Choosing the Best Second Phone Number App for Your Business
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What is a second phone number app and why should you get one?
A second phone number app, or 2nd line app, enables you to have a separate number exclusively for your business without having to rely on a different phone or device for business communications. Advantages include simplified communications, improved privacy, better work-life balance, and projecting a professional image.
Phone calls are an essential mode of business communication. This is especially true when you consider that 60% of customers prefer to call small businesses on the phone when they need service.
Although receiving lots of calls from customers can be a good thing, it can become disruptive if you receive them at inconvenient times, such as after business hours or when you’re in a meeting. Having a second phone number app for business addresses this problem and makes it a breeze to manage incoming business calls.
In this post we take a look at why you should use a second phone number for business, how to get a second number, the availability of free phone numbers, and the best phone apps for business.
LinkedPhone serves the small business community with local & toll-free business numbers that work with your cell phone, desk phone, & laptop. Add a 2nd phone number to your cell phone with our mobile app. Talk & text with clients on the go. Add team members too. Finally break free from the desk phone. At LinkedPhone, freedom rings! 🔔📱💻☎️
Why Should You Use a Second Phone Number App?
A second phone number app enables you to have a separate number exclusively for your business without having to rely on a different phone or device for business communications. There are many advantages to using a second phone number for business, including:
Simplified communications
A huge benefit of using a second number for your business are the many professional calling system features that are typically included. Functions like call forwarding, auto-reply text messaging, auto attendants, interactive voice response (IVR), and the ability to set business hours. These capabilities save you time and ensure that all calls are properly routed and addressed by the most relevant member(s) of your team.
Improved privacy
Giving out your personal number for business can be risky. You may lose control of who has your number, increase the likelihood of spam or unwanted calls and texts, as well as potential identity fraud. A second number provides added security to protect your personal identity so you can feel confident giving out your business number to anyone, or placing it on any business or marketing materials, with no hesitation.
Better Work-Life Balance
Balancing your personal and professional life can be challenging enough without continuously receiving business calls during your off hours. Having the ability to separate personal and business time enables you to be more productive during work hours, knowing that you won’t be disturbed in your personal time. But achieving that separation can be a challenge if you’re using your personal phone number for business.
With just one phone number, the lines between business and personal communications become blurred. You waste valuable time and energy at night or on weekends screening incoming calls or texts to determine which ones to respond to and which ones to ignore. A second phone number for business makes it easier to separate personal and professional communications for improved work-life balance, not to mention providing an invaluable tool for time management during business hours.
Project a Professional Image
Giving your personal number to business contacts does not create a good first impression or inspire confidence. But using a second phone number for business boosts your credibility and provides a more professional image, helping show that you are serious about your business.
How to Get a Second Phone Number
Getting started with a second phone number for business is easy, and affordable. Using LinkedPhone, for example, you just follow these simple steps:
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- Download the LinkedPhone Business Phone App: The LinkedPhone app is available for both Apple’s iOS (iPhone) and Google’s Android operating systems. You can try LinkedPhone risk-free for 7 days to see if it’s the right second phone number solution for you.
- Verify Your Cell Phone Number: Enter your current cell phone number to receive a verification code and authenticate your number.
- Select a New Business Phone Number: LinkedPhone offers local and toll-free business phone numbers across all area codes in the U.S. and Canada. If you already have a business number with another service, you can easily port your number to LinkedPhone.
Do 2nd Line Apps Provide a Free Phone Number?
Although there are many second line apps that offer a free second phone number, you only get what you pay for. Most phone apps typically include few, if any, features, and often have a call limit, limits on minutes or SMS messages sent. Most of these options are not what we would consider suitable for business use. That’s why you won’t find any entirely free apps on the following list.
Top 5 Best Second Phone Number Apps
The best apps for a second business line commonly share many of the same features, but there are some key considerations when selecting the best one for your business. Here are the five best second phone number app options to consider:
1. LinkedPhone
At LinkedPhone, we strive to empower you to work from anywhere and provide tools to streamline communications and grow your business. LinkedPhone stands out in the following areas:
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- Pricing: With simple, honest and transparent pricing, LinkedPhone provides affordable options to keep you connected on the go.
- Hassle-Free: No contracts, no upselling, and no surprises.
- Simple: Setup is easy – no new hardware, no technicians, and no appointments.
- Support: LinkedPhone is there for you when you need help.
- Professional Features: All business features are included in every plan for the same low price.
Professional calling features packaged with your LinkedPhone virtual phone system include:
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- Business Phone Number – Select a local or toll-free virtual phone number or port your current number.
- Unlimited Talk and Text – Text messaging is included at no additional charge.
- Mobile App – Use your personal device to manage your business communications anywhere you go.
