You should get a burner phone number (even if you are not a spy)

This updated post, originally published June 21, 2018, explores the practical uses of burner phone numbers beyond their portrayal in crime dramas. While once requiring a separate physical device, today's apps offer convenient second (or multiple) numbers on your existing phone.

The Need for a Burner Number

The temporary and largely anonymous nature of burner numbers makes them invaluable in various situations. Consider these scenarios:

• One-off events: Organizing a local event, wedding, or festival often involves numerous contacts you don't wish to connect with outside that specific context. A burner number provides a clean separation.

• Online dating: Maintaining anonymity during initial online interactions is crucial. A burner number allows you to exchange contact information without fully revealing your personal number, offering a safety net if things go south. It's a safer alternative to ghosting.

• Online marketplaces: Sites like Craigslist necessitate contact with strangers. A burner number acts as a protective buffer, preventing unwanted contact or online searches using your primary number. If needed, you can easily discontinue the secondary number.

• Business separation: Self-employed individuals or those with side businesses can maintain a professional-personal divide using a dedicated burner number. This simplifies contact management and allows for better control over work-life balance, including the ability to easily ignore work calls outside of business hours.

• Privacy protection: Many online services require phone numbers for registration. Using a burner number for less-critical accounts prevents unwanted marketing texts and promotional offers from cluttering your primary number.

Choosing the Right Burner Number App

Several apps provide virtual burner numbers, with Burner and Hushed standing out.

Burner: Known for its user-friendly interface, extensive features, and flexibility, Burner offers both prepaid numbers with set expiration dates and subscription-based numbers. It seamlessly integrates with services like Evernote, Slack, and Dropbox, allowing for text archiving and alerts within other apps. Security features include account locking via PIN. Prepaid numbers start at $1.99 for 14 days, while subscriptions begin at $4.99 per month. A seven-day free trial is available.

Hushed: Similar to Burner, Hushed offers both prepaid and subscription options, with the added benefit of international calling capabilities in 45 countries (texting is limited to select regions). While lacking some of Burner's advanced features (like robocall blocking), it offers self-destructing messages between Hushed users. Pricing is comparable to Burner.

Other options like Sideline (focused on business features, but pricier at $9.99/month) and Flyp (strong multi-number management, but also more expensive at $7.99/month) exist, but Burner and Hushed generally provide the best balance of features and affordability. Consider free trials before committing to a paid subscription.

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