Can you have two phone numbers with Google Voice?
Google Voice is a virtual phone service provided by Google where you can get a free phone number that works across most devices and comes with features like voicemail transcription, free calls within the US, international calling at low rates, call forwarding, and Do Not Disturb mode (1). With Google Voice, you can choose a phone number with your local area code that will ring multiple devices so you never miss a call. When someone leaves you a voicemail, Google Voice will transcribe it and send you a text or email with the contents. You get many of the features of a standard phone service without the cost.
Some key features of Google Voice include (1):
- Obtain a free phone number with your choice of area code
- Free calls within the US and low rates for international calls
- Voicemail transcription and delivery via text or email
- Call screening and blocking
- Call forwarding to ring multiple devices
- Voicemail recording, storage and sharing
- Conference calling
- Text messaging
Benefits of Having a Second Google Voice Number
There are several key benefits to having a second Google Voice number:
- Keep personal and work calls separate: With two Google Voice numbers, you can have one dedicated for personal calls from friends and family, while the other is used for all your business calls. This helps maintain privacy and work-life balance.
- Give out a number without revealing your real one: Having an extra Google Voice number allows you to protect your real phone number. You can hand out your second Google Voice number to people you don’t know well without compromising your primary number’s privacy.
- Have a dedicated business line: A second Google Voice number provides a professional business line that’s perfect for realtors, freelancers, and other entrepreneurs. It keeps business calls organized separately from personal ones.
- Segment clients and vendors: Multiple Google Voice numbers enable you to give specific numbers to certain clients or vendor groups for improved organization and call routing.
- Localize your business presence: With two Google Voice numbers, you can have one with a local area code to make your business appear more local and approachable to customers in a certain region.
Having a second Google Voice number provides enhanced privacy, improved segmentation between work and personal life, and more flexibility in how you portray your business presence. It enables a clearer delineation for the different roles and relationships in your life.
Steps to Get a Second Google Voice Number
Getting a second Google Voice number is a straightforward process, but does require verifying account ownership and upgrading to Google Workspace first. Here are the steps:
1. Verify account ownership. You’ll need to confirm you’re the account owner by receiving a verification code through SMS or phone call and entering it into your Google account. This prevents abuse of the system.
2. Upgrade to Google Workspace. To get multiple Google Voice numbers on a single account, you’ll need to upgrade from the free version to a paid Google Workspace subscription. The prices start at $6 per user per month for the Basic plan (Source: https://support.google.com/fiber/answer/6371126?hl=en).
3. Sign up for a second number. Once verified and subscribed, you can sign up for a second Google Voice number by clicking “Get a new number” in the Google Voice settings. You’ll go through the steps to claim a new number just like when getting your first one.
That’s it! Google Voice makes it simple to get multiple phone numbers once the account requirements are met. Both numbers can be managed in the same Google Voice interface.
Transferring an Existing Number to Google Voice
One way to get a second Google Voice number is by transferring an existing mobile or landline number that you already own to Google Voice. This process is known as “porting” your number.
According to Google’s support documentation, porting a number to Google Voice will replace your current Google Voice number if you already have one set up. To start the porting process, you’ll need to log into your Google Voice account on the desktop site and click “Change/Port” next to your current number. Then enter the phone number you want to port along with your account number and PIN for that number [1].
It typically costs $20 to port a mobile number and $3 to port a landline. However, fees vary by carrier. The porting process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete [2].
One thing to keep in mind is that you can only port phone numbers that you own and pay for. If you want to transfer your family plan number to Google Voice, you’ll need authorization from the account holder.
Managing Two Google Voice Numbers
One of the advantages of having two Google Voice numbers is the ability to manage them separately. You can set up individual voicemail greetings, call forwarding, and call routing for each number.
To set a custom voicemail greeting for each Google Voice number, open the Google Voice app or website and select the relevant number. Go to settings, tap “Voicemail” and record a personalized greeting. This way callers to each number will hear a different greeting.
You can also set up distinct call forwarding and call routing rules for your two Google Voice numbers. Forward calls from your work number to your mobile when you’re available and calls from your personal number to voicemail when you’re busy. The call routing can send certain incoming calls to voicemail while others ring through.
