Get a Virtual Phone Number For the United States or Canada

What a virtual phone number does

A virtual phone number is a phone number you can use without attaching it to a physical SIM card. It gives you a number for voice calling through the service, rather than changing the number on your personal handset. This can help separate a particular calling purpose from your main number, or give you a number to use for incoming and outgoing voice calls from a browser based workflow.

StartACall virtual numbers are available for the United States and Canada only. They receive and make calls, cost $2.14 per month, and do not support SMS. Those product boundaries matter when deciding whether a number is suitable. A virtual number is not required to place an outbound StartACall browser call, and it is not a way to obtain a number in a country outside the United States or Canada.

Choose a virtual number for the right use case

Consider a virtual number when you need a consistent number that can receive and make voice calls. For example, you may want a separate number for a recurring project, a remote work routine, or calls you prefer not to tie to your usual number. The important question is whether you need both inbound and outbound voice capability. If you only need to place a call, prepaid browser calling can be sufficient without a virtual number.

Do not choose this product for messaging. StartACall virtual numbers do not support SMS. If your workflow depends on receiving verification texts, sending appointment reminders by text, or having text conversations, this number will not meet that need. Check the intended communication type before you subscribe so the number supports the activity you actually plan to do.

Number availability and international calling reach

There are two different coverage questions. Number availability asks where you can get a virtual number. At StartACall, that answer is the United States and Canada only. Calling reach asks where you can place an outbound call. StartACall browser calling can reach any phone number in 195+ countries. These statements are both true, but they describe separate parts of the service.

This distinction helps avoid a common planning error. A United States or Canadian virtual number does not mean that virtual numbers are offered in every place you can call. Likewise, being able to call a phone number abroad does not require obtaining a virtual number there. Decide first whether you need an inbound number, an outbound call method, or both, then select the product that matches that purpose.

What to check before subscribing

Confirm that a United States or Canadian number meets your needs, because StartACall does not offer virtual numbers elsewhere. Confirm that voice calls are what you need, because SMS is not available. Then consider whether you expect to receive calls, make calls, or do both. The number supports incoming and outgoing voice calling, which is different from a browser calling account used only for outbound calls.

Also consider the monthly cost and how long you need the number. The virtual number costs $2.14 per month. Keep the number's role clear in your records, especially if it is used for a project or shared process. For any outbound international call you make, check the published rate table for the destination. The number subscription and the destination calling rate are separate parts of the service.

Set expectations for callers and your team

Tell people to call the number when voice contact is appropriate, and do not present it as a text capable number. Clear expectations prevent missed messages from people who assume every phone number accepts SMS. If the number is used for work, decide who monitors incoming calls, when it is answered, and what should happen when a caller needs a response outside those hours.

For outgoing calls, use the complete international format for the destination number and review the published rate table before calling abroad. StartACall's browser calling reaches phone numbers in 195+ countries, but that calling reach does not expand virtual number availability beyond the United States and Canada. Keeping these two concepts separate helps people choose the service correctly and describe it accurately.

Keep the number's purpose easy to understand for anyone who uses it. Record where voice calls should be returned, who is responsible for answering, and whether the number is being used for a temporary or continuing need. Do not direct people to text the number, since SMS is not supported. If your needs later become only occasional outbound calls, reassess whether a virtual number is still necessary. This helps keep the monthly subscription tied to a real voice calling use case rather than an assumption about what the number can do.