Google Voice is the first answer most people find when they search for a US number. If you live in the US, it is a good one. If you live anywhere else, you usually cannot get through the sign-up. Here is why, and what each alternative actually gives you.
Why is Google Voice hard to get from abroad?
Two rules stop most people.
It is built for US users. Google’s help page for its standalone plans says they “support individual users in the US with a personal Gmail account”, and lists the phone number option as US only (Google Voice Help).
Setup checks a number you already have. During setup, Google texts a code to your phone to confirm it (Google Voice Help). The Google Voice community guide spells it out: the number must be a mobile number on a US carrier or one of its resale brands. The same guide says consumer numbers are issued only to US residents and that you cannot sign up while outside the USA. So you need a US number, and a US location, to get a US number.
Google Workspace accounts are a separate, paid business product with their own country rules. They are not a shortcut for an individual living abroad.
If you already had Google Voice before you moved, many people keep using it. Just treat it as a convenience, not as the only route into your bank or email.
What are the alternatives, by category?
We compare categories rather than named competitors, because prices change often and we only publish figures we can source. Checked 28 October 2026.
| Option | Sign up from abroad? | Texts | Calls | Typical price | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice (personal) | Usually no: US users only, needs a US number to verify | Two-way | Free to the US and Canada when calling from the US; listed rates elsewhere | Free personal plan; paid standalone plans also US only | You need a US number to start |
| Paid app-based US numbers, such as TripoSIM | Yes, from most countries. TripoSIM asks for a photo ID and selfie | Varies by app. TripoSIM receives texts only | TripoSIM: 300 minutes a month to the US and Canada | TripoSIM: $12.99 a month or $100 a year; others vary | An internet (VoIP) number. Receives verification codes from apps, including WhatsApp |
| Business VoIP providers | Varies; many expect a registered business | Often two-way, sometimes after extra registration | Usually generous, with team features | Varies, often per user | Built for teams. Setup and paperwork are heavier |
| Free ad-supported apps | Often limited to people in the US | Usually two-way inside the app | US and Canada, often with ads | Free, with paid add-ons | Numbers are reclaimed after inactivity |
| US prepaid carrier lines | Hard; activation often expects a US address or a US visit | Two-way | Full mobile calling, roaming abroad costs extra | Varies | Must be kept topped up and used, or the number lapses |
| Per-code SMS rental | Yes | One code, received only | None | Varies, per code | The number is not yours. Anyone can get it next |
A few notes on the table:
- Texts is about direction. Receiving texts and sending them are different features. Plenty of plans include only one.
- Free apps and per-code rentals look cheap. But if a number can be handed to someone else, anyone who gets it can receive your login codes. Our guide to free and temporary US numbers vs paid goes through the reclaim rules.
- Carrier lines are the only category above that is a real mobile line with emergency calling. That is also why they are the hardest to get from abroad.
For a wider view that also covers porting or parking an old number, see how to get a US phone number from abroad.
Where does the TripoSIM number fit?
The TripoSIM US Virtual Number is an app-based +1 number you can buy from most countries, without a US address or SSN. You pass a 2-minute ID check, pick your number and use it in the app over Wi-Fi or mobile data. On iPhone, add the TripoSIM web app to your Home Screen. On Android, install the TripoSIM app.
What you get:
- Incoming calls from anyone who dials your US number, with a fair-use allowance of 300 minutes a month.
- 300 outgoing minutes a month to US and Canadian numbers, plus 100 more for $5 if you need them.
- Voicemail, kept 30 days.
- Texts from US and Canadian senders, received in the app.
The TripoSIM number does not send or reply to texts, cannot call 911 or any emergency number, and does not call countries outside the US and Canada.
On verification codes: the TripoSIM number receives codes (OTP SMS) from apps, including WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business. TripoSIM tested 22 apps from October 3 to 18, 2026, and that list shows examples, not a limit. See how to set up WhatsApp on this number.
The price is $12.99 a month or $100 a year. Both are on the plans page.
When is another option better?
Be honest with yourself about the one thing the number must do.
- You need to text people back. Choose a service that includes two-way texting. The TripoSIM number cannot send texts.
- You are moving to the US. Add a US carrier line once you arrive, for emergency calling and two-way texting.
- You run a sales or support team. A business VoIP provider gives you shared lines, queues and team texting that a personal number does not.
- You already have Google Voice. Keep it. Add a second number only if it solves a problem Google Voice does not.
- You need one code, once, for an account you will never log into again. Even then, think twice about a rental. If you ever need that account back, you will need that number.
The short version
If you are in the US, start with Google Voice. If you are abroad, it is mostly closed to you. The real choice is between a paid app number, a business VoIP system, or keeping a US carrier line alive. Pick by texting direction and by what happens to the number if you stop paying, not by the headline price. If you want to see where the different number types land side by side, our number-type comparison lays them out.