With two Google Voice numbers on one account, you have greater flexibility to separate personal and professional calls. You can set customized voicemail greetings, forwarding, scheduling, and routing to manage each number according to your needs.
Using Two Numbers on One Device
It is possible to use two Google Voice numbers on a single device like your smartphone. Here’s how to set it up:
First, you’ll need to download an additional Google Voice app from the app store on your device. You can have multiple instances of the Google Voice app installed. When setting up the second app, sign in with the account that has your second Google Voice number.
To switch between your two numbers, just open the respective Google Voice app. The app you launch will determine which Google Voice number is active and receiving calls/texts. Both numbers can be linked to the same physical phone number on your device.
Some key points to keep in mind when managing two Google Voice accounts on one device:
- You’ll need to sign out and into the correct account to access voicemail for each number
- Maintain separate contacts lists in each Google Voice app to keep things organized
- Double check which app you’re in if you want to place a call or send a text from a specific number
While it takes some extra effort, running two Google Voice numbers on a single smartphone is achievable with the right setup. The ability to seamlessly switch between separate business and personal numbers can be a major convenience.
Pros of Having Two Google Voice Numbers
There are several advantages to having two Google Voice numbers:
Increased privacy – With two separate numbers, you can keep your personal and professional lives more private. Your coworkers won’t see your personal calls and texts, and your family and friends won’t see work-related ones.
Separate numbers for work and personal – Having dedicated lines for business and personal communication keeps everything organized. Calls and texts can be filtered based on which number they come to.
Access from any device – Google Voice works across all devices, so you can seamlessly transition from your work to personal number on your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Everything is synced via the cloud.
According to this source, having two Google Voice numbers allows you to segment users and toggle between different personas.
Cons of Having Two Google Voice Numbers
While there are benefits to having two Google Voice numbers, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:
Managing two separate phone numbers can get confusing, especially when switching between them for different purposes. It takes extra vigilance to ensure you are giving out the right number and checking the right voicemail box (source).
Porting an existing number into Google Voice carries an additional $20 fee per number. So getting a second Google Voice number by porting a number would cost $40 total (source).
Google limits users to 2 phone numbers per Google Voice account. So if you already have two numbers, you cannot add more (source).
Overall, while a second Google Voice number can be useful in some cases, the additional logistics and costs may outweigh the benefits for some users.
Who Needs a Second Google Voice Number?
There are several types of people who may find it useful to have two Google Voice numbers:
Freelancers often juggle multiple clients and like to keep their business and personal calls separate. Having two Google Voice numbers allows them to have a dedicated business line without carrying two phones (justmakecite).
Small business owners can establish more of a corporate presence with a second business line, while still having their personal number for family and friends. This keeps work and personal life separated (justmakecite).
People with side gigs, such as real estate, rideshare driving, or selling handmade crafts on Etsy, can have a specific number for that business without inundating their main number with calls and texts about their side job (justmakecite).
Having two numbers can also be useful for compartmentalizing different aspects of your life, like keeping dating app contacts separate from your primary contacts (justmakecite).
Overall, a second Google Voice number allows greater control over your incoming calls and texts so you can separate business from personal. It can help reinforce a professional image for your freelance work or side business without sacrificing your main number.
Conclusions
Having two Google Voice numbers on one account is entirely possible and straightforward to set up. The main steps involve getting an invite for a second number, transferring an existing number, or signing up for a new number. Managing two numbers simply requires toggling between them in the app or online account.
The benefits of having two Google Voice numbers include separating personal and business calls, having an extra burner number, or maintaining numbers from two different areas. The downsides are the added complexity of managing two numbers and the limitations Google Voice has on texts and advanced features compared to a regular carrier number.
Overall, having two Google Voice numbers is most useful for solopreneurs, freelancers, and other professionals who want a dedicated work line. The flexibility and advanced call features make Google Voice a cost-effective solution for managing a second business or side-hustle number. However, regular consumers may not find enough utility in a second Google Voice number to warrant the extra overhead.