text comes from your Google Voice number, not your personal phone number. The person receiving it sees your Google Voice number as the sender.

If you read the Google Voice app on your phone (available free from the App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android), you can make calls and send texts directly from the app without opening a web browser. The app works the same way: click the call or message icon, enter the number, and send.

What happens to your calls and texts after you make them

Google stores every call and text you make or receive through Google Voice. You can see a complete list of all your calls and messages by going to voice.google.com and looking at the history on the left side. You can search this history by name, number, or date.

When someone leaves you a voicemail, Google converts it to text automatically — this is called transcription. The transcription isn't always perfect, especially if the caller has an accent or speaks quickly, but it lets you read voicemails instead of listening to them. You can also listen to the original audio recording anytime.

Google uses the content of your messages, the numbers you call, and the times you call them to build a profile of your interests and habits. This profile is used to show you ads that are more likely to appeal to you — in Gmail, on YouTube, on Google Search, and on other websites that use Google's ad network. You can see and adjust some of these ad preferences by going to myaccount.google.com, clicking Data & Privacy, and scrolling to Ad personalization.

Keeping your Google Voice number active and what happens if you stop using it

Google Voice numbers are free, but Google requires you to use your number at least once every six months. This means making a call, sending a text, or receiving a call or text. If you don't use your number for six months, Google may reclaim it and assign it to someone else. If you want to keep your number but won't be using it for a while, you can set a reminder on your calendar to make a test call to yourself every few months.

If you decide you don't want your Google Voice number anymore, you can delete it anytime. Go to voice.google.com, click Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click Delete Google Voice account. Once you delete it, that number is gone forever — Google won't let you get the same number back later.

If you delete your Google Voice account, all your call history, text messages, and voicemail transcripts are deleted too. Google keeps a backup for about 30 days in case you change your mind, but after that, the data is gone. If you think you might want to keep records of your calls or messages, read them before you delete your account.

International calls and when Google Voice costs money

Calls and texts to phone numbers in the United States are free. Calls to Canada are also free. But calls to other countries cost money — usually between 1 and 20 cents per minute, depending on which country you're calling. Text messages to international numbers also cost money, typically 5 to 50 cents per message.

Before you make an international call, Google shows you the cost per minute on the screen. You can add money to your Google Voice account by going to voice.google.com, clicking Settings, and looking for Billing. You can pay with a credit card or debit card. Your balance stays in your account until you use it — it doesn't expire.

If you receive a call from someone outside the United States, there's no charge to you. The person calling pays for their own call, just as they would with any phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Voice on my iPhone or Android phone?

Yes. read the free Google Voice app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). The app lets you make calls, send texts, and listen to voicemails without opening a web browser. You can also receive calls and texts through the app, or have them forward to your regular phone number — you choose.

What if someone I know gets my Google Voice number and I want to block them?

Open Google Voice, find the call or text from that person in your history, click the three-dot menu next to their name, and select Block number. Calls and texts from that number will no longer reach you, and they won't be able to leave voicemails. You can unblock them anytime the same way.

Can I port my Google Voice number to a different phone carrier?

No. Google Voice numbers cannot be transferred to a traditional phone carrier like Verizon or AT&T. If you want to switch to a carrier's phone number, you'll need to get a new number from them. You can keep your Google Voice number active at the same time if you want to maintain both.

Do I need to pay for Google Voice if I use it a lot?

No. Unlimited calls and texts within the United States are free, no matter how much you use Google Voice. The only charges are for international calls and texts, which cost money per minute or per message depending on the destination country.

What if I forget my Google password and can't sign into Google Voice?

Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and follow Google's account recovery process. You'll need to answer security questions or verify your identity using a backup email address or phone number that you set up when you created your Google account. Once you regain access to your Google account, you can sign into Google Voice again.