Second Phone Number Services Compared: Google Voice, TextNow, Hushed, Burner and Petitext
Last updated: August 10, 2026
We make one of these. Petitext is our product, so treat this page with appropriate scepticism — and hold us to it. We’ve tried to keep this fair by comparing only verifiable facts, keeping the rows where Petitext loses, and telling you plainly when one of the others is the better choice for you. If you spot something wrong or out of date, email us and we’ll fix it.
Short version: If you’re in the US and have a phone number to verify with, Google Voice is free and hard to beat. If you want calling and don’t mind an app, TextNow, Hushed, or Burner all work well. Petitext is the option for a narrower situation: you can’t install apps, you don’t have a US or Canadian number to verify with, or you’re outside North America — it runs entirely through email, with no app and no phone verification, but it’s text-only and doesn’t do voice calls. None of these are reliable for receiving bank or app verification codes.
What each service actually requires
Most comparisons list features. The more useful question is usually what you have to give up to get a number in the first place — because that’s what rules most people in or out.
| Feature | Petitext(ours) | Google Voice | TextNow | Hushed | Burner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing phone number needed to sign up? | No — an email address is all it takes | Yes — a US number to verify with | No — an email, Google, or Apple account | No — an app account and a payment method | No — an app account and a payment method |
| App install required? | No | App or web, plus a Google account | App or browser, plus a TextNow account | Yes — iOS or Android app | Yes — iPhone or Android app |
| Available from outside North America? | Yes — works from any country | Not for new signups | Numbers are US and Canada; availability varies | Numbers in the US, Canada, and UK; varies by region | US numbers; varies by region |
| Time to a working number | About a minute | A few minutes | A few minutes | A few minutes | A few minutes |
| Tied to a permanent account? | No | Yes — your Google account | Yes — a TextNow account | Yes — a Hushed account | Yes — a Burner account |
| Where your conversations live | Your own email inbox — searchable and exportable | In the app or web inbox | In the app or web inbox | In the app | In the app |
| Can you text first, not just reply? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Short-term use without a subscription | Yes — from $1.99/day | Not applicable — free and permanent | Not applicable — free and ad-supported | Prepaid 30, 90, or 365-day periods | No — it is a subscription |
| What happens when you stop | The number expires on its own | The number stays on your account | The number may be reclaimed after inactivity | Cancel, or let a prepaid period lapse | Cancel in the app |
| Voice calls | No — text only | Yes | Yes — over Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Reliable for verification codes | No | Often works, not guaranteed | Often works, not guaranteed | Often works, not guaranteed | Often works; a mobile-classified tier costs more |
| Price | $1.99/day · $10.99/month | Free for personal use | Free, ad-supported | About $7/month and up | About $4–13/month depending on plan |
Competitor details verified August 10, 2026. These services change often — please check their sites for current terms: Google Voice, TextNow, Hushed, Burner. The three shaded rows are the ones where Petitext comes off worst; they stay in on purpose.
Not included above: Twilio and similar developer platforms. They can send and receive texts, but they’re built for people writing code and are priced per message — a different kind of tool from everything on this page.
Which should you choose?
Choose Google Voice if…
You’re in the United States, you already have a US mobile number to verify with, and you want free calling and texting. For most people who can get it, it’s the obvious answer, and we’d tell you the same thing.
Choose TextNow if…
You want a free number with calling and don’t mind an app and ads. Good if cost matters more than anything else and you’re in the US or Canada.
Choose Hushed or Burner if…
You want a disposable second number withvoice calls, you’re comfortable installing an app and paying monthly, and you’re in North America. These are mature, well-built apps.
Choose Petitext if…
Any of these describe you: you can’t install apps (a work-managed phone, limited storage, or restricted app store access), you don’t have a US or Canadian number to verify with, you’re living or travelling outside North America, or you want your conversations kept in your own email rather than inside someone’s app. It’s text only — but it’s the one that works when the others can’t get off the ground.
Choose none of these if…
You need a number to receive verification codes from a bank, a government portal, or an app like WhatsApp. All of these numbers are virtual, and many services detect and block virtual numbers for verification. A local SIM card is the reliable answer for that.
The trade-off, stated plainly
Petitext asks for less to get started — no phone number, no app, no permanent account — and gives you less: no voice calls, and no reliable verification codes. That’s the deal, and whether it’s a good one depends entirely on which of those things you actually need.
Pricing is $1.99 for a day, $8.99 for a week, or $10.99/month on the Monthly Pass — cancel anytime.
Set up in about a minute. No app, no phone verification. Cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Voice better than Petitext?
For most people in the US, yes — it's free and it does voice calls. Petitext is the better choice when you can't get Google Voice: no US number to verify with, no ability to install apps, or you're outside North America.
What's the difference between Hushed and Google Voice?
Google Voice is free but requires a US phone number to verify and ties the number to your Google account permanently. Hushed is a paid app-based service built around disposable numbers you can drop when you're done. Both offer calling.
Which of these work from outside the US or Canada?
Petitext works anywhere you can receive email and pay by card, because there's no app and no SIM involved. Google Voice generally can't be signed up for from outside the US, and the app-based services vary by region — check before paying.
Which is cheapest?
Google Voice and TextNow are free. Among paid options, a Petitext day pass at $1.99 is the cheapest way to have a number for a day or two; for ongoing monthly use, Hushed and Burner are typically cheaper than Petitext's Monthly Pass.
Can I get a second phone number without downloading an app?
Yes — Petitext works entirely through email, with no app to install. Google Voice has a web version but still requires a Google account and a US number to verify.
Do any of these work for verification codes?
Not dependably. All are virtual numbers, and many services block virtual numbers for verification. Petitext explicitly doesn't recommend buying it for that purpose.
What about Twilio?
Twilio is a developer platform — you build with it in code and pay per message. It's powerful but it isn't a consumer second-number service, so it isn't compared here.
Comparing just two of them?
Head-to-head breakdowns, each answering that matchup on its own terms:
- Hushed vs Google Voice: Which Should You Get?
- TextNow vs Google Voice: Which Free Number Wins?
- Hushed vs Burner: Which Disposable Number Wins?
- TextNow vs Hushed: Free With Ads or Paid?
Not sure? Start small.
A Petitext day pass is $1.99and expires on its own, so trying it costs about as much as a coffee. If it’s not the right fit, one of the other options above probably is. There’s also a walkthrough of how to text someone first by email if you want to see the mechanics before you decide.