- Voicemail & Transcription – Both audio and text transcriptions are delivered instantly.
- Call Menu Options – Creates a professional experience for callers and streamline your communications.
- Call Queue – Keep incoming calls in queue while listening to custom music as you wrap up another call.
- Client Notes – Team based customer notes CRM, to-do lists, and reminders that instantly update across your devices.
LinkedPhone also provides affordable ways to add colleagues and assign extensions or to share a business number with your team.
Bottom line: LinkedPhone’s mission to support entrepreneurs and small businesses sets us apart from our competitors. We strive to give you the best tools, resources, and the latest insights to keep growing your business. Our customers consistently find our service has a positive impact on their business. But don’t just take our word for it: check out LinkedPhone’s reviews and ratings and see what other customers have to say.
2. Google Voice
Google Voice is a popular phone app because it offers a free personal line by default. However, Google Voice does not offer a free second phone number for business. Instead, you must select one of their paid options starting at $10/user per month for the Starter plan that includes only basic features. Rates increase as you add more features.
Some popular features included in the Google Voice Starter plan are:
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- Local Phone Number – Access to one local phone number; Google Voice does not offer toll-free numbers.
- Unlimited Texts and Calls
- Voicemail Greeting
- Call Forwarding
- App Integrations – Integrates with other Google Workspace apps such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar and Google Meet
- Spam Blocker
Bottom line: The pricing plans often force users to choose between affordable pricing and the features they want such as auto attendants, desk phone support and ring groups.
3. Nextiva
Nextiva is designed to facilitate teamwork across large groups. This app is great for video calls and screen sharing. Although these features are included in Nextiva’s basic Essential plan, you’ll pay a premium for them if you are a small business. Plus, you need to pay even more if you want to add business features like auto attendant or voicemail transcription to your plan.
Popular features included in Nextiva’s Essential plan are:
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- Unlimited Voice Calling
- Unlimited Internet Fax
- Video Meetings – Up to 45 minutes and 250 participants
- Team Collaboration Chat – SMS/MMS messaging is not included
- Local and Toll-Free Numbers
- Voicemail – with email notifications
- Google and Outlook Integrations
Bottom line: Nextiva offers quality calls and team collaboration options. But it is better suited to a large business with a more substantial budget. The fact that their Essential plan lacks many features is a huge disadvantage to smaller businesses.
4. CallCentric
Callcentric offers one of the most economical basic business plans for a second phone number you can find, but with limited features. For $8.95 a month you receive unlimited incoming call minutes within most U.S. states. Callcentric offers highly customizable services, but many find it challenging to decipher the options and associated charges. Customers have also criticized the outdated layout and UI of CallCentric, which can be difficult to navigate.
Popular features included in the basic Callcentric Office Unlimited Phone Number plan are:
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- Unlimited Inbound Calls – with up to 3 incoming channels
- Call Forwarding
- SMS Text Messaging – Monthly fee plus per message costs
Bottom line: Callcentric offers cheap, á la carte, second phone number plans for business, but getting the features you want at a reasonable price may require a time investment to discern how to achieve them.
5. RingCentral
RingCentral is a popular option for a second phone number for businesses, but it is not as budget friendly as some of the other options. There are four plans including Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate. The basic plan Essentials plan weighs in at $32.99 per user billed monthly. At that rate you’d expect to get a full range of professional features, but with RingCentral you need to pay extra for many highly desirable features like automated attendants, app integrations, call recording, and unlimited internet fax.
Popular features included in RingCentral’s Essentials plan are:
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- Unlimited calls – Within the U.S. and Canada, up to 20 users
- Toll-free and Local Numbers
- Enhanced Business SMS
- Voicemail to Text
- Document Sharing – Via the RingCentral app
Bottom line: RingCentral is a highly rated business second phone app, but which comes with the caveat a sizable price tag if you want a feature-rich platform.
LinkedPhone: The Phone App Made By Entrepreneurs, for Entrepreneurs
As entrepreneurs ourselves, we think you’ll agree that LinkedPhone is the best choice for a second phone number app for small businesses. We offer all the features you need at a reasonable price, combined with outstanding customer service.
We strive to provide you with a reliable virtual phone system that’s easy to manage and navigate, while remaining cost effective as your business grows. Our pledge to support small businesses differentiates us from other services, making LinkedPhone the best choice for small businesses to meet their phone communication needs.
Ready to get started with a free second phone number that works on any of your devices? Sign up for a 7-day free trial of LinkedPhone and take your business to the next level today!
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A special high five to Margot Howard for her outstanding research and contributions to this article. We love working with and supporting like-minded entrepreneurs who are passionate about business success strategies. Thank you Margot! ❤️
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