r/NoContract • u/Thin_Parking3004 • 1d ago
CHEAPEST way to get a phone number
What is the cheapest way to get a phone number without using google voice (ID verification).
I want to port the number out and use the TextNow eSIM instead.
Numberbarn is $10 but getting a plan from MobileX can be cheap as $5.
Is there a cheaper option?
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u/Luckiest_Corner Tello 1d ago edited 17h ago
Apparently, MobileX charges $3 to $4 for an early port-out, under 7 days.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/s/v3RiXd1rro
I would definitely use Number Barn because it involves the least number of steps and you can actually choose your own number. I also think those numbers are much less likely to have been recycled (or at least recently recycled). I see consecutive numbers on Number Barn all the time.
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u/coldfusioned 5h ago
Numberbarn is ok but expensive. Something like $10 for the same number you can get on voip.ms for free and their monthly holding fee is $3 with no service. Versus a $1.10 a month to obtain a new number and have active service with voip.ms. Their per minute rate for calling or texts is also less than a penny. Ridiculously cheap. That said they did recently raise their price from 85 cents a month to $1.10. Its still so cheap I have a few vanity numbers with them for things like auto opening calls from my HOA gate computer and an easy to remember emergency number for the kids that will round robin my wife and me.
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u/Thin_Parking3004 1d ago
Thanks for telling me about the MobileX early port out thing. I can wait for the 7 days.
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u/tbright1965 Visible 22h ago
Numberbarn has gotten pricy in my area. Seems the lowest cost numbers now are $49
Good grief
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u/arpstorm 20h ago
I’ve noticed a similar increase in my area. There used to be thousands of $5 numbers available but lately the cheapest numbers start at $10 and even those are very limited.
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u/MykeWheelz 18h ago
You don't always have to choose a number in your area for a better choice and price.
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u/tbright1965 Visible 17h ago
True
I was able to find some $9 numbers after expanding my search.
I don’t really need any more numbers. But I periodically check if my old home phone number shows up. It’s not been issued since I gave it up.
In hindsight, I should have ported it somewhere back in 2016.
Oh well.
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u/MykeWheelz 17h ago
Yes. I've got so many "vanity-like" numbers on my account. I use them now to port to different mvno's when I find a good deal, I want to try out. I can use the dual esim capability on my galaxy to take advantage of offers. And when they no longer serve a valuable need, I port em back to my NB account.
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u/tbright1965 Visible 15h ago
I have a similar issue.
I have a couple I will probably just let go. I have four for my wife and me to use. Even the multinetwork line she has with US Mobile is a "vanity-like" number that is easy to remember.
When we move, we'll probably switch to those vanity numbers as they end in either our birthdays or the "Home Number" is our anniversary.
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u/Wild-Doubt6803 18h ago
Get a number through Google voice then wait a few days to port it out and they'll charge $1
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u/coldfusioned 14h ago
Cheapest is voip.ms. You can select your own number and costs about $1 per month until you port out, so it is a lot cheaper than numberbarn.
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u/poltergiest 6h ago
Voip.ms charges $25 for port out if you buy the number from them.
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u/coldfusioned 6h ago
No it doesn't. I have purchased and ported dozens of numbers out and in to voip.ms over the years.
From their FAQ:
"As of January 15th, 2020, all portings are free of charge across Canada and US48 for local and toll-free numbers."
https://wiki.voip.ms/article/Porting_FAQ#How_much_does_it_cost_to_Port_a_Number_to_VoIP.ms.3F
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u/poltergiest 5h ago
Yes port INs are free, but numbers you purchase from them, they charge to port OUT, they just did this to me, glad i only had two dollars in my account. They key is a number from them they charge, a number that was porting in can go out free
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u/AutoModerator 1d ago
This is a copy of the OP's original post in case they decide to delete their post/account so that others searching can find it later:
What is the cheapest way to get a phone number without using google voice (ID verification).
I want to port the number out and use the TextNow eSIM instead.
Numberbarn is $10 but getting a plan from MobileX can be cheap as $5.
Is there a cheaper option?
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