Google Voice: Get a Free Phone Number, Voicemail, and Wi-Fi Calling

Google Voice is a free service from Google that gives you a real US phone number. You can use that number to make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and set up a voicemail inbox — all without paying for a separate phone plan. Google Voice works over Wi-Fi or cellular data using the Google Voice app on your phone, or through the website at voice.google.com on any computer.

Google Voice is useful in a number of situations. People use it as a second phone number — for example, to give out to businesses, online listings, or new contacts while keeping their personal number private. It is also handy for people who travel internationally, since you can make calls back to the US for free over Wi-Fi without paying international calling charges. Others use it to set up a voicemail inbox they can check from a computer.

To use Google Voice, you need a Google account (Gmail). You do not need a separate phone plan — Google Voice calls and texts are free within the US when made over Wi-Fi. However, Google Voice is designed to work alongside a phone. It needs to be linked to an existing phone number during setup (called a "forwarding number") to verify your identity and enable call forwarding.

There is also a Google Voice for Google Workspace (business accounts) option, but the personal version described here is the free version available to anyone with a Gmail account.

The Google Voice app is free and available in the App Store and Google Play Store. You can also manage everything from any browser at voice.google.